Preconditioned Optical Fiber Illuminator for Ophthalmic Surgery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wide-angle illuminators used in ophthalmic surgery are prone to run-away heating, leading to performance degradation and catastrophic failure due to the cannula absorbing light and causing deformation in the optical fiber, which increases temperature and further deformation.
Innovation Solution
The optical fiber is heat preconditioned at its distal portion to relieve axial stress before being fixed in place, allowing it to maintain contact with the optical element and preventing thermal deformation, thereby extending the illuminator's usage time with more intense light.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the optical fiber is fixed in place before heat treatment, then the assembly is simpler and faster to manufacture, but the optical fiber will deform under thermal stress during use, leading to run-away heating and catastrophic failure
Solution Approach 1:
The optical fiber undergoes heat treatment and axial shrinkage before being permanently fixed in the illuminator assembly. This preliminary action relieves internal stresses and prevents subsequent thermal deformation during operation, eliminating the run-away heating effect while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure
2Duration of action of stationary object
If the optical fiber is heated to relieve stress, then thermal deformation is prevented, but additional processing time and equipment are required
Solution Approach 1:
The optical fiber is heated to specific temperature parameters (between softening and melting temperatures) for controlled durations to achieve axial shrinkage and stress relief. This parameter-controlled heat treatment process, typically 1-10 seconds at temperatures of 80-150°C, prevents future thermal deformation and extends operational lifespan with intense light
3Illumination intensity
If the cannula absorbs light to provide illumination, then the surgical field is illuminated, but the cannula temperature increases causing optical fiber deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The optical fiber is pre-heated and pre-shrunk before assembly to eliminate internal stresses that would otherwise cause deformation when the cannula absorbs illumination light. This preliminary stress relief ensures the fiber maintains proper alignment and contact with the optical element even under thermal load during surgery
Solution Approach 2:
The heat treatment process, which could potentially damage the optical fiber, is instead used beneficially to relieve internal stresses and prevent harmful thermal deformation during operation. The controlled heating that would normally cause damage is transformed into a protective pre-conditioning step
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
Preconditioning the optical fiber reduces the susceptibility to thermal deformation, allowing for longer usage with intense light without catastrophic failure, while maintaining optical performance.
Implementation Method 1
heating a distal portion of the optical fiber to between a softening temperature and a melting temperature
Implementation Method 2
heating a distal portion of the optical fiber to between a softening temperature and a melting temperature for a period of time to cause the distal portion to axially shrink
Implementation Method 3
the cannula of an illuminator absorbs light from the optical fiber running through the illuminator
Implementation Method 4
an optical fiber running through the passage with the distal end of the optical fiber in contact with the optical element
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of endo-illuminators and related methods are disclosed. One embodiment of an illuminator can comprise a cannula defining a passage, an optical element disposed at an end of the cannula, and an optical fiber running through the passage with the distal end of the optical fiber in contact with the optical element. The optical fiber includes at least a heat preconditioned distal portion that terminates in the distal end that is in contact with the optical element. One embodiment of a method can comprise inserting an optical fiber through a proximal portion of a cannula and optical element assembly until the distal end of the optical fiber contacts the optical element, heating a distal portion of the optical fiber to between a softening temperature and a melting temperature for a period of time to cause the distal portion to axially shrink and moving the optical element so that the optical element is in contact with the distal end of the optical fiber when the distal portion of the optical fiber has axially shrunk. Moving the optical element so that the optical element is in contact with the distal end of the optical fiber when the distal portion of the optical fiber has axially shrunk can comprise applying a force to the cannula and optical element assembly to maintain the optical element in continuous contact with the distal end of the optical fiber while the optical fiber axially shrinks.