Dual-Flux Lighting Device for Homogeneous Intraoperative Illumination
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting devices for intraoperative probes in biomedical applications, such as fluorescence-guided oncological surgery, face challenges in delivering uniform and safe illumination with specific characteristics, including reduced size, compatibility with eye safety standards, and efficient light distribution across multiple optical fibers.
Innovation Solution
A multi-fiber optic dual-flux lighting device with a specific arrangement of lenses and an optical diffuser, ensuring homogeneous light distribution across fibers, optimizing total flux while adhering to safety standards by ensuring each fiber receives a consistent and weakly dispersed light power, with the use of afocal optical systems and semi-reflecting blades for efficient coupling of light sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the light power delivered by each optical fiber is increased to enhance illumination intensity, then the total flux is improved, but the eye safety standards are exceeded
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination is segmented across multiple optical fibers (at least 10 fibers) instead of concentrating light in a single fiber. This distribution allows the total flux to be increased while keeping the power per individual fiber below eye safety thresholds, resolving the contradiction between illumination intensity and safety.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the number of optical fibers is increased to distribute light power and improve safety, then eye safety is enhanced, but the optical head size increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple optical fibers are arranged in a nested or compact bundled configuration where fibers are closely packed and integrated into a compact optical head structure. This nesting approach allows accommodating at least 10 fibers within a diameter of less than 50 mm, achieving both safety through distribution and compactness through efficient spatial arrangement.
3Device complexity
If the light distribution across fibers is inhomogeneous to simplify the lighting system, then device complexity is reduced, but the illumination uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system incorporates local quality variations through optical elements (lenses or diffusers) positioned at the input of the optical bundle. These elements create non-uniform light distribution at the input that is transformed into uniform illumination at the output, allowing the system to maintain simplicity while achieving homogeneous illumination across all fibers.
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 intense, homogeneous, and safe illumination, meeting the requirements for intraoperative probes by ensuring each fiber delivers light power close to the maximum authorized level without exceeding safety thresholds, enhancing visibility and safety during procedures.
Implementation Method 1
a first lens disposed between the output end of the first optical fiber and the first ends of the second optical fibers, said output end of the first optical fiber being disposed substantially on the optical axis and at the primary object focus of said first lens ; and said first ends of the second optical fibers being arranged substantially on the optical axis and at the main image focus of said first lens
Implementation Method 2
an optical diffuser having the shape of a blade, in particular a thin blade, arranged between the first lens and the first ends of the second optical fibers
Data Source
AI summary
The general domain of the invention is that of lighting devices comprising two fibre light sources (SF) and a light bundle comprising a plurality of second multimode optical fibres. These devices are intended to be mounted in perioperative optical probes that require perfectly homogeneous visible light and fluorescent light. In a first embodiment, the lighting device comprises: a single lens disposed between the fibre sources and the inlet of the bundle; and an optical diffuser. In a second embodiment, the lighting device comprises: an afocal system (L1, L2) disposed between the fibre sources and the inlet of the bundle; and an optical diffuser (D). An optical fibre coupler or a semi-reflecting blade is used to mix two fibre sources.