Ophthalmic Illuminator Arc Offset Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ophthalmic illumination systems face a significant drop in illumination at the surgical site due to xenon bulb degradation, which causes the arc to move and decrease in luminance, leading to reduced fiber throughput, and increasing the optical fiber diameter to compensate results in stiffness and higher costs without effectively addressing the issue.
Innovation Solution
Positioning the xenon lamp arc offset from the optical fiber's longitudinal axis, combined with a reflector to decrease cathode erosion, maintains optimal light coupling and throughput over the system's lifetime by compensating for arc movement and luminance decrease.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the optical fiber diameter is increased to compensate for arc movement and maintain fiber throughput, then the illumination intensity at the surgical site can be maintained, but the optical fiber becomes stiffer and more expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination source is pre-positioned offset from the longitudinal axis of the optical fiber before operation begins. This preliminary offset positioning anticipates the future arc movement that will occur during operation, ensuring that the arc image remains properly aligned with the fiber core throughout the operational lifetime without requiring larger fiber diameter
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the positional parameter of the illumination source relative to the optical fiber axis. By offsetting the illumination source position, the system compensates for the temporal change in arc position that occurs during operation, maintaining optimal light coupling without modifying the fiber diameter parameter
2Illumination intensity
If the optical fiber diameter is increased to compensate for arc movement, then the fiber throughput can be maintained, but the cost of the optical fiber increases
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination source is pre-positioned offset from the longitudinal axis of the optical fiber before operation begins. This preliminary offset positioning anticipates the future arc movement that will occur during operation, ensuring that the arc image remains properly aligned with the fiber core throughout the operational lifetime without requiring larger fiber diameter
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the positional parameter of the illumination source relative to the optical fiber axis. By offsetting the illumination source position, the system compensates for the temporal change in arc position that occurs during operation, maintaining optimal light coupling without modifying the fiber diameter parameter
3Illumination intensity
If the optical fiber diameter is increased to compensate for arc movement, then the fiber throughput can be maintained, but light dissipation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination source is pre-positioned offset from the longitudinal axis of the optical fiber before operation begins. This preliminary offset positioning anticipates the future arc movement that will occur during operation, ensuring that the arc image remains properly aligned with the fiber core throughout the operational lifetime without requiring larger fiber diameter
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the positional parameter of the illumination source relative to the optical fiber axis. By offsetting the illumination source position, the system compensates for the temporal change in arc position that occurs during operation, maintaining optimal light coupling without modifying the fiber diameter parameter
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 approach maintains constant or improved fiber throughput throughout the system's lifetime, reducing the need for larger diameter fibers and minimizing light dissipation, while allowing for easier manipulation and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
a xenon lamp typically has a relatively small arc
Implementation Method 2
a length of optical fiber that enters a proximal end of the handle and passes through the handle and the tip to a distal end of the tip, from which light traveling along the optical fiber can project
Implementation Method 3
Optics within the illumination system are used to focus an image of the arc onto the optical fiber of the probe
Implementation Method 4
a reflector positioned offset from the illumination source to decrease the rate of erosion of an illumination source cathode
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
An ophthalmic illuminator (10) is disclosed, one embodiment comprising: an illumination source (14), wherein the illumination source produces an arc (55); a lens (23) for focusing light (28) produced by the illumination source arc; and an optical fiber (34) for carrying the focused light to a surgical site in an eye; wherein the illumination source is positioned offset from a longitudinal axis of the optical fiber to compensate for shifting of the illumination source arc over time. The offset position can be such that the illumination source is positioned in a vertically offset position from the longitudinal axis of the optical fiber (34). The longitudinal axis corresponds to the optical path axis of the optical fiber. The ophthalmic illuminator can further comprise a reflector (70) for reflecting the light produced the illumination source (14) arc (55), wherein the reflector is positioned offset from the illumination source to decrease the rate of erosion of an illumination source cathode (65).