Rear Illumination IOL Tracking via Retinal Reflection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ophthalmic surgical systems face challenges in precisely locating intraocular lenses (IOLs) post-implantation due to limited contrast and signal-to-noise ratio in visual images, making it difficult to adjust the optical power accurately, which can lead to suboptimal visual outcomes.
Innovation Solution
An ophthalmic visualization system utilizing a rear illumination system to generate and project light onto the retina, with an optic and aperture stop to separate and isolate the IOL-focused illumination light, allowing for high-contrast imaging of the IOL, enabling precise location determination and tracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional illumination methods are used to image the IOL, then the imaging system is simple, but the image contrast and signal-to-noise ratio are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system segments light paths into central (through IOL) and peripheral (around IOL) portions using an aperture stop, allowing separate imaging of the IOL with high contrast against a blocked peripheral background
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from conventional direct illumination to rear illumination through the retina, utilizing the optical focusing property of the IOL to create a high-contrast image in a different imaging dimension
2Measurement precision
If rear illumination with aperture stop is used to achieve high-contrast IOL imaging, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optic system serves multiple functions: it focuses rear illumination light through the retina, separates central and peripheral light paths, and forms the final IOL image, reducing the need for additional dedicated components
Solution Approach 2:
The aperture stop acts as an intermediary element that selectively blocks peripheral illumination light while allowing IOL-focused light to pass, achieving high contrast without complex filtering mechanisms
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 system provides a high-contrast, high-signal-to-noise ratio image of the IOL, facilitating precise location determination and adjustment, thereby improving the accuracy of optical power adjustments and enhancing visual outcomes in cataract surgeries.
Implementation Method 1
generate and to project a rear illumination light onto a retina of an eye that has an intraocular lens (IOL) implanted into the eye, so that the rear illumination light reflects from the retina as a reflected illumination light
Implementation Method 2
a central portion of the reflected illumination light propagates through the IOL to form an IOL-focused illumination light
Data Source
AI summary
An ophthalmic visualization system includes a rear illumination system, to generate and to project a rear illumination light onto a retina of an eye that has an intraocular lens (IOL) implanted into the eye, so that the rear illumination light reflects from the retina as a reflected illumination light, wherein a central portion of the reflected illumination light propagates through the IOL to form an IOL-focused illumination light, and a peripheral portion of the reflected illumination light propagates around the IOL to form a peripheral illumination light; an optic, to receive the IOL-focused illumination light and the peripheral illumination light from the eye, and to transmit the received illumination lights; an aperture slop, to stop the transmitted peripheral illumination light, and to allow the IOL-focused illumination light to pass through; and an imaging system, to form an isolated IOL image based on the transmitted IOL-focused illumination light.