Wide-field OCT Imaging Probe for Surgical Visualization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ophthalmic surgical imaging techniques, particularly for vitreo-retinal surgeries, face challenges in visualizing transparent vitreous and peripheral regions due to limited effectiveness of microscope-based and endoprobe-based optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems, which lack real-time intra-surgical wide-field of view capabilities and are not easily adaptable to different surgical microscopes.
Innovation Solution
A microscope-less surgical imaging system incorporating a light source, beam guidance, scanner, and wide-field of view (WFOV) lens to generate and redirect a scanned imaging light beam for real-time OCT imaging, allowing for non-invasive, wide-angle visualization without disrupting surgical workflow and enabling consumable product configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If microscope-based OCT systems are used for intra-surgical imaging, then real-time visualization is achieved, but device complexity and capital expense increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the OCT imaging function from the surgical microscope, using a standalone handheld probe that can be positioned independently. This segmentation allows the complex OCT functionality to be isolated in a dedicated module while the microscope remains unchanged, reducing overall system integration complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a beam combiner as an intermediary device that merges the OCT imaging beam path with the surgical microscope's optical path. This intermediary component enables both functions to operate simultaneously without requiring direct integration, simplifying the overall system architecture.
2Reliability
If standard surgical microscopes are modified to integrate OCT capabilities, then real-time intra-surgical imaging is enabled, but adaptability to different microscope models decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The handheld OCT probe is designed as a universal device that can be used with any surgical microscope setup. The probe contains all necessary optical components and can be positioned to work with various microscope models without requiring microscope-specific modifications, thereby maintaining high adaptability across different surgical environments.
3Area of stationary object
If wide angle contact-based or non-contact lenses are used for peripheral visualization, then field of view is improved, but image quality and resolution deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamic beam scanning within the handheld probe to achieve wide-field imaging. By rapidly scanning the imaging beam across the target area and synthesizing the data, the system achieves both wide field of view and high image quality without relying on static wide-angle lenses that compromise resolution.
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 system provides real-time, intra-surgical wide-field OCT imaging with reduced complexity, capital expense, and improved lateral resolution, enabling wider scan angles and non-invasive imaging, while being compatible with surgical microscopes and capable of stabilizing OCT imaging with fewer motion artifacts.
Implementation Method 1
a light source, configured to generate an imaging light beam; a beam guidance system, configured to guide the imaging light beam from the light source
Implementation Method 2
a beam scanner, configured to receive the imaging light from the beam guidance system, and to generate a scanned imaging light beam
Implementation Method 3
a beam coupler, configured to redirect the scanned imaging light beam
Implementation Method 4
a wide field of view (WFOV) lens, configured to guide the redirected scanned imaging light beam into a target region of a procedure eye
Implementation Method 5
OCT, a technique that enables visualization of the target tissue in depth by focusing a laser beam onto the target, collecting the reflected beam, interfering the reflected beam with a reference beam and detecting the interference
Data Source
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AI summary
A surgical imaging system can comprise a light source, configured to generate an imaging light beam; a beam guidance system, configured to guide the imaging light beam from the light source; a beam scanner, configured to receive the imaging light from the beam guidance system, and to generate a scanned imaging light beam; a beam coupler, configured to redirect the scanned imaging light beam; and a wide field of view (WFOV) lens, configured to guide the redirected scanned imaging light beam into a target region of a procedure eye.