Integrated OCT Surgical Microscope with Real-Time Eyepiece Projection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surgical microscopes struggle with visualization during vitreo-retinal surgeries due to the transparent nature of the vitreous, and existing systems lack real-time intra-surgical optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging for enhanced visualization.
Innovation Solution
An ophthalmic surgical microscope integrates an OCT system with the surgical microscope, allowing automatic adjustment of the OCT scan range via the microscope's magnifying/focusing optics and a real-time data projection unit to display OCT images through the eyepieces, eliminating the need to look away from the patient's eye.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional surgical microscope is used for vitreo-retinal surgery, then the surgeon can perform the surgery, but the visualization is challenging due to the transparent nature of the vitreous
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines conventional surgical microscope optics with OCT imaging capabilities into a single integrated system. The OCT beam path is merged with the microscope optical path through beam splitters and optical couplers, allowing both reflected light imaging and OCT depth imaging to be viewed simultaneously through the same eyepieces, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining conventional microscope functionality and adding enhanced visualization capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary optical coupling mechanism that allows OCT images to be superimposed on the conventional microscope view. Optical elements such as beam splitters and optical couplers act as intermediaries to combine the OCT depth information with the reflected light imaging, enabling the surgeon to visualize transparent vitreous structures without leaving the microscope eyepieces
2Reliability
If pre-surgical OCT imaging is used to assist visualization, then the surgeon can reference previous OCT scans, but real-time intra-surgical OCT imaging is not available
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous real-time OCT imaging throughout the surgical procedure by integrating the OCT system with the surgical microscope. The OCT beam is continuously directed through the microscope optics to the patient's eye, and images are continuously captured and displayed, eliminating the time delay associated with pre-surgical planning and allowing dynamic adjustment during the actual surgery
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary alignment and calibration of the OCT beam path with the microscope optical path before surgery begins. The beam coupler and optical elements are pre-positioned to ensure proper alignment, allowing immediate real-time imaging to commence without additional setup time during the procedure
3Ease of operation
If OCT system is integrated with surgical microscope, then automatic adjustment of OCT scan range is enabled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the integrated system where the microscope's existing magnifying and focusing optics serve dual purposes: both for conventional reflected light imaging and for guiding the OCT beam. The same eyepieces display both types of images, and the optical path shares common components such as beam splitters and couplers, thereby reducing the need for separate dedicated OCT optical components and minimizing overall system complexity
4Reliability
If separate display monitor is used for OCT images, then the surgeon can view OCT images, but the surgeon must look away from the patient's eye
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the OCT image display path with the conventional microscope viewing path by using beam splitters to superimpose OCT images onto the reflected light view. This allows the surgeon to view both the anatomical structure and the depth-oriented OCT information simultaneously through the same eyepieces, eliminating the need to switch between separate displays and maintaining continuous focus on the patient's eye
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 integration simplifies surgical procedures by reducing the need for manual adjustments and allows surgeons to view OCT images directly through the eyepieces, enhancing visualization during surgeries.
Implementation Method 1
OCT imaging is a technique that enables visualization of the target tissue in depth by focusing a laser beam onto the target, collecting the reflected beam, interfering the reflected beam with a reference beam and detecting the interference, and measuring the reflectance signature within the depth of focus of the beam
Implementation Method 2
a beam scanner for directing the OCT imaging beam to a particular region on a plane substantially orthogonal with the optical path within the patient's eye
Implementation Method 3
a real-time data projection unit for projecting the OCT image generated by the OCT system through the eyepiece(s) of the ophthalmic surgical microscope
Data Source
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AI summary
An ophthalmic surgical microscope includes an OCT system comprises an OCT light source for generating an OCT imaging beam, a beam coupler for directing the OCT imaging beam along an optical path to a patient's eye, wherein at least a portion of the OCT imaging beam reflected by the patient's eye is returned to the OCT system, and wherein the OCT system is operable to generate an OCT image based on the reflected portion of the OCT imaging beam; an imaging unit for generating a fundus image of the patient's eye; a tracking system that processes the fundus image to calculate a location of a surgical instrument inserted into the patient's eye. The OCT system further comprises a beam scanner for directing the OCT imaging beam to a particular region on a plane substantially orthogonal with the optical path within the patient's eye, the particular region including the calculated location of the surgical instrument inserted into the patient's eye. The OCT system comprises a real-time data projection unit for projecting the OCT image generated by the OCT system and a first beamsplitter for directing the OCT image projected by the real-time data projection to a first eyepiece of the ophthalmic surgical microscope such that the OCT image projected by the real-time data projection unit is viewable through the first eyepiece.