Tilted Optical Coupler for Biometric Tissue Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical imaging systems during surgical procedures often fail to provide clear images of complex anatomy or critical structures beneath the tissue surface, leading to incomplete or incorrect identification of target sites, which can result in unintended tissue damage.
Innovation Solution
A medical imaging apparatus and sterile drape assembly that includes a coupler with a tilted optical path to prevent retroreflection from the sterile adapter's window, allowing for clear visualization of tissue structures by filtering out noise caused by light reflection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a surgical drape with an optically clear window is used to establish a sterile barrier, then sterility is maintained, but retroreflection from the window causes confusion and misidentification of the target site
Solution Approach 1:
A coupler assembly is introduced as an intermediary component between the surgical drape and the medical imaging device. This coupler includes a light incident portion and a light emission portion that redirect the optical path, serving as a mediator that preserves sterility while eliminating retroreflection interference from the drape window
Solution Approach 2:
The solution changes the dimension of the optical path by tilting the light incident portion at a predetermined angle (e.g., 45 degrees) relative to the drape window. This angular deviation redirects reflected light away from the camera sensor, transforming the optical geometry to eliminate retroreflection while maintaining the sterile barrier function
2Illumination intensity
If light passes through the surgical drape window to illuminate the target, then illumination is achieved, but reflected light from the window creates noise and confusion
Solution Approach 1:
The coupler tilts the light incident portion at a predetermined angle relative to the drape window, changing the dimensional orientation of the optical path. This angular adjustment allows light to pass through the window for illumination while directing reflected light away from the camera sensor, eliminating noise without sacrificing illumination intensity
Solution Approach 2:
The solution converts the harmful retroreflection into beneficial redirected illumination. By tilting the optical path, the system uses the same light source that causes reflection to illuminate the target effectively, while the reflected light is redirected to a harmless direction, transforming a problem into a solution
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 accurate identification of tissue structures by reducing noise in near-infrared images, preventing confusion and ensuring precise surgical interventions.
Implementation Method 1
reflected light is generated from the window installed inside the surgical drape causes the practitioners to be misunderstood and confused in recognizing the target
Implementation Method 2
when the light emitted from the light source to recognize the target, passes through the surgical drape during surgical procedures, reflected light is generated from the window
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are medical imaging apparatuses that comprising an optical connector, a coupler configured to releasably couple to a first portion of the optical connector and a camera configured to releasably couple to a second portion of the optical connector, wherein the coupler comprises a first portion to which light is incident from the optical connector, and a second portion in which the light passes through an inside of the coupler and is emitted, wherein the first portion is tilted with a predetermined angle with respect to the second portion.