Off-axis Prism Cone Imaging for Ophthalmic Laser Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ophthalmic laser systems face challenges in providing effective off-axis imaging due to limitations in optical path sharing between laser beam delivery optics and monitoring cameras, leading to restricted field of view and potential reflections.
Innovation Solution
An off-axis imaging system utilizing a prism cone made of transparent optical material downstream of the focusing objective lens, combined with miniature cameras positioned adjacent to the prism cone, allowing direct light reception without reflections, thereby enhancing the field of view.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a beam splitter is used to share the optical path between laser beam delivery optics and monitoring camera, then the camera can capture images of the patient's eye, but the field of view is restricted and potential reflections occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the camera from the on-axis optical path and positions it off-axis, eliminating the need for beam splitters and mirrors. The camera directly receives light from the patient's eye through the cornea at an oblique angle, thereby removing the restrictive optical components while preserving imaging capability and expanding the field of view.
Solution Approach 2:
The cornea acts as an intermediary optical element that allows light from the patient's eye to exit at an oblique angle toward the off-axis camera. This natural optical mediator enables direct imaging without requiring beam splitters or mirrors, thus eliminating reflection issues and expanding the field of view.
2Productivity
If a beam splitter is positioned upstream or downstream of the focusing objective to direct light to the monitoring camera, then live monitoring is enabled, but reflections and restricted field of view result
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes beam splitters and mirrors from the optical path by positioning the camera off-axis. The camera directly captures light from the patient's eye through the cornea, eliminating the reflective surfaces that cause harmful reflections while maintaining live monitoring capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using beam splitters to redirect light from the optical axis to the camera, the invention inverts the approach by positioning the camera off-axis to directly receive light at an oblique angle. This reversal of the conventional on-axis approach eliminates the need for reflective components and their associated reflection problems.
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 achieves improved live monitoring capabilities during ophthalmic procedures by providing a wider field of view and reducing reflections, enabling accurate real-time assessment of surgical progress.
Implementation Method 1
a camera disposed adjacent to the prism cone, the camera having an image detector that faces the beveled surface of the prism cone, wherein the camera is disposed to directly receive light that enters the lower surface of the prism cone and exits the beveled surface without having been reflected by any surface
Data Source
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AI summary
An imaging system for an ophthalmic laser system includes a prism cone made of a transparent optical material and disposed downstream of the focusing objective lens of the ophthalmic laser system, the prism cone having an upper surface, a lower surface parallel to the upper surface, a tapered side surface between the upper and lower surfaces, and a beveled surface formed at an upper edge of the prism cone and intersecting the upper surface and the side surface, and a camera disposed adjacent to the prism cone and facing the beveled surface. The camera is disposed to directly receive light that enters the lower surface of the prism cone and exits the beveled surface without having been reflected by any surface.