Magnetic Light Guide Plug for Ophthalmic Surgery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ophthalmic light instruments and illumination systems face challenges with insufficient illumination in eye surgery due to high sensitivity of the human eye to blue, violet, or UV light, and the complexity of coupling light guides or probes to light sources, leading to reduced accuracy and longer operation times.
Innovation Solution
An ophthalmic light instrument with a magnetically attractable or attractive plug that ensures reliable coupling to a light source by maintaining the light guide at the focal point, using magnetic attraction to correct for tensile stress and simplify handling, eliminating the need for complex interlocking mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual fixing or interlocking connection is used to couple light probes to light source, then firm fixing is achieved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate due to complicated coupling mechanisms requiring manual fixing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical interlocking coupling mechanisms with a magnetic field-based coupling system. The light probe contains a magnet that magnetically attracts to the light source, eliminating the need for complicated manual fixing mechanisms while maintaining reliable connection. This substitution of mechanical system with magnetic field system resolves the contradiction between firm fixing and device complexity.
2Ease of operation
If clamping is used to couple light probes to light source, then ease of operation improves, but reliability deteriorates due to abutment instead of firm fixing causing movement or detachment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces weak mechanical clamping with magnetic attraction for coupling the light probe to the light source. The magnet in the light probe creates a magnetic field that firmly attracts to the light source, providing both ease of operation (simple approach and attach) and high reliability (firm magnetic fixing that prevents movement or detachment). This resolves the contradiction between coupling simplicity and coupling stability.
3Ease of operation
If light guide is pulled during manipulation, then ease of operation improves, but illumination reliability deteriorates due to tensile stress pulling light guide out of focal point or causing detachment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses magnetic attraction force as a counteracting force to balance the tensile stress applied during manipulation. When the operator pulls on the light probe handle, the magnetic attraction between the magnet in the probe and the light source creates an opposing force that keeps the light guide tip at the focal point, preventing detachment and maintaining stable illumination. This resolves the contradiction between manipulation flexibility and illumination stability.
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 provides stable, reproducible, and maximized illumination at the surgical site, reducing the risk of light guide detachment and simplifying the connection process, thereby improving surgical precision and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the plug of the light instrument is configured to be magnetically attractable or attractive, and can be positioned by means of its abutment surface with respect to the light source in such a way, and can be connected releasably to the light source in such a way, that the proximal end of the light guide comes to lie at the focal point of the light source
Implementation Method 2
a light guide, mounted on the plug of the light instrument, for guiding light, or a light beam, to a surgical site in the eye
Data Source
AI summary
An ophthalmic light instrument includes a plug (1) and a light guide (7) for guiding light (10) to a surgical site in the eye. The plug (1) is configured to be magnetically attractable or attractive and can be positioned and connected releasably with respect to a light source in such a way, that coupling of the light (10) into the light instrument takes place at the focal point (14) of the light source (12). An ophthalmic illumination system includes such a light instrument and a socket of the light source. The socket of the light source (4) is configured to be magnetically attractable or attractive and can be positioned and connected releasably with respect to the light source in such a way, that coupling of the light (10) into the light instrument takes place at the focal point (14) of the light source (12).