Weight-Compensating Suspension for Laser Focusing Objective
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laser systems face challenges in providing a reliable and precise weight-compensating suspension for focusing objectives, especially during medical procedures where direct contact with living tissue is involved, as the weight of the focusing objective can exert significant force on the tissue, requiring a solution to minimize this force and maintain precise positioning.
Innovation Solution
A movable weight-compensating suspension system for the focusing objective, comprising a force generation device, a transmission device, and a guidance device, which generates a counterforce to counteract the weight of the objective, allowing upward/downward movement while maintaining the optical axis orientation, using a rocker mechanism with a counterweight and elastic elements to achieve precise taring and constant counterforce over the operational range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a heavy focusing objective is used to provide precise focusing capability, then the focusing precision is improved, but the weight of the objective increases causing excessive force on the treated tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a counterweight mechanism where a weight member is positioned to generate a counterforce that compensates for the weight of the focusing objective. This counterforce is transmitted through a transmission device to reduce the net force exerted on the treated tissue to a safe level (a few newtons), while the heavy objective remains in place to provide precise focusing capability.
2Force
If the focusing objective is made movable to allow weight compensation, then the force on tissue is reduced, but the positioning precision and stability may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the suspension system into distinct functional components: a force generation device (counterweight) for weight compensation, a transmission device for force transmission and movement enablement, and a guidance device for maintaining optical axis orientation. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while working together to achieve both force reduction and positioning precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The transmission device acts as an intermediary between the counterweight and the focusing objective, enabling upward/downward compensatory movement while the guidance device serves as an intermediary to maintain the optical axis orientation during movement. These intermediary devices decouple the weight compensation function from the positioning function, allowing both to be achieved simultaneously.
3Weight of moving object
If the focusing objective is suspended to allow movement, then weight compensation is achieved, but the optical axis orientation may tilt during movement
Solution Approach 1:
The guidance device creates a constrained movement path that maintains the optical axis orientation in space during upward/downward compensatory movement. By providing guidance formations that restrict movement to a specific trajectory, the system ensures that the focusing objective moves along an equipotential path where the optical axis orientation remains constant, preventing tilting during weight-compensated movement.
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 effectively reduces the force exerted on the tissue to a few newtons, allowing gentle deflection of the focusing objective without tilting the optical axis, ensuring precise positioning and stability during movements, applicable to various laser system applications beyond ophthalmological uses.
Implementation Method 1
a counterweight (16), the mass of which is used to generate at least part, and in particular the whole, of the counterforce component
Implementation Method 2
generating part of the counterforce component by means of at least one elastic element
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for movable weight-compensating suspension of a focusing objective of a laser system comprises a force generation device to generate a counterforce component G which counteracts the weight of the focusing objective, a transmission device which transmits the counterforce component G onto the focusing objective and permits upward/downward compensatory movement of the focusing objective, in such a way that in the case of an upward/downward compensatory movement of the focusing objective, an optical axis (O) of the focusing objective maintains at least its orientation in space, and preferably its position in space.