Surgical Microscope OCT Integration Beamsplitter Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ophthalmic surgical microscopes face challenges in distinguishing between tissues with subtle contrast and visualizing thin, translucent tissues during vitreoretinal surgery, due to limitations in resolution and illumination, which can lead to difficulties in judging tissue locations and orientations.
Innovation Solution
Integration of an optical coherence tomography (OCT) unit into the surgical microscope assembly, using a beamsplitter to direct light from the sample to both the microscope imaging optics and the OCT unit, with a beam forming unit to form the OCT illumination beam to correspond with the microscope main objective, enhancing resolution and brightness while avoiding image vignetting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional microscopy is used for vitreoretinal surgery, then the surgical microscope provides basic imaging capability, but the resolution is insufficient to distinguish tissues with subtle contrast and judge tissue locations and orientations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines conventional surgical microscope imaging with OCT imaging by integrating an OCT unit into the microscope assembly. The beamsplitter directs light to both the microscope imaging optics and the OCT unit, merging two imaging modalities into a single integrated system that provides both high-resolution cross-sectional imaging and enhanced tissue contrast simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated system allows the same optical path to serve multiple imaging functions: the microscope main objective provides conventional microscopy while the OCT unit provides cross-sectional imaging. The beamsplitter enables the system to perform both imaging modalities using the same sample illumination, making the system universally applicable for various surgical visualization needs
2Illumination intensity
If increased illumination is used to supplement poor visualization, then brightness improves, but photochemical toxicity at the retina increases
Solution Approach 1:
The beamsplitter acts as an intermediary that divides the illumination path, allowing the OCT unit to receive a portion of the light that would otherwise be wasted. This enables the system to achieve adequate brightness for OCT imaging without requiring excessive illumination intensity that would cause photochemical toxicity
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of light utilization by directing a portion of the illumination beam to the OCT unit through the beamsplitter. This allows the same illumination to serve dual purposes: providing brightness for conventional microscopy while also enabling OCT imaging without requiring additional illumination that would increase toxicity risk
3Measurement precision
If conventional imaging is used for thin translucent tissues, then the microscope provides basic viewing, but the visualization is insufficient due to poor contrast and lack of depth information
Solution Approach 1:
The OCT unit adds a new dimension of cross-sectional imaging to the conventional two-dimensional microscope viewing. By providing axial depth information through optical coherence tomography, the system transforms the imaging from a single plane to a three-dimensional understanding of tissue structure, enabling better visualization of thin translucent tissues
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 integration of OCT into the surgical microscope provides high-resolution, three-dimensional imaging, improving tissue visualization and spatial orientation, enabling better distinction between tissues and enhancing surgical precision by providing additional depth information.
Implementation Method 1
A beamsplitter is configured to direct a portion of light from the sample to the microscope imaging optics and to direct another portion of light from the sample to the OCT unit collection beam
Implementation Method 2
A beam forming unit is between the OCT unit and the beamsplitter. The beam forming unit is configured to form the illumination beam of the OCT unit so as to substantially correspond to a size of the microscope main objective
Implementation Method 3
The time-domain approach used in conventional OCT has been used in supporting biological and medical applications. An alternate approach involves acquiring as a function of optical wavenumber the interferometric signal generated by mixing sample light with reference light at a fixed group delay
Implementation Method 4
microscope imaging optics having a microscope main objective. The microscope imaging optics define one or more viewing beam paths that pass from a sample through the microscope main objective and the microscope imaging optics
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical microscope assembly includes a microscope main objective and microscope imaging optics. The microscope main objective and microscope imaging optics define a viewing beam path that passes from a sample through the microscope main objective and the microscope imaging optics. The assembly includes an optical coherence tomography (OCT) unit having an illumination beam and a collection beam and a beamsplitter between the microscope main objective and the microscope imaging optics. The beamsplitter is configured to direct a portion of light from the microscope main objective to the microscope imaging optics and to direct another portion of light from the microscope main objective to the OCT unit collection beam. The beamsplitter is further configured to direct an illumination beam from the OCT unit to the microscope main objective and to the sample. A beam forming unit is between the OCT unit and the beamsplitter. The beam forming unit is configured to form the illumination beam of the OCT unit so as to generally correspond to a size of the microscope main objective.