Fixed Optical System Adjustable Target Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ophthalmic surgical illuminators face challenges in aligning optical components due to the need for serial adjustments across multiple axes, leading to increased complexity, time, and risk of misalignment, which can impact the quality of light delivery during vitreo-retinal procedures.
Innovation Solution
A fiber optic illuminator with a fixed optical system and adjustable target, where key optical elements are mounted in fixed positions with minimal manufacturing tolerance variations, allowing for alignment adjustments along a single axis, reducing the number of necessary adjustments from 25 to 4, and incorporating a control system for automatic adjustments based on environmental changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If multiple optical components are made adjustable to compensate for manufacturing tolerances, then alignment precision is improved, but device complexity and number of adjustment mechanisms increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making multiple optical components adjustable to achieve alignment, the patent inverts the approach by making the optical target adjustable while keeping the optical components fixed. This reduces the number of adjustment mechanisms from multiple component adjustments to a single target adjustment mechanism, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining alignment precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the adjustment function into a separate adjustable optical target that can be independently positioned, rather than adjusting each optical component individually. This segmentation allows the alignment to be achieved through a single adjustable element while keeping other components fixed, reducing overall system complexity.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple serial adjustments across multiple axes are performed, then alignment precision is improved, but time required for alignment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional alignment approach by making the optical target adjustable rather than adjusting multiple optical components serially. This allows alignment to be achieved through a single adjustable target that can compensate for manufacturing tolerances in all directions simultaneously, dramatically reducing alignment time from multiple serial adjustments to a single adjustment process.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable optical target is designed to pre-compensate for manufacturing tolerances through its adjustability, allowing the system to accommodate variations without requiring multiple serial adjustments. The target can be positioned in advance to account for tolerance accumulations, reducing the time needed for subsequent alignment adjustments.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple adjustable mechanisms are used for optical alignment, then alignment precision is improved, but reliability decreases due to increased potential for misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces misalignment risk by inverting the adjustment approach—instead of having multiple adjustable components that could potentially be misaligned, there is only one adjustable optical target. This single point of adjustment reduces the cumulative probability of misalignment while maintaining the ability to achieve precise alignment through the adjustable target's positioning capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the adjustment function from multiple optical components and concentrates it into a single adjustable optical target. By taking out the adjustment capability from the optical components themselves and placing it in the target, the system reduces the number of potential failure points and minimizes the risk of misalignment while preserving alignment precision.
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 significantly reduces the time and complexity of aligning optical systems, enhances reliability by minimizing mechanical parts and potential misalignments, and ensures consistent light delivery during ophthalmic surgeries.
Implementation Method 1
The collimating lens which is also mounted in a fixed position with respect to the optics bed substantially collimates at least a portion of the light output of the light source
Implementation Method 2
A condensing lens receives the substantially collimated light output and focuses or condenses the collimated light output so that it may be optically coupled to an optical fiber
Data Source
AI summary
A fiber optic illuminator is provided comprising an optics bed, a light source, a collimating lens, and a condensing lens. The light source is mounted in a fixed position with respect to the optics bed. The collimating lens is mounted in a fixed position with respect to the optics bed and collimates at least a portion of the light from the light source. A condensing lens receives the substantially collimated light output and focuses the collimated light output to optically couple to an optical fiber. The condensing lens may be mounted on an adjustable mount. The tolerances of the fixed optical elements i.e. light source and collimating lens allow the fixed optical elements to be positioned with a minimal amount of variation where the variation is determined by manufacturing tolerances associated with these individual elements and their mounts and couple them to the optics bed.