Ophthalmic Treatment Scanning Module for Retinal Outline Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ophthalmic treatment systems for photothermal therapy, such as laser photocoagulation, are cumbersome, costly, and time-consuming due to the need for point-by-point treatment, leading to physician fatigue and potential under-treatment or prolonged procedures.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus featuring a scanning module that delivers a treatment beam and an aiming beam to create a visible outline pattern on the retina, indicating the periphery of the treatment area, allowing for multiple treatment locations to be targeted efficiently, with the aiming beam's path repeatedly scanned along the periphery and selectively activated to create a perceivable motion, reducing the need for extensive aiming light and improving visibility for the physician.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If point-by-point treatment is used, then treatment precision is improved, but treatment time increases and physician fatigue occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the treatment process into two distinct phases: an outlining phase that defines the treatment perimeter using a visible laser beam, and a treatment phase that delivers energy at multiple predetermined locations within that perimeter. This segmentation allows the physician to efficiently define the treatment area once, then automatically treat multiple points without repeated manual positioning, thereby maintaining precision while reducing overall treatment time and fatigue.
2Measurement precision
If visible aiming light is increased to indicate multiple treatment locations, then targeting accuracy is improved, but physician discomfort and blinding effects increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic action by using a visible laser beam that repeatedly scans along the periphery of the treatment area to create the outline pattern. The beam is selectively activated and deactivated during repeated scans, creating a perceivable motion that clearly indicates the treatment boundary without requiring continuous high-intensity illumination at all treatment locations simultaneously. This reduces overall light exposure to the physician's eyes while maintaining clear visual guidance.
3Productivity
If multiple treatment locations are targeted simultaneously, then treatment efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by first using the visible laser beam to outline the treatment perimeter and establish the treatment area before delivering energy at multiple locations. The system predetermined multiple treatment locations within the outlined perimeter, allowing the physician to efficiently treat multiple points without complex real-time navigation. This preliminary outlining simplifies the overall process by providing clear spatial reference points, thereby improving efficiency without requiring overly complex device architecture.
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 reduces treatment time, minimizes physician fatigue, and enhances the precision and efficiency of ophthalmic treatments by providing a clear visual guide for targeting multiple locations without blinding or discomfort, thus improving treatment outcomes and reducing the need for prolonged procedures.
Implementation Method 1
photothermal ophthalmic treatment by causing absorption of light by structures of a subject's eye, such as melanin or blood
Implementation Method 2
Laser coagulation requires the exposure of the retina to visible laser light and relies on the selective absorption in melanin and hemoglobin, typically at a wavelength range of 514-577 nanometers (nm), to achieve vessel coagulation
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus for photothermal ophthalmic treatment comprising: a treatment light source for producing a treatment beam, a scanning module configured for delivering the treatment beam onto separate treatment locations within a treatment target area on a structure of a subject's eye, an aiming light source for producing an aiming beam, wherein the scanning module is configured for delivering the aiming beam to create a visible outline pattern on the structure of the subject's eye, the visible outline pattern being indicative of a periphery of said treatment target area, wherein the visible outline pattern includes one or more pattern elements, each pattern element perceivable as moving along the periphery.