Eye Surgery Microscope Ametropia Measurement via Retinal Image Position
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing eye surgery microscopes with wavefront sensors for measuring ametropia are expensive, require significant space, and are sensitive to stray light, making them difficult to integrate and use effectively.
Innovation Solution
An eye surgery microscope design that directs a measurement light beam onto the retina to form an image in a measurement module, where the position of the image plane is determined to calculate ametropia based on refractive power, using optics and a controller to adjust components along the measurement beam path to maximize illumination strength, allowing for precise ametropia measurement without the need for a wavefront sensor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a wavefront sensor is used to measure ametropia, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential measurement function from the complex wavefront sensor and implements it through a simplified optical setup using a retinal illuminator, beam splitter, and camera. This extraction maintains measurement capability while eliminating unnecessary complexity and cost associated with traditional wavefront sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates an optical copy of the retinal image through the eye's optical system. By capturing the focused light pattern on the retina and analyzing its position and characteristics, the system determines ametropia without requiring direct wavefront analysis, thus simplifying the measurement device while preserving measurement precision.
2Measurement precision
If a wavefront sensor is used to measure ametropia, then measurement precision is improved, but installation space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the measurement function with the existing surgical microscope's optical path. The retinal illuminator, beam splitter, and camera are integrated into the microscope's existing structure, allowing ametropia measurement without requiring separate installation space for a dedicated wavefront sensor system.
3Measurement precision
If a wavefront sensor is used to measure ametropia, then measurement precision is improved, but sensitivity to stray light increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potential harmful effect of stray light into a beneficial measurement mechanism. By using the focused light pattern on the retina as the measurement signal and analyzing its position through the camera, the system inherently rejects stray light because the measurement is based on the precise focal point location rather than overall wavefront characteristics that are susceptible to stray light interference.
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 approach simplifies the measurement of ametropia, reduces costs, and enhances integration and usability by using a more compact and robust method that is less sensitive to stray light, providing accurate refractive error measurements.
Implementation Method 1
The position of the image plane of the retina depends on the refractive power of the lens and, therefore, on the ametropia of the eye
Implementation Method 2
A portion of the measurement light is reflected by the retina and provided to a measurement module by optics
Data Source
AI summary
An eye surgery microscope 1 having an illumination beam path 9 for imaging a portion of an eye 3 of a patient and a measurement beam path 25 for measuring an ametropia of the eye. The microscope comprises an objective lens 11 having an objective plane 13 in which the eye of the patient is disposable; at least one ocular 17 or a camera 19 for generating and detecting an image of the object plane, respectively; a measurement light source for generating a measurement light beam 29; a measurement module 41 having a light detector; optics traversed by the measurement beam path for directing the measurement light beam onto the retina 7 of the eye of the patient and for providing measurement light 39 reflected at the retina to the measurement module; and a controller; wherein the measurement module and the controller are configured to determine a position of an image of the retina generated by the optics along the measurement beam path and to output a measurement value representing the ametropia of the eye of the patient.