Offset Illumination Endoprobe for Vitreous Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
During ophthalmic surgery, the transparent and colorless vitreous gel-like substance in the eye makes it difficult for surgeons to visualize its removal due to its transparency, which allows light to pass unimpeded, hindering surgical visibility.
Innovation Solution
An illuminating endoprobe system with a vitreous visualization fiber and a general illumination fiber, where the visualization light has a focused beam angle and is offset relative to the broader illumination light, providing improved visualization by creating a smoky appearance of the vitreous and reducing retinal illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If general illumination light is used to illuminate the surgical field, then the overall visibility is improved, but the vitreous remains difficult to see due to its transparency
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system is segmented into two distinct functions: a general illumination fiber providing broad illumination for overall visibility, and a separate vitreous visualization fiber providing focused illumination for enhancing vitreous visibility. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The vitreous visualization fiber provides localized, focused illumination with a narrower beam angle directed specifically at the vitreous, creating a smoky appearance that enhances local visibility. This local quality enhancement allows the surgeon to see the vitreous clearly while maintaining general field illumination.
2Device complexity
If the visualization light and illumination light are concentric (aligned), then the structure is simplified, but the surgeon cannot distinguish the vitreous from the retinal reflection
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination and visualization light paths are configured asymmetrically with an offset angle of 5-30 degrees between them. This asymmetry creates non-concentric illumination patterns where the visualization light appears as a distinct smoky cone within the broader illumination field, allowing the surgeon to easily differentiate vitreous from retinal reflections.
3Area of stationary object
If the visualization beam angle is wide to illuminate more area, then peripheral visualization is improved, but the focus and contrast are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The solution adds a dimensional layer by superimposing the narrow-beam visualization light cone within the broader illumination field. This creates a nested illumination structure where the focused visualization light provides high-contrast central viewing, while the broader illumination maintains peripheral visibility, effectively utilizing multiple spatial dimensions.
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
Enhances the visibility of the vitreous during surgery by creating a distinct illumination pattern that shifts general illumination away from the surgeon's view, allowing better access to peripheral areas and improving the visibility ratio of the vitreous against the retina.
Implementation Method 1
The vitreous visualization fiber transmits the visualization light through the probe tip
Implementation Method 2
The general illumination fiber transmits the illumination light through the probe tip
Implementation Method 3
The illumination beam angle is greater than the visualization beam angle, and the illumination axis is at an offset angle relative to the visualization axis, the offset angle greater than 5 degrees
Data Source
AI summary
In certain embodiments, an illuminating endoprobe system includes one or more light sources, a housing, a vitreous visualization fiber, and a general illumination fiber. The light sources generate a visualization light and an illumination light. The housing receives the visualization and illumination light, and has a probe tip with a probe axis. The vitreous visualization fiber transmits the visualization light through the probe tip. The visualization light has a visualization axis and a visualization beam angle at the probe tip. The general illumination fiber transmits the illumination light through the probe tip. The illumination light has an illumination axis and an illumination beam angle at the probe tip. The illumination beam angle is greater than the visualization beam angle, and the illumination axis is at an offset angle relative to the visualization axis, where the offset angle greater than 5 degrees.