Integrated Retinal Imaging and Laser Delivery for Precise Eye Targeting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ophthalmological devices lack the capability to simultaneously perform high-quality imaging and targeted laser treatment of eye conditions, necessitating separate procedures and potentially inaccurate targeting.
Innovation Solution
An integrated imaging and laser delivery device combining scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (SLO) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) pathways with a treatment laser, utilizing a common objective lens and a device controller for precise alignment and operation, along with a computing device for treatment planning and execution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If separate imaging and laser treatment devices are used, then device complexity is reduced, but treatment accuracy and efficiency deteriorate due to potential misalignment and multiple procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate imaging systems (SLO, OCT) and laser treatment delivery into a single integrated device with a common optical pathway and objective lens, ensuring precise co-registration of imaging and treatment functions while maintaining modular component design for manageable complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The common objective lens serves multiple functions by focusing light from different imaging modalities (SLO, OCT) and the treatment laser onto the same retinal location, enabling the device to perform imaging, navigation, and treatment through a single optical interface
2Productivity
If multiple separate procedures are performed for imaging and treatment, then ease of operation is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to multiple patient positioning and procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges imaging and treatment into a single operational session by integrating SLO imaging, OCT imaging, and laser treatment delivery through a common optical pathway, allowing continuous real-time imaging guidance during treatment without repositioning the patient or device
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated system enables continuous real-time imaging during laser treatment, maintaining uninterrupted visual feedback and navigation throughout the procedure, which eliminates gaps and repositioning between separate imaging and treatment sessions
3Reliability
If separate imaging and treatment systems are used, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to potential misalignment between imaging and treatment targeting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple optical pathways (SLO, OCT, treatment laser) into a single common optical pathway that shares a common objective lens and focal point, ensuring that all imaging and treatment functions are inherently co-registed to the same retinal location with high alignment accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The common objective lens acts as an intermediary optical element that receives and focuses light from different sources (SLO imaging light, OCT imaging light, treatment laser) onto the same focal point on the retina, ensuring precise alignment without requiring separate alignment procedures
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
Enables simultaneous high-resolution imaging and targeted laser treatment of eye conditions, improving accuracy and efficiency by aligning imaging and treatment processes, allowing for real-time navigation and eye-tracking during treatment.
Implementation Method 1
a delivery optical pathway comprising an objective lens that focuses light from the SLO optical pathway, the OCT optical pathway and the treatment optical pathway onto a portion of an eye being treated
Implementation Method 2
the SLO light source or external SLO light source operate at an SLO wavelength; the OCT light source or external OCT light source operate at an OCT wavelength; the treatment light source or external treatment light source operate at a treatment wavelength, and wherein each of the SLO wavelength, OCT wavelength and treatment wavelength are different wavelengths
Implementation Method 3
the delivery optical pathway comprises one or more optical devices for separating returning light from the eye through the objective lens and delivering a portion of the returning light to one of the SLO optical pathway or the OCT optical pathway based on a wavelength of the portion of the returning light
Data Source
AI summary
An ophthalmological device and system is described that allows the simultaneous imaging of an eye using both scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (SLO) and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Further the device and system is capable of targeting and delivering a treatment laser for treatment of an eye condition.