Diverging-Light Fiber Optics Illumination Delivery System
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current fiber optics illuminators for ophthalmic surgery face challenges in achieving a wide light emission angle while maintaining a small diameter, which is essential for minimally invasive procedures. Existing solutions are sensitive to manufacturing tolerances and often require a jacket for structural support, making them costly and difficult to integrate with other surgical devices without increasing the incision size.
Innovation Solution
The development of a thin fiber optics illuminator with a light-scattering element at the distal end, fabricated without a jacket, allowing for wide-angle light emission and integration with surgical devices without increasing the device's form factor, using techniques such as fusion-splicing and laser-based processes to create micro-posts or glass-ceramic elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the fiber diameter is increased to achieve wider emission angles, then the illumination angle is improved, but the fiber diameter increases making the incision larger
Solution Approach 1:
The fiber tip is segmented into multiple tapered regions with different diameters, creating a stepped configuration that increases the emission angle without requiring a uniform increase in fiber diameter throughout. The segmentation allows light to diverge at multiple angles as it passes through each tapered section.
Solution Approach 2:
The fiber exhibits local quality variations along its length, with the tip region having a smaller diameter than the main body. This local tapering creates the desired wide emission angle at the distal end while maintaining a larger proximal diameter for easier insertion and handling.
2Illumination intensity
If the fiber is tapered to increase emission angle, then the illumination angle is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous taper is segmented into discrete stepped sections, each with a defined diameter transition. This segmentation relaxes the manufacturing tolerance requirements compared to a continuous taper, as each step can be manufactured with standard precision while achieving the cumulative effect of wide-angle emission.
Solution Approach 2:
The design uses discrete diameter parameters for each tapered section rather than a continuous gradient. This allows for easier manufacturing control by defining specific diameter values at each segment boundary, reducing sensitivity to minor variations in the tapering process.
3Strength
If a jacket or sheath is added to preserve fiber integrity during fabrication, then the fiber strength is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fiber tapering process is merged with the illumination function creation, eliminating the need for a separate jacketing step. The tapered fiber structure itself serves both as the light delivery mechanism and as the element that creates the wide emission angle, reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The fiber structure is designed to be self-supporting through its tapered geometry, eliminating the need for an external jacket or sheath. The tapered regions create sufficient structural integrity and light divergence functionality without requiring additional protective layers.
4Illumination intensity
If a thick illuminator is integrated with surgical devices, then the illumination function is improved, but the form factor increases requiring larger incisions
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination function is segmented into a compact tapered fiber tip rather than a bulky traditional illuminator. The stepped tapering creates efficient light divergence in a minimal volume, allowing integration with surgical devices without significantly increasing the overall form factor or required incision size.
Solution Approach 2:
The illumination capability is concentrated in the local region of the tapered fiber tip rather than requiring a large distributed structure. This local concentration of optical function achieves effective illumination while maintaining a compact overall device size suitable for minimally invasive surgery.
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 solution enables bi-manual surgical procedures by reducing the need for additional incisions and personnel, simplifies manufacturing, and reduces the structural weakening of the eye, while maintaining effective light distribution with a smaller diameter and no additional support structure.
Implementation Method 1
pulling an arc between electrodes across a gap formed by the optical fiber and the glass-ceramic micro-post; maintaining the arc for a time sufficiently long to make facing surfaces of the optical fiber and the micro-post one of malleable and molten
Implementation Method 2
Fusing the glass-ceramic micro-post to the optical fiber by applying a laser beam to heat up at least one of the facing surfaces of the optical fiber and the glass-ceramic micro-post
Implementation Method 3
a light-scattering element, at a distal end of the optical fiber, configured to receive the illumination light from the optical fiber at a proximal end and to emit the illumination light at a distal end in a wide angle
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~3B
Figure 4
AI summary
A process of making a diverging-light fiber optics illumination delivery system includes providing a micro-post comprising a glass-ceramic light-scattering element that includes at least one of a ceramic, a glass ceramic, an immiscible glass, a porous glass, opal glass, amorphous glass, an aerated glass, and a nanostructured glass; and fusion-splicing the glass-ceramic micro-post to the optical fiber by pulling an arc between electrodes across a gap formed by the optical fiber and the glass-ceramic micro-post; maintaining the arc for a time sufficiently long to make facing surfaces of the optical fiber and the micro-post one of malleable and molten; and pushing and thereby fusing together the facing surfaces of the optical fiber and the micro-post. Some embodiments can include fusing the glass-ceramic micro-post to the optical fiber by applying a laser beam to heat up at least one of the facing surfaces of the optical fiber and the glass-ceramic micro-post.