Annular Side-Fire Optical Device for 360-Degree Tissue Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional side-firing optical devices are limited in providing uniform tissue treatment radially around the device, as they redirect electromagnetic radiation primarily in one direction off the axis, lacking the ability to cover the entire circumference effectively.
Innovation Solution
An annular side fire optical device is designed with a tapered section and conical section of silica, featuring an annular beveled end surface that redirects electromagnetic radiation transversely, allowing for uniform distribution around the entire circumference by reflecting the radiation at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis, enabling a 360-degree annular ring of redirected light.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional side-firing optical devices use a beveled optical surface to redirect electromagnetic radiation, then the device can effectively treat specifically targeted material, but the device cannot provide substantially uniform treatment of tissue surrounding the device in a radial direction
Solution Approach 1:
The optical device is segmented into multiple beveled surfaces arranged circumferentially around the longitudinal axis. Each beveled surface redirects electromagnetic radiation in a specific angular direction, collectively providing 360-degree annular coverage. This segmentation transforms a single-direction redirection system into a multi-directional system that achieves uniform radial treatment.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-bevel configuration (one-dimensional redirection) to a circumferential array of beveled surfaces (three-dimensional annular redirection). By adding the circumferential dimension around the longitudinal axis, the device redirects electromagnetic radiation in all radial directions simultaneously, achieving uniform 360-degree tissue treatment.
2Device complexity
If conventional side-firing optical devices redirect electromagnetic radiation at a fixed angle off-axis, then the device structure is simple, but the redirected output laser light spans only a short arc about the longitudinal axis
Solution Approach 1:
The optical device is segmented into multiple beveled surfaces arranged circumferentially around the longitudinal axis. Each beveled surface redirects electromagnetic radiation in a specific angular direction, collectively providing 360-degree annular coverage. This segmentation transforms a single-direction redirection system into a multi-directional system that achieves uniform 360-degree tissue treatment.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-bevel configuration (one-dimensional redirection) to a circumferential array of beveled surfaces (three-dimensional annular redirection). By adding the circumferential dimension around the longitudinal axis, the device redirects electromagnetic radiation in all radial directions simultaneously, achieving uniform 360-degree tissue treatment.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional side-firing optical devices use a single beveled surface, then the device is easy to manufacture, but the treatment is limited to spot treatments rather than uniform radial treatment
Solution Approach 1:
The optical device is segmented into multiple beveled surfaces arranged circumferentially around the longitudinal axis. Each beveled surface redirects electromagnetic radiation in a specific angular direction, collectively providing 360-degree annular coverage. This segmentation transforms a single-direction redirection system into a multi-directional system that achieves uniform 360-degree tissue treatment.
Solution Approach 2:
The circumferential array of beveled surfaces enables the device to perform multiple treatment patterns simultaneously - spot treatment at any angular position and uniform annular treatment across the entire circumference. This multi-functionality allows the same device structure to adapt to different surgical requirements without modification.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The annular side fire optical device achieves uniform radial treatment of tissue by redirecting electromagnetic radiation in an annular pattern, overcoming the limitations of conventional devices by providing full 360-degree coverage independent of the fiber's numerical aperture, enhancing the efficacy of medical procedures such as tissue coagulation.
Implementation Method 1
The annular beveled end surface is formed in the wall of silica at the transmitting end and is angled relative the longitudinal axis such that electromagnetic radiation propagating along the longitudinal axis through the conical section is reflected by the beveled end surface at an angle that is transverse to the longitudinal axis
Data Source
AI summary
An annular side fire optical device for laterally redirecting electromagnetic radiation comprises a tapered section of silica, a conical section of silica adjoining the tapered section and an annular beveled end surface. The tapered section of silica has a diameter that increases with distance along a longitudinal axis in a direction toward a transmitting end. The conical section of silica comprises a wall of silica surrounding a conical bore. The conical bore has a diameter that increases with distance along the longitudinal axis in a direction toward the transmitting end. The annular beveled end surface is formed in the wall of silica at the transmitting end and is angled relative the longitudinal axis such that electromagnetic radiation propagating along the longitudinal axis through the conical section is reflected by the beveled end surface at an angle that is transverse to the longitudinal axis.