Stroboscopic Ophthalmic Microscope for High-Speed Probe Viewing

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Solution Overview

Problem

During ophthalmic surgeries, the high-frequency and high-power interactions between surgical probes and ocular matter are difficult to visualize, leading to potential damage due to the speed and power of these interactions being too quick for surgeons to react in time.

Innovation Solution

The use of stroboscopic illumination systems that provide a field of view with ocular interactions, coordinated with the probe's operation frequency, allowing for slowed-down visualization of these interactions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If high-frequency and high-power probes are used to manipulate tissue, then productivity and effectiveness of surgical procedures are improved, but the speed of interactions becomes too fast for surgeons to visually detect and react in time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveefficiency of tissue manipulationVSAvoidvisibility of probe-tissue interactions

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies stroboscopic illumination that operates at a frequency coordinated with the probe's operating frequency. The illumination is cycled on and off periodically, creating a strobe effect that slows down the visual perception of high-speed probe-tissue interactions. This allows surgeons to see and react to interactions that would otherwise be too rapid to detect, while maintaining the high-frequency operation of the probe for effective tissue manipulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Illumination intensity

If continuous illumination is used to illuminate the operative area, then visibility is maintained, but the high-speed interactions cannot be visualized in detail

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebrightness of operative areaVSAvoidtemporal resolution of visualized interactions

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces continuous illumination with periodic stroboscopic illumination that cycles on and off at a frequency coordinated with the probe operation. This periodic illumination creates a stroboscopic effect that slows down the visual perception of fast-moving interactions, providing temporal resolution detail that continuous illumination cannot achieve, while still maintaining adequate brightness for surgical visualization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Power

If the probe operates at high power to achieve effective tissue manipulation, then surgical effectiveness is improved, but the risk of damage increases due to lack of real-time visual feedback

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy output of probeVSAvoidrisk of damage to ocular matter

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback system where stroboscopic illumination provides real-time visual information about probe-tissue interactions to the surgeon. The illumination frequency is coordinated with the probe operation, creating a synchronized visual feedback loop that allows the surgeon to monitor the effects of high-power probe energy and adjust operations to prevent damage, thereby enabling safe use of high power levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The stroboscopic illumination operates at a frequency coordinated with the probe's operating frequency, creating a periodic visual feedback mechanism. This synchronization allows the surgeon to see the effects of each probe cycle, providing real-time feedback that enables adjustment of probe position and power to prevent damage while maintaining surgical effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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 visualization of high-speed ocular interactions, enabling surgeons to adjust probe position and operation in real-time, reducing the risk of damage and improving surgical precision.

Implementation Method 1

a stroboscopic illumination source configured to stroboscopically illuminate at least the portion of the field of view at an illumination frequency

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectStroboscopic illumination: Stroboscopic Effect

Data Source

PatentUS20250331947A1Ophthalmic surgical microscope with stroboscopic illumination

Publication Date: 2025.10.30 ALCON INC

AI summary

An ophthalmic system for visualization of interactions between ocular matter and a probe tip of a probe within or in contact with an ocular space of an eye includes: a visualization tool having a field of view that includes at least a portion of the ocular space of the eye where the probe tip interfaces with the ocular matter; and a stroboscopic illumination source configured to stroboscopically illuminate at least the portion of the field of view at an illumination frequency. A method of operating a stroboscopic illumination source during an ophthalmic surgical procedure includes: identifying an illumination source type of the stroboscopic illumination source; identifying a probe type; identifying a first procedure trigger; and operating the stroboscopic illumination source based on the probe type, the illumination source type, and the first procedure trigger.