Surgical Instrument Light Detection for Ocular Surgery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical instruments for ocular surgery are inefficient and pose safety risks due to reliance on manual inspection and estimation to determine parameters such as cannula position and tool identification, leading to potential complications and limited capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A surgical instrument equipped with a waveguide, transducer, and logic circuitry that detects light to determine parameters like cannula position, tool identification, and illumination levels, enabling safer and more efficient ocular surgery procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If manual inspection and estimation are used to determine cannula position and tool identification, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision and reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical inspection with an optical detection system. A waveguide delivers light to the surgical site, and a transducer detects reflected light patterns to automatically determine cannula position and tool identification, eliminating the need for manual visual inspection while significantly improving measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces light as an intermediary medium between the surgical instrument and the detection system. Light travels through the waveguide, interacts with the surgical field and instruments, and carries information back to the transducer, enabling non-contact, automated parameter detection without adding mechanical complexity
2Device complexity
If manual inspection methods are used, then device complexity is low, but safety and reliability worsen due to potential complications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the transducer continuously detects light patterns and provides real-time information about cannula position and tool presence to the control system. This closed-loop feedback enables immediate detection of unsafe conditions and allows for corrective action, significantly improving surgical safety and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces error-prone manual inspection with automated optical detection and processing. The system objectively determines surgical parameters through light detection and analysis, eliminating human error and subjectivity, thereby improving reliability without requiring complex mechanical structures
3Measurement precision
If light detection technology is implemented, then measurement precision and reliability improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the surgical instrument to perform multiple functions through a single integrated system. The waveguide serves both illumination and light delivery functions, while the transducer detects various parameters (position, tool identification, illumination levels) through a single detection mechanism, reducing overall device complexity despite enhanced capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses light as an intermediary that carries multiple types of information simultaneously. The same light beam used for illumination also enables detection of cannula position, tool identification, and illumination levels through reflected light pattern analysis, eliminating the need for separate sensing systems for each parameter
4Productivity
If automated light detection is used, then productivity and surgical efficiency improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the surgical system to self-monitor and self-assess critical parameters. The transducer automatically detects light patterns and determines cannula position and tool status without requiring external intervention or manual verification, improving surgical workflow efficiency and productivity while maintaining relatively simple device architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a multi-functional detection system where a single optical setup serves multiple purposes: illumination, position detection, tool identification, and illumination level monitoring. This consolidation improves productivity by eliminating multiple separate systems while managing device complexity through functional integration
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 instrument provides accurate and continuous monitoring of light parameters, preventing unsafe conditions and improving surgical precision and safety by determining if the cannula is correctly positioned and if tools are properly located within the eye, thus enhancing surgical efficiency and reducing complications.
Implementation Method 1
A waveguide may be embedded in the cannula and may include an illumination nanofiber that extends from the proximal end to the distal end of the cannula
Implementation Method 2
A transducer may detect light that enters the distal end of the surgical instrument and travels in a proximal direction in the waveguide
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments are generally directed to a surgical instrument for detecting light, such as by measuring light traveling in a waveguide, for instance. Some embodiments are particularly directed to a determining one or more parameters associated with ocular surgery based on detection of the light. In one or more embodiments, for example, a surgical instrument may include a cannula, a waveguide, a transducer, and logic implemented in circuitry communicatively coupled with the transducer. In one or more such embodiments, the cannula may comprise at least a portion of the waveguide. In some embodiments, the transducer may detect light traveling in a first direction in the waveguide. In some such embodiments, the logic may determine at least one parameter associated with ocular surgery based on the light detected by the transducer.