Multi-Fiber Illuminator for Adjustable Ophthalmic Surgery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wide-angle illuminators for ophthalmic surgery face issues such as refractive-index matching with vitreous eye fluid, glare, lack of adjustable illumination properties, and high production costs, leading to suboptimal performance and inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A multi-fiber variable intensity wide-angle illuminator with a small gauge optical fiber assembly housed in a cannula, featuring a handle mechanism that allows adjustable divergence of fiber guides for customizable illumination angle and intensity, using biocompatible materials and SMA connectors for efficient light transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a single fiber-optic probe is used for illumination, then the device structure is simple, but the illumination angle is limited and cannot provide wide-angle illumination
Solution Approach 1:
The single fiber-optic probe is segmented into multiple fiber guides (at least two) that are arranged in a specific geometric configuration. Each fiber guide transmits light independently, and their combined output creates a wide-angle illumination pattern that exceeds what a single fiber could provide, while maintaining relative structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple fiber guides are merged into a single illumination device with a common handle and cannula structure. The light from multiple fibers is combined to create a unified wide-angle illumination field, achieving both wide coverage and integrated device operation
2Adaptability or versatility
If the fiber guides are fixed in position, then the device structure is simple, but the illumination angle cannot be adjusted for different surgical conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The fiber guides are made movable relative to each other through a mechanical adjustment mechanism. The separation between fiber guides can be dynamically changed by adjusting the spacing mechanism, allowing the illumination angle to be adapted for different surgical conditions while maintaining an integrated device structure
3Area of stationary object
If prior art wide-angle illuminators are used, then wide-angle illumination is achieved, but refractive-index matching with vitreous eye fluid causes suboptimal light refraction
Solution Approach 1:
An intermediary mechanism is introduced between the fiber guides and the vitreous eye fluid environment. The specific geometric arrangement and spacing of fiber guides creates an optical configuration that minimizes direct contact effects and refractive-index matching issues, improving light refraction quality while maintaining wide-angle illumination
4Illumination intensity
If a small bright illumination source is used, then the illumination intensity is high, but direct line of sight to the source causes glare
Solution Approach 1:
The single bright light source is segmented into multiple light-emitting fiber guides. This distributes the brightness across multiple smaller sources, reducing the intensity of any single point and thereby minimizing glare while maintaining overall high illumination levels through the combined effect of all fibers
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 provides high optical transmission, adjustable illumination to minimize glare, and cost-effectiveness, enabling optimal surgical field illumination with adjustable angles up to 180°, enhancing surgical efficiency and reducing production costs.
Implementation Method 1
an optical fiber assembly comprising one or more, or a plurality of, fiber guides, each comprising one or more custom polymer optical fibers arranged in a specified geometry
Implementation Method 2
each fiber guide comprising a cladding having one or more fiber cores for transmitting and scattering the light beam
Implementation Method 3
The output from a light source, such as a xenon light source, can be optically coupled using standard SMA optical fiber connectors to the proximal end of the optical fiber assembly
Implementation Method 4
Activation of the handle mechanism, such as by a gentle and reversible squeezing action, can cause the fiber guides of the optical fiber assembly to diverge in a predetermined and adjustable manner
Data Source
AI summary
An illuminator and surgical illumination system are disclosed, one embodiment of the surgical illumination system comprising: a light source for providing a light beam; an optical cable, optically coupled to the light source for receiving and transmitting the light beam; a handpiece operably coupled to the optical cable; an optical fiber assembly operably coupled to the handpiece, wherein the optical fiber assembly is optically coupled to the optical cable to receive and transmit the light beam and wherein the optical fiber assembly comprises a plurality of fiber guides, wherein each fiber guide comprises a cladding having one or more fiber cores for transmitting and scattering the light beam to illuminate the surgical field, and a cannula, operably coupled to the handpiece for housing and directing the optical fiber assembly. The surgical illumination system can further comprise a separator operable to maintain a spacing between the fiber guides.