CPC Cone Optical Element for Wide-Angle Surgical Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wide-angle illuminators for ophthalmic surgery face issues such as sub-optimal light refraction due to index switching with vitreous eye fluid, glare from small bright illumination sources, and a trade-off between large angular spread and high emission efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A high-efficiency wide-angle surgical illuminator using a compound parabolic concentrator (CPC) cone optical element, optically coupled to an optical fiber and housed within a cannula, which angularly spreads the light beam to a high off-axis angle with high emission efficiency, minimizing glare and maintaining biocompatibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional fiber-optic probe with a light refracting lens is used, then the structure is simple, but index switching occurs when vitreous eye fluid contacts the lens surface, causing sub-optimal light refraction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an air gap as an intermediary layer between the optical fiber and the vitreous eye fluid. This air gap prevents direct contact between the fluid and the light refracting surface, eliminating index switching issues while maintaining effective light delivery to the surgical site
2Illumination intensity
If the illumination source is made small and bright to increase intensity, then illumination efficiency improves, but glare increases when the surgeon has direct line of sight to the source
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful glare component from the illumination system by using a diffusive optical element that scatters the light. This separates the useful illumination function from the harmful direct viewing of the light source, allowing high intensity illumination without surgeon glare
3Area of stationary object
If the angular spread of the illuminator is increased to illuminate larger retinal area, then the illumination coverage improves, but the emission efficiency of the light source decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a compound parabolic concentrator (CPC) cone with specific curved geometry to optimize light distribution. The parabolic shape enables wide angular spread of illumination across the retinal surface while maintaining high emission efficiency by minimizing light loss through the curved optical paths
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 provides a balanced large angular spread and high emission efficiency, reducing glare and index switching issues, while maintaining high optical transmission and brightness, suitable for ophthalmic surgery and potentially other surgical applications.
Implementation Method 1
an optical element, optically coupled to a distal end of the optical fiber, for receiving the light beam and scattering the light beam to illuminate an area
Implementation Method 2
a high-efficiency wide-angle surgical illuminator... compound parabolic concentrator (CPC) cone optical element... angularly spreads the light beam
Data Source
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AI summary
A high-efficiency, wide-angle illumination surgical system (12) is disclosed, one embodiment comprising: a light source (12) for providing a light beam; an optical cable (14) , optically coupled to the light source for receiving and transmitting the light beam; a handpiece (10) , operably coupled to the optical cable; an optical fiber (22) , operably coupled to the handpiece, wherein the optical fiber is optically coupled to the optical cable to receive and transmit the light beam, an optical element (20) , optically coupled to a distal end of the optical fiber, for receiving the light beam and scattering the light beam to illuminate an area, wherein the optical element comprises a compound parabolic concentrator ("CPC") cone; and a cannula (16) , operably coupled to the handpiece, for housing and directing the optical fiber and the optical element. The CPC-cone optical element angularly spreads the light beam out to a high off-axis angle and emits the light out of the distal end of the cannula with high efficiency.