Illuminator end

Abstract

The present invention discloses an assembly of an ophthalmic lighting device and an illuminator end, wherein the lighting device includes an elongated light guiding end extending in a first direction from the device side towards a light deflection section side, the illuminator end including: an elongated sleeve section having a hole extending in the first direction with a diameter corresponding to an outer diameter of the light guiding end of the ophthalmic lighting device, tapering from the device side towards the light deflection section side; a light deflection section arranged to guide light emerging from the light guiding end in a direction away from the first direction; and an device adapter section releasably connected to the lighting device.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to an ophthalmic light and illuminator end assembly. [Background technology]

[0002] US Patent No. 5,582,608 discloses a lamellar illumination device for ophthalmic surgery. A light emitter is mounted on a support fixture that directs light to a surgical field tangential to the cornea at an angle of 0 to 45 degrees to the plane of the iris of the eye. Light entering the eye travels along the corneal lamellar, so that very little light reaches the back of the eye or is directed to the surgical microscope causing glare. The light emitter may be attached to or integrated into the eyelid speculum or fixation ring.

[0003] US 2021 / 0177393 discloses a transscleral illumination system for vitreoretinal surgery having a speculum with two arms with blades at the ends. There is an optical fiber passing through the arms with one or more end points located within the blades. The position and orientation of the end face of the optical fiber determines the direction of light from the illumination system. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] The present invention seeks to provide a simple add-on design feature to existing ophthalmic instruments (e.g., (endo)illuminators or laser probes) that can redirect light in a desired direction different from the direction of light provided by the instrument itself.

[0005] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an illuminator end as described above, the illuminator end including an elongated sleeve portion having a hole extending in a first direction with a diameter corresponding to an outer diameter of the light-guiding end of the ophthalmic illumination device, and a light deflection portion arranged to direct light emerging from the light-guiding end in a direction away from the first direction.

[0006] The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of an illuminator end according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the illuminator end shown in FIG. 1 mounted in an ophthalmic lighting fixture. [Diagram 3] 2 shows a detailed cross-sectional view of the tip of the illuminator end of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] 1 shows a diagram of the illuminator end and the coupling to an ophthalmic lighting fixture during actual use. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] Embodiments of the present invention provide simple, cost-effective add-ons to ophthalmic instruments (e.g., (endo)illuminators) and enable a wider range of uses for these instruments by providing suitable redirection of light from the instrument.

[0009] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of an illuminator end 1 according to the present invention, including an (optional) instrument adapter portion 2, an elongated sleeve portion 3, and a light deflection portion 5, to which the illuminator end 1 can be attached and which can be attached to an ophthalmic lighting instrument 10 (see FIG. 2 below). In other words, in a first group of embodiments, the illuminator end 1 includes the instrument adapter portion 2, the elongated sleeve portion 3 having a hole 4 extending in a first direction (i.e., the longitudinal direction of the elongated sleeve portion 3) with a diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the light-guiding end 11 of the ophthalmic lighting instrument 10, and a light deflection portion 5 arranged to direct light originating from the light-guiding end 11 in a direction away from the first direction. This makes it possible to have light exiting the composite ophthalmic lighting instrument 10 and the illuminator end 1 in a direction different from the normal direction of light of the ophthalmic lighting instrument 10 (i.e., the longitudinal direction). In general, the light exiting the light deflection portion 5 of the illuminator end 1 may be provided with various directions, ranges, and aperture angles.

[0010] In a further embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the optical deflection portion 5 includes an outer surface 8 for scleral compression, the outer surface 8 having a maximum outer diameter larger than the outer diameter of the elongated sleeve portion 3. The outer surface 8 on the optical deflection portion 5 provides an additional function to the coupling of the ophthalmic illumination device 10 and the illuminator end 1, since the surgeon can use the outer surface 8 to apply pressure to the outside of the eye. This allows for an instrument in the form of an illuminated scleral depressor, which in combination with the ophthalmic illumination device 10 gives the surgeon the advantage of absolute control of the eye, for example during peripheral vitrectomy, since compression allows visualization of the peripheral retina, as shown in FIG. 4.

[0011] Fig. 4 shows a diagram of the combination of the illuminator end 1 and the ophthalmic illuminator 10 of Fig. 1 during actual use. In Fig. 4, a cross section of an eye 15 is shown, where the outer surface 8 of the light deflection unit 5 is used to push the eye inwards, thus bringing the corresponding part of the inner surface of the eye into the field of view of the surgeon, either directly through the cornea or through a microscope. At the same time, this area is illuminated from the outside of the eye via the light deflection unit 5. By indentation and internal illumination of the eye, for example, with the aid of a trocar 16 and a vitrectomy device 17 as shown, the tissue of the eye can be analyzed, and for example, precise cutting procedures can be performed with the aid of the vitrectomy device 17.

[0012] The light deflection function of the illuminator end 1 is determined by the outer diameter d l This will be explained in more detail with reference to FIG. 2, which shows a cross-sectional view of the illuminator end 1 shown in FIG. 1 mounted on an ophthalmic lighting instrument 10 provided with a light-guiding end 11 having a first inner diameter d b From the light deflection part side (second inner diameter d b ) which ensures easy insertion of the light guiding end 11 into the hole 4 of the illuminator end 1 and also ensures self-centering of the ophthalmic illumination device 10 towards the light deflection element in the light deflection section 5 at the tip of the illuminator end 1. A second inner diameter d b is the outer diameter d of the light guiding end portion 11 l In one group of embodiments, the second inner diameter d b is the outer diameter dl Alternatively, the tapered inner diameter of the hole 4 may be substantially equal to or alternatively may be equal to the second inner diameter d b is the outer diameter d l is less than.

[0013] Figure 3 shows a detailed cross-sectional view of the tip of an exemplary embodiment of the illuminator end of Figure 1. In this exemplary embodiment, the light deflector 5 includes a deflecting surface 6. Light exiting the end face of the light-guiding end 11 is deflected away from the longitudinal direction of the illuminator end 1 by the deflecting surface 6.

[0014] In the illustrated embodiment, the deflection surface 6 is at an angle of about 45 degrees with respect to the first direction (longitudinal direction of the illuminator end 1). This may be achieved by providing a suitably shaped cavity 6a in the light deflection section 5, as shown in FIG. 3. Finally, the deflection surface 6 provides a 90 degree angle light diversion or deflection from the first direction, which is very efficient in obtaining a large amount of light to the eye during use (e.g., as shown in FIG. 4). In further embodiments, the deflection surface 6 may be at a different angle, or may even have an optically shaped surface, for example to scatter the light in (limited) different directions.

[0015] In a further embodiment, the illuminator end 1 further comprises a light converting member 7 aligned with the hole 4, the light converting member 7 being arranged to focus the light emerging from the light guide end 11 on the deflection surface 6 during operation. This allows to obtain a larger amount of light emerging from the light guide end 11 and finally exiting or ending at the light deflection section 5. For example, the light converting member 7 may be implemented as a concave lens surface, and in more general terms, in a further embodiment, the light converting member 7 is a focusing surface provided as part of the light deflection section 5. Such a focusing surface can be easily obtained by suitable shaping of the surface formed of the material of the illuminator end 1. Additionally or alternatively, the light converting member 7 is provided as a (separate) lens element. This allows for an even more precise definition of the light beam that finally exits the light deflection section 5 of the illuminator end 1. The light converting member 7 in the form of a lens element can also be part of the light guide end 11.

[0016] In FIG. 3 , the arrows indicate the direction of light in various regions of the light deflection unit 5 during operation, in this example transitioning from a parallel beam leaving the light guiding end 11 to a focused beam between the light conversion member 7 and the deflection surface 6, and then transitioning again to a parallel beam between the deflection surface 6 and the outer surface 8.

[0017] To properly guide the light, the light deflection portion 5 includes an opaque or transparent material. In a further exemplary embodiment, the opaque or transparent material is one of medical grade acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), or glass. For example, ABS provides a high enough transparency to allow the light energy to exit the illuminator end 1 while being strong enough to allow the illuminator end 1 to be used as a deflector.

[0018] In further embodiments, the opaque or transparent material has a refractive index higher than 1. This allows the deflection surface 6 to be formed by a material-air interface, which is easy to achieve using well-known manufacturing techniques (e.g., injection molding). The illuminator end 1 as shown in the embodiment of Figures 1-4 can be easily manufactured using injection molding techniques.

[0019] As shown in Fig. 4, an advantageous use of an embodiment of the present invention is to also use the illuminator tip 1 for compression of (scleral) tissue. To ensure a safe and accurate use of the illuminator tip 1, in a further embodiment, the outer surface 8 has a continuously varying outer diameter. This ensures that there are no shape transitions or edges that may cause damage to tissue during use. In a further embodiment, the outer surface 8 has a droplet shape, for example with a smooth convex outer surface, which helps to provide a simple and effective use of the compression function of the illuminator tip 1.

[0020] In a further embodiment, the illuminator end 1 of the present invention includes an instrument adapter portion 2 by means of which the illuminator end cap 1 can be attached to an associated ophthalmic instrument. In an exemplary embodiment, the instrument adapter portion 2 has a circumferential surface with a slit 9 in a first direction. The slit 9 in the instrument adapter portion 2 is easy to manufacture (e.g., using injection molding) and provides a robust attachment to the associated instrument. Additionally, the slit 9 allows for easier introduction and alignment of the light guiding end 11 (typically a fiber) into the bore 4 and prevents possible damage to the light guiding end 11 during assembly. Additionally, the deflection surface 6 and the slit 9 can have a fixed mutual orientation, such that the slit 9 may act as a user indicator for the light emission direction of the illuminator end 1 (e.g., at 0 degrees or 180 degrees).

[0021] Moreover, in a further group of embodiments (most of those shown and described above), the illuminator end 1 is a unitary component. The illuminator end 1 may be manufactured by injection molding, which allows for cost- and material-efficient manufacturing, and the illuminator end 1 may also be a single-use, disposable item.

[0022] The present invention has been described above with reference to exemplary embodiments as illustrated in the drawings. The present invention may further be defined as provisions of the following numbered reference embodiments.

[0023] EMBODIMENT 1 1. An illuminator end for an ophthalmic lighting instrument, comprising: an elongated sleeve portion (3) having a bore (4) extending in a first direction with a diameter corresponding to an outer diameter of a light directing end (11) of an ophthalmic light instrument (10); a light deflection section (5) arranged to guide light generated from a light guide end section (11) in a direction away from the first direction; The illuminator end (1) includes

[0024] EMBODIMENT 2 2. The end of an illuminator according to embodiment 1, wherein the light deflection portion (5) includes a deflection surface (6).

[0025] EMBODIMENT 3 3. An illuminator end as described in embodiment 2, wherein the deflection surface (6) is at an angle of about 45 degrees to the first direction.

[0026] EMBODIMENT 4 The illuminator end of embodiment 2 or 3 further comprises a light converting member (7) aligned with the hole (4), the light converting member (7) being arranged to focus light generated from the light guiding end (11) onto the deflection surface (6) during operation.

[0027] EMBODIMENT 5 5. The end of an illuminator according to embodiment 4, wherein the light conversion member (7) is a focusing surface provided as part of the light deflection section (5).

[0028] EMBODIMENT 6 5. The end of an illuminator according to embodiment 4, wherein the light conversion member (7) is a lens element.

[0029] EMBODIMENT 7 The end portion of the illuminator according to any one of the first to sixth embodiments, wherein the light deflection portion (5) comprises an opaque or transparent material.

[0030] EMBODIMENT 8 The illuminator end of embodiment 7, wherein the opaque or transparent material is medical grade acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) or glass.

[0031] EMBODIMENT 9 The end of the illuminator according to any one of the first to eighth embodiments, wherein the optical deflection portion (5) includes an outer surface (8) for compressing the sclera, the outer surface (8) having a maximum outer diameter greater than the outer diameter of the elongated sleeve portion (3).

[0032] EMBODIMENT 10 10. The illuminator end of embodiment 9, wherein the outer surface (8) has a continuously varying outer diameter.

[0033] EMBODIMENT 11 11. The illuminator end of embodiment 9 or 10, wherein the outer surface (8) has a droplet shape.

[0034] EMBODIMENT 12 The illuminator end portion according to any one of the preceding embodiments, further comprising an appliance adaptor portion (2).

[0035] EMBODIMENT 13 The illuminator end according to any one of the first to second embodiments, wherein the fixture adaptor portion (2) has a circumferential surface having a slit (9) in a first direction.

[0036] EMBODIMENT 14 The end portion of an illuminator according to any one of the first to thirteenth embodiments, wherein the hole (4) in the elongated sleeve portion (3) tapers from the device side toward the light deflection portion side.

[0037] EMBODIMENT 15 The illuminator end portion according to any one of the first to fourth embodiments, wherein the illuminator end portion (1) is an integral component.

[0038] The invention has been described above with reference to a number of exemplary embodiments as shown in the drawings. Modifications and alternative implementations of some parts or elements are possible and fall within the scope of protection defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. An assembly of an ophthalmic lighting device (10) and an illuminator end (1), the lighting device (10) including an elongated light guiding end (11) extending in a first direction from a device side towards a light deflector side, The illuminator end (1) an elongated sleeve part (3) tapering from the device side towards the light deflection part side, having a hole (4) extending in a first direction, the hole having a diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the light guiding end (11) of said ophthalmic lighting device (10); a light deflection portion (5) arranged to guide the light emerging from said light-guiding end portion (11) in a direction away from said first direction; - an appliance adapter part (2) releasably connected to said luminaire; 13. An assembly comprising:

2. 2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the light deflection portion (5) comprises a deflection surface (6).

3. 3. An assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said deflection surface (6) is at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to said first direction.

4. 4. The assembly of claim 2 or 3, further comprising a light converting member (7) aligned with the hole (4), the light converting member (7) being arranged to focus light emerging from the light guiding end (11) onto the deflection surface (6) during operation.

5. 5. An assembly according to claim 4, wherein the light conversion member (7) is a focusing surface provided as part of the light deflection portion (5).

6. 5. An assembly according to claim 4, wherein the light conversion member (7) is a lens element.

7. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the light deflecting portion (5) comprises an opaque or transparent material.

8. 8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the opaque or transparent material is medical grade acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) or glass.

9. The assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the optical deflection portion (5) comprises an outer surface (8) for scleral compression, the outer surface (8) having a maximum outer diameter greater than an outer diameter of the elongated sleeve portion (3).

10. 10. An assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein said outer surface (8) has a continuously varying outer diameter.

11. 11. An assembly according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the outer surface (8) has a droplet shape.

12. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the instrument adapter part (2) has a circumferential surface with a slit (9) in the first direction.

13. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the illuminator end (1) is an integral component.

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