Attachment Optics for Fluorescence Imaging in Open Surgery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical imaging systems for open surgery, particularly exoscopes, have a limited distal aperture that restricts the amount of light, including weak fluorescence light, that can be captured and transferred to image sensors, limiting their effectiveness for fluorescence imaging.
Innovation Solution
An attachment optics system for a camera head in medical imaging systems, comprising a distal group of two meniscus lenses, a biplanar glass rod, and a single meniscus lens, optimized to increase the field of view without introducing noticeable optical aberrations, using specific glass types and configurations to enhance light transmission from the visible spectrum to near-infrared wavelengths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a distal aperture is increased to capture more light including fluorescence light, then the field of view and light transmission are improved, but the optical aberrations (chromatic and off-axis) increase
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system is divided into multiple lens elements (first lens, second lens, third lens, fourth lens) with different refractive indices and curvatures. Each lens segment is optimized to handle specific portions of the optical spectrum and field of view, allowing the system to achieve a larger field of view while controlling aberrations through the coordinated action of individual lens segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite optical system using lenses with different glass types having different refractive indices (n1, n2, n3, n4). This composite approach allows the system to correct chromatic aberrations by combining lenses with complementary dispersion characteristics, enabling a larger field of view without proportionally increasing optical aberrations.
2Measurement precision
If the focal length is increased to improve resolution and field of view, then the image quality is improved, but the size and complexity of the optical system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple lens functions into a single integrated optical assembly that can be attached to existing camera heads. The first, second, third, and fourth lenses are arranged in a compact configuration that achieves extended focal length and improved resolution without requiring a complete system redesign, thus reducing overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system optimizes the focal length parameter by selecting specific curvature radii and glass refractive indices for the lens elements. By carefully adjusting these parameters, the patent achieves improved resolution and field of view while keeping the physical size and complexity of the optical system within acceptable limits for surgical applications.
3Illumination intensity
If the entrance pupil is increased to capture more light, then the illumination intensity is improved, but the chromatic aberrations increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intermediate lens elements (second and third lenses) with specific refractive indices between the first and fourth lenses. These intermediate lenses act as mediators that correct chromatic aberrations introduced by the larger entrance pupil, allowing increased light transmission without proportionally increasing chromatic aberrations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a composite lens structure with four different glass types having different refractive indices (n1, n2, n3, n4). This composite material approach enables the system to increase the entrance pupil for better light collection while using the complementary dispersion properties of different glasses to minimize chromatic aberrations.
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 solution improves the field of view and resolution for fluorescence imaging in open surgery by increasing the focal length and entrance pupil of the camera head, reducing chromatic and off-axis aberrations, and providing even illumination, thereby enhancing the ability to capture and record fluorescent images effectively.
Implementation Method 1
a distal group of two meniscus lenses, of which one is a negative meniscus and the other a positive meniscus, a biplanar glass rod and single meniscus lens... optimized to increase the field of view without introducing noticeable optical aberrations, using specific glass types and configurations to enhance light transmission from the visible spectrum to near-infrared wavelengths
Implementation Method 2
reducing chromatic and off-axis aberrations, and providing even illumination, thereby enhancing the ability to capture and record fluorescent images effectively
Implementation Method 3
improves the field of view and resolution for fluorescence imaging in open surgery by increasing the focal length and entrance pupil of the camera head
Data Source
AI summary
Attachment optics for use with a camera head for fluorescence imaging in open surgery. The attachment optics including: an optical system comprising, in progression from distal to proximal: a distal group of first and second meniscus lenses, is the first meniscus lens having a negative meniscus and the second meniscus lens having a positive meniscus, a biplanar glass rod; and a third meniscus lens. Where the first and second meniscus lenses of the distal group are made from different glass types having Abbé numbers γ1, γ2 with<semantics definitionURL="">❘<annotation encoding="Mathematica">"\[LeftBracketingBar]"</annotation></semantics>γ1-γ2<semantics definitionURL="">❘<annotation encoding="Mathematica">"\[RightBracketingBar]"</annotation></semantics><20,and refractive indexes n1, n2 with0.02<<semantics definitionURL="">❘<annotation encoding="Mathematica">"\[LeftBracketingBar]"</annotation></semantics>n1-n2<semantics definitionURL="">❘<annotation encoding="Mathematica">"\[RightBracketingBar]"</annotation></semantics><0.07and where the ratio of a focal length F of the optical system to the maximum outer diameter D of the first and second meniscus lenses of the distal group is F/D>10.