Astigmatism-Correcting Optical Probe Sheath
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Solution Overview
Problem
The cylindrical shape of a catheter's sheath introduces astigmatism in optical systems, causing light beams to converge or diverge differently in orthogonal directions, which degrades image quality in optical probes used for applications like endoscopes and optical coherence tomography.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a light-guiding component, a lens, and a light-reflecting component with optical power in either the tangential or sagittal direction, along with a correction element that is at least partially transparent, to compensate for the astigmatism caused by the sheath, ensuring that light travels through the correction element to correct beam convergence and divergence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cylindrical sheath is used to protect the optical system, then the optical system is protected, but astigmatism is introduced causing image quality degradation
Solution Approach 1:
A correction element is introduced as an intermediary component between the cylindrical sheath and the optical system. This correction element has an asymmetric optical power specifically designed to counteract the astigmatism induced by the sheath, allowing the protective sheath to remain while eliminating its harmful optical effect
Solution Approach 2:
The correction element employs asymmetric optical power (different optical powers in tangential and sagittal directions) to counterbalance the asymmetric astigmatism caused by the cylindrical sheath. This asymmetric design allows precise compensation of the sheath's optical distortion without requiring modification to the protective sheath structure
2Device complexity
If the optical system is designed without correction elements, then the device complexity is reduced, but beam convergence and divergence are incorrect in orthogonal directions
Solution Approach 1:
The correction element introduces local optical power specifically in the tangential or sagittal direction where astigmatism occurs, rather than modifying the entire optical system. This localized correction approach maintains overall system simplicity while precisely addressing the focal convergence issue in specific directions
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
This configuration effectively corrects astigmatism, allowing for improved image quality and focused beams across different wavelengths, optimizing the working distance and beam size for various medical imaging modalities like OCT and fluorescence imaging.
Implementation Method 1
the correction element includes a material that is at least partially transparent... the correction element has an asymmetric optical power... light from light-reflecting component travels through the material that is at least partially transparent
Data Source
AI summary
A device comprises a light-guiding component, an optical component, and a light-reflecting component that is configured to receive light from the optical component and direct the light along a path. Also, at least one of the optical component and the light-reflecting component has an optical power in a tangential direction or a sagittal direction that compensates for a negative power of a sheath in the tangential direction to correct for aberration.