Variable-Angle Surgical Illuminator With PDLC Diffuser
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wide-angle illuminators for ophthalmic surgery face issues such as sub-optimal light refraction due to index switching with vitreous eye fluid, glare from bright illumination sources, and inability to vary illumination angle in real-time, limiting effective illumination during surgical procedures.
Innovation Solution
A variable-angle, wide-angle surgical illuminator system featuring a light source, optical cable, handpiece, optical fiber, and optical assembly with a PDLC diffuser or nested CPC cone, allowing for adjustable light diffusion and angular spread, reducing glare and optimizing illumination for different surgical conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a wide-angle illuminator is used to illuminate a larger portion of the retina, then the illumination area is improved, but sub-optimal light refraction occurs due to index switching with vitreous eye fluid
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an air-gap as an intermediary medium between the optical fiber and the vitreous eye fluid. This air-gap prevents direct contact between the illuminator lens and the vitreous fluid, thereby eliminating index switching and ensuring optimal light refraction while maintaining wide-angle illumination capability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a geometric shield is used to reduce glare, then the glare is reduced, but the overall available light flux is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using a diffusive finish on specific portions of the bullet-shaped fiber surface rather than uniformly across the entire surface. This selective diffusion reduces glare in critical viewing directions while preserving light flux in other directions, thereby maintaining overall illumination efficiency.
3Device complexity
If the illumination angle is fixed, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to adapt to different surgical conditions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by making the illuminator adjustable between multiple fixed angular positions (e.g., 0°, 45°, 90°). This allows the illumination angle to be dynamically changed during surgery to adapt to different surgical conditions and viewing angles, while maintaining reasonable device complexity through discrete rather than continuous adjustment mechanisms.
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 system provides controlled, efficient illumination with adjustable angular spread, minimizing glare and optimizing light refraction, enabling improved visualization during ophthalmic surgeries by varying the illumination angle in real-time.
Implementation Method 1
an optical fiber, operably coupled to the handpiece, wherein the optical fiber is optically coupled to the optical cable to receive and transmit the light beam
Implementation Method 2
an optical assembly, optically coupled to a distal end of the optical fiber, for receiving the light beam and providing the light beam to illuminate an area
Implementation Method 3
matching of the light refracting index of the vitreous eye fluid to that of the light refracting surface of the lens of the illuminator
Data Source
AI summary
A variable-angle, wide-angle illuminator is disclosed, one embodiment being a small-gauge, variable-angle illumination surgical system comprising: a light source for providing a light beam; an optical cable, optically coupled to the light source for receiving and transmitting the light beam; a handpiece, operably coupled to the optical cable; an optical fiber, operably coupled to the handpiece, wherein the optical fiber is optically coupled to the optical cable to receive and transmit the light beam; an optical assembly, optically coupled to a distal end of the optical fiber, for receiving the light beam and providing the light beam to illuminate a surgical field; and a cannula, operably coupled to the handpiece and optical assembly, for housing and directing the optical assembly to illuminate a selected area, such as a surgical site. The optical assembly can comprise, for example, a fiber/polymer-dispersed-liquid-crystal (“PDLC”) diffuser optically coupled to an optical needle or a nested compound parabolic concentrator (“CPC”) cone. In the PDLC diffuser/needle embodiment, the fiber can be a standard endo-illuminator optical fiber with 0.50 NA or similar value. The light beam from the light source is emitted from the distal end of the optical fiber and provided to the PDLC diffuser for further transmission. The degree of diffusion of the light beam at the PDLC diffuser can be electrically controlled and can be varied from no diffusion to very high degree of diffusion. After passing through the PDLC diffuser, the light beam is provided to a needle or fiber, such as a glass needle or fiber, that transmits the light beam to the surgical site in the eye.