Intraocular White-Light Source With LARP Spectral Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing intraocular illumination devices face limitations in providing high étendue, low coherence, and controllable, spectrally broad light composition for fiber-based applications, with previous technologies like LEDs and laser diodes having inefficiencies in light coupling and coherence issues.
Innovation Solution
A white-light source utilizing laser-activated remote phosphor (LARP) light sources with beam combiners to combine red, green, and blue light beams, allowing individual control of spectral composition and intensity, enhancing étendue and coherence while enabling broad spectral coverage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If LED light sources are used for intraocular illumination, then the spectral composition can be adjusted, but the étendue is low and light coupling into small fibers is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination device is divided into multiple independent light sources (e.g., red, green, blue LEDs or laser diodes), each capable of being controlled individually. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high étendue by combining multiple sources while maintaining spectral controllability through selective activation of individual sources.
2Quantity of substance
If laser diodes are used to increase étendue, then light coupling efficiency improves, but coherence issues and interference effects occur
Solution Approach 1:
Different light sources are used for different spectral regions, with each source optimized for its specific wavelength range. This local quality approach allows the system to achieve high étendue where needed while managing coherence properties by selecting appropriate source types for each spectral component.
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines multiple light sources with different coherence properties (LEDs and laser diodes) to create a composite illumination system. This composite approach allows the system to achieve high overall étendue while the incoherent nature of LED components reduces interference effects.
3Length of moving object
If fiber diameter is reduced to minimize incision size, then surgical precision improves, but light coupling efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The light source is segmented into multiple independent emitters that can be individually optimized for coupling into small fiber cores. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high luminous flux by combining multiple sources while each source can be independently optimized for the small fiber diameter.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from relying on a single high-power source to multiple lower-power sources arranged in a spatial configuration that optimizes coupling into the fiber. This dimensional approach allows efficient light delivery through small fibers by distributing the luminous flux across multiple coupling points.
4Illumination intensity
If phosphor-based white-light LEDs are used, then white light is generated, but color temperature cannot be controlled and spectral filtering is required
Solution Approach 1:
The white light generation is segmented into multiple independent LED or laser diode sources with different spectral characteristics. By individually controlling the intensity of each source (e.g., red, green, blue), the system can generate white light with adjustable color temperature without requiring spectral filtering.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the relative intensities of multiple light sources to achieve different color temperatures and spectral compositions. This dynamic control allows real-time adaptation of the illumination spectrum to match surgical requirements without physical filtering components.
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 enables efficient light coupling into small fibers with high intensity and improved color rendering, overcoming coherence and étendue limitations of previous technologies.
Implementation Method 1
a laser diode (92) for emitting an excitation radiation (S)
Implementation Method 2
having a conversion element (98) in the form of a phosphor and a laser diode (92) for emitting an excitation radiation (S)
Data Source
AI summary
A white-light source for fiber-based intraocular illumination is light of controllable, spectrally broad composition and to an intraocular illumination device with corresponding controllability. Specifically, the white-light source for fiber-based intraocular illumination with light of controllable spectral composition includes at least two light sources for the provision of light beams of different colors, preferably with components substantially in the blue, the green and the red spectral range; wherein the individual light beams are combined to form a common light beam (W); wherein the white-light source is configured for individual control of the proportions of the individual light beams in the common light beam (W); wherein at least one of the light sources is a laser-activated remote phosphor light source, LARP light source, having a phosphor as conversion element and a laser diode for exciting the conversion element by means of an excitation radiation (S) emitted by the laser diode.