Toroidal Light Source for Ophthalmic Dry Eye Assessment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing light sources used for assessing dry eyes are heavy, bulky, not energy efficient, and produce waste heat, making them unsuitable for ophthalmic instruments.

Innovation Solution

A substantially planar toroidal light source characterized by a translucent disc with a concentric circular hole and a spiral coil of side-emitting optical fiber, illuminated by a point source of visible light, providing uniform brightness and obstructed by an opaque circle or slits to create a circular image on the eye for measuring tear meniscus height and tear breakup time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If traditional light sources are used for assessing dry eyes, then the light source can provide sufficient illumination, but the light source becomes heavy, bulky, and produces waste heat

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveillumination intensityVSAvoidweight

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical bulb-based lighting systems with an LED-based optical fiber illumination system. The LED light source coupled with optical fibers provides sufficient illumination intensity while dramatically reducing weight and eliminating waste heat generation, directly resolving the contradiction between illumination intensity and weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the fundamental parameters of the light source by transitioning from incandescent/bulb technology to LED technology. This parameter change in the light emitting mechanism enables maintaining adequate illumination intensity while reducing weight and heat output, addressing the technical contradiction effectively.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Illumination intensity

If traditional light sources are used for assessing dry eyes, then the light source can provide sufficient illumination, but the light source becomes bulky and not energy efficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveillumination intensityVSAvoidenergy efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces inefficient mechanical bulb systems with LED-based optical fiber illumination. This substitution maintains required illumination intensity while significantly improving energy efficiency and reducing bulk, resolving the contradiction between illumination intensity and energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the energy conversion parameters by using LED technology which converts electrical energy to light more efficiently than traditional bulbs. This parameter change in the light emitting mechanism maintains illumination intensity while improving energy efficiency and reducing waste heat.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Illumination intensity

If traditional light sources are used for assessing dry eyes, then the light source can illuminate the eye, but the light source is heavy and bulky making it unsuitable for ophthalmic instruments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveillumination intensityVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces heavy mechanical bulb systems with lightweight LED optical fiber systems. This substitution maintains adequate illumination intensity while dramatically improving ease of operation by reducing weight and bulk, making the light source suitable for handheld ophthalmic instruments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical parameters of the light source system, transitioning to a lighter, more compact LED-based system. This parameter change in the light emitting technology maintains illumination intensity while improving ease of operation for clinical use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 results in a lightweight, energy-efficient light source that is compact and easy to operate, suitable for ophthalmic instruments, enabling accurate assessment of dry eye conditions without the drawbacks of traditional light sources.

Implementation Method 1

a substantially planar spiral coil of side emitting optical fiber, the coil having a predetermined pitch, the coil being attached to a first surface of the disc such that the coil and the disc are substantially concentric, wherein a first end of the coil is supplied with visible light from a light from a substantially point source of light for creating a toroidal disc of substantially uniform brightness

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical fiber: Optical Fibre

Data Source

PatentUS20240074650A1Device for generating a toroidal source of illumination

Publication Date: 2024.03.07 FORUS HEALTH PVT LTD

AI summary

Disclosed is a device for generating a toroidal source of illumination is disclosed. The device comprises a translucent disc with a concentric hole. A planar coil of side emitting optic fiber is disposed on one surface of the disc. The coil is energized with an LED at one end of the coil. The light emitted by the side of the coil is randomly scattered by the disc producing a toroidal source of light at the other surface of the disc. This source is used with instruments for assessing the dryness of the human eye. Further embodiments describe adaptations for measuring tear breakup time and the height of the tear meniscus in the human eye.