Surgical Microscope Mirror Beam Splitter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cube beam splitter prisms in surgical microscopes introduce artifacts, distortions, and light loss, leading to suboptimal viewing experiences due to light passing through glass interfaces and causing astigmatism, with varying light distribution between eyes.
Innovation Solution
A beam splitter system with a housing that includes spaced apertures and openings for optical pathways, and mirror assemblies with reflective surfaces oriented at 45 degrees, minimizing visual occlusion and eliminating light passage through glass, thus reducing distortion and light loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a cube beam splitter prism is used to split the light beam, then the light beam can be directed to different destinations (eyepieces and camera), but light artifacts, distortions, and astigmatism are introduced due to light passing through glass interfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the cube beam splitter prism from the optical pathway, extracting the harmful glass interface that causes artifacts and distortions. Instead, it uses a mirror assembly that reflects light without requiring light to pass through glass, thereby eliminating the source of optical degradation while maintaining the beam splitting function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the optical-mechanical cube beam splitter prism system with a mirror-based reflection system. The mirror assembly uses reflective surfaces oriented at specific angles to split the light beam, substituting the glass-based refraction mechanism with a mirror-based reflection mechanism that avoids introducing optical artifacts.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a cube beam splitter prism is used to split the light beam, then light can be directed to different destinations, but light loss occurs due to transmission through the prism
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the cube beam splitter prism that causes light loss through glass transmission. By removing this component and using a mirror assembly instead, the system eliminates the source of light energy loss while maintaining the ability to split and direct light beams to different destinations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the glass-based prism system with a mirror-based reflection system. Mirrors reflect light without the energy loss associated with light passing through glass interfaces, thereby reducing light loss while maintaining beam splitting functionality.
3Adaptability or versatility
If cube beam splitter prisms are used in both right and left optical pathways for binocular view, then complete beam splitting is achieved, but unequal light distribution between eyes occurs due to variances between the two prisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the cube beam splitter prisms from both optical pathways, eliminating the source of light distribution inequality. By using mirror assemblies instead, the system achieves more uniform light distribution while maintaining binocular beam splitting capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the pair of cube beam splitter prisms with mirror assemblies in both optical pathways. The mirror-based system provides more consistent light distribution between eyes by eliminating the manufacturing variances inherent in glass prism components.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a cube beam splitter prism is used, then light can be split at 90 degrees, but visual occlusion increases due to the prism occupying space in the optical pathway
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the cube beam splitter prism that causes visual occlusion by removing it from the optical pathway. The replacement mirror assembly achieves beam splitting with minimal space occupation, thereby reducing visual occlusion while maintaining the light splitting function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the space-consuming cube beam splitter prism with a mirror assembly that achieves beam splitting with minimal visual occlusion. The mirror-based system occupies less space in the optical pathway while maintaining the ability to split light at 90 degrees.
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 solution provides a clear, distortion-free view with minimal light loss and balanced light distribution, reducing visual occlusion to less than 20% and eliminating artifacts, enhancing the surgical microscope's performance.
Implementation Method 1
at least one mirror assembly having a mirror armature and a mirror. Each mirror armature is positioned within the interior cavity of the housing and extends inwardly into a respective optical pathway such that the distal end of the armature is positioned proximate the optical pathway longitudinal axis. A bottom surface of the mirror can be mounted to the distal end of the mirror armature such that a reflective surface of the mirror is oriented at a 45 degree angle with respect to the optical pathway longitudinal axis.
Data Source
AI summary
A beam splitter configured to be mounted to a conventional ocular module and a conventional microscope module. The beam splitter further including at least one mirror assembly having a mirror armature and a mirror. Each mirror armature being positioned within the interior cavity of the housing and extends inwardly into a respective optical pathway such that the distal end of the armature is positioned proximate an optical pathway longitudinal axis. A bottom surface of the mirror can be mounted to the distal end of the mirror armature such that a reflective surface of the mirror is oriented at a 45 degree angle with respect to the optical pathway longitudinal axis.