Ophthalmic Device Interferometric Measurement Path Compensation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current ophthalmic devices for treating eye tissue with laser pulses face challenges in simplifying the treatment process and avoiding measurement errors due to the need for manual adjustment and separate measurement devices, which can complicate the capture and provision of current eye structure data during and after treatment.
Innovation Solution
An ophthalmic device with a movable light projector and an integrated interferometric measurement system that allows for flexible measurement of eye structures without moving the device, using a movable optical element to maintain path length consistency between measurement and reference arms, enabling efficient data capture and treatment without measurement errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the light projector is made movable to enable flexible measurement of eye structures, then measurement flexibility is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to changes in light-transmission path length
Solution Approach 1:
A control unit continuously monitors the position of the light projector and automatically adjusts the reference arm length of the interferometric measurement system to compensate for path length changes. This feedback mechanism ensures that the optical path difference remains constant despite projector movement, maintaining measurement precision while enabling flexible positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the reference arm length parameter in response to light projector position changes. By adjusting this parameter in real-time, the system compensates for variations in the measurement arm path length, ensuring that the optical path difference remains constant and measurement accuracy is preserved throughout the treatment process.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the light-transmission path length is changed by moving the light projector, then treatment adaptability is improved, but measurement reliability deteriorates due to path length differences
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit receives position information from the position detection unit and automatically adjusts the reference arm length to compensate for path length changes. This closed-loop feedback ensures that the optical path difference remains constant, maintaining measurement reliability while allowing flexible treatment positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The reference arm acts as an intermediary that compensates for path length variations in the measurement arm. By adjusting the reference arm length, the system mediates the effect of projector movement, ensuring that the optical path difference remains constant and measurement reliability is maintained.
3Measurement precision
If a separate measurement device is used instead of an integrated system, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The interferometric measurement system is integrated into the light transmission path of the treatment device, combining measurement and treatment functions in a single system. This merging eliminates the need for separate measurement devices and manual patient repositioning, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining measurement precision through automatic path length compensation.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated system performs both treatment (light projection) and measurement (interferometric detection) functions using a single device platform. The measurement system is coupled into the light-transmission path, allowing the same optical path to serve dual purposes, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement accuracy through the compensation mechanism.
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 simplifies the treatment process by allowing for easy and efficient measurement and treatment of eye structures, reducing measurement errors caused by light projector movement, and ensuring accurate data capture before, during, and after treatment.
Implementation Method 1
an interferometric measurement system for measuring eye structures
Implementation Method 2
a light source for generating the laser pulses and a light projector for focused projection of the laser pulses into the eye tissue
Implementation Method 3
an optical element, which is movable in relation to the light source and is provided for preventing a change in the path length difference between the measurement arm and the reference arm of the interferometric measurement system as a result of a change in the length of the light-transmission path
Data Source
AI summary
An ophthalmic device for treating eye tissue comprises a light source for generating laser pulses, a light projector for focused projection of the laser pulses into the eye tissue and an interferometric measurement system for measuring eye structures. The ophthalmic device comprises an optical element which is movable in relation to the light source and provided for preventing a change in the path length difference between measurement and reference arms of the interferometric measurement system resulting from a change in the length of the light-transmission path caused by a movement of the light projector relative to the light source. The interferometric measurement system enables a flexible measurement of the eye structures before, during and after the treatment, wherein measurement errors in the interferometric measurement system resulting from length changes in the light-transmission path are avoided, which are caused by movements of the light projector relative to the light source.