Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent misconnection between a connector and a tool.SOLUTION: An RFID ring illumination system includes an illumination ring and a printed circuit board. The illumination ring has a light refracting layer integral with the front of a surgical machine. The printed circuit board is located behind and close to the front of the surgical machine. The printed circuit board has an RFID reader antenna and a light source mounted on it. The light emitted by the light source travels through the illumination ring and is visible from the front of the surgical machine.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a variable-angle, wide-angle illuminator.SOLUTION: A small-gauge, surgical variable-angle illuminator comprises: a light source for providing a light beam; an optical cable, optically coupled to the light source for receiving and transmitting the light beam; a handpiece, operably coupled to the optical cable; an optical fiber, operably coupled to the handpiece, wherein the optical fiber is optically coupled to the optical cable to receive and transmit the light beam; an optical assembly, coupled to a distal end of the optical fiber, for receiving the light beam and providing the light beam to illuminate a field; and a cannula, operably coupled to the handpiece and optical assembly, for housing and directing the optical assembly to an area, such as a surgical site. The optical assembly can comprise, for example, a polymer-dispersed-liquid-crystal ("PDLC") diffuser optically coupled to an optical needle or a nested compound parabolic concentrator ("CPC") cone.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide illumination probes having plastic optical fibers with thermally robust distal tips. SOLUTION: A plastic optical fiber 202 is bonded to a high temperature distal part to form a thermally robust illumination probe 200. The distal part is short in length, is made of a high temperature material(s), has a proper shape for guiding light in a desired application, and may be coated with a reflective coating to ensure that the light rays trapped within the part of the distal part do not escape when the side of the distal part comes into contact with high refractive index or absorptive materials. The distal part may be made of high temperature material(s) such as high temperature plastic rods, glass optical fibers 206, and so on. The distal end may be tapered or sculpted to a desired configuration. The plastic optical fiber 202 and the high temperature distal part may be joined, using an optical adhesive 204, inside a steel cannula 208, a plastic hub, an optical connector, etc. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and system for extending the service life of an ophthalmic illumination system. SOLUTION: According to one embodiment, the ophthalmic illuminator comprises: an illumination source which produces an arc; a lens for focusing light produced by the illumination source arc; and an optical fiber for carrying the focused light to a surgical site in an eye. The illumination source is positioned offset from a longitudinal axis of the optical fiber to compensate for shifting of the illumination source arc over time. The offset position can be such that the illumination source is positioned in a vertically offset position from the longitudinal axis of the optical fiber. The longitudinal axis corresponds to the optical path axis of the optical fiber. The ophthalmic illuminator can further comprise a reflector for reflecting the light produced by the illumination source arc, wherein the reflector is positioned offset from the illumination source to decrease the rate of erosion of an illumination source cathode. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multi-spot laser probe for use in photocoagulation.SOLUTION: A laser probe includes an emitting optical fiber, optics, and two or more receiving optical fibers. The emitting optical fiber emits a beam of laser light. The optics diffract the beam of light emitted by the emitting optical fiber. The receiving optical fibers each receive a beam of light diffracted by the optics.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a high throughput endo-illuminator and illumination surgical system.SOLUTION: The surgical system includes: a light source 12 for providing a light beam; a proximal optical fiber 13, optically coupled to the light source for receiving and transmitting the light beam; a distal optical fiber, optically coupled to a distal end of the proximal optical fiber, for receiving the light beam and emitting the light beam to illuminate a surgical site, wherein the distal optical fiber 20 comprises a tapered section having a proximal-end diameter larger than a distal-end diameter; a handpiece 10, operably coupled to the distal optical fiber; and a cannula 16, operably coupled to the handpiece, for housing and directing the distal optical fiber.
Abstract:
A variable-wedge rotating-disk attenuator for use in an ophthalmic endoilluminator is disclosed. The attenuator includes a wedge attached to an axle. The size of the wedge can be adjusted over a variable angle as measured through an arc of the wedge. The axle to which the wedge is attached rotates such that the wedge rotates around a pivot defined by the axle. The variable-wedge rotating-disk attenuator is located such that it affects the intensity of a light beam transmitted into an eye.
Abstract:
An RFID ring illumination system includes an illumination ring and a printed circuit board. The illumination ring has a light refracting layer integral with the front of a surgical machine. The printed circuit board is located behind and close to the front of the surgical machine. The printed circuit board has an RFID reader antenna and a light source mounted on it. The light emitted by the light source travels through the illumination ring and is visible from the front of the surgical machine.
Abstract:
A variable-angle, wide-angle illuminator is disclosed, one embodiment being a small-gauge, variable-angle illumination surgical system comprising: a light source for providing a light beam; an optical cable, optically coupled to the light source for receiving and transmitting the light beam; a handpiece, operably coupled to the optical cable; an optical fiber, operably coupled to the handpiece, wherein the optical fiber is optically coupled to the optical cable to receive and transmit the light beam; an optical assembly, optically coupled to a distal end of the optical fiber, for receiving the light beam and providing the light beam to illuminate a surgical field; and a cannula, operably coupled to the handpiece and optical assembly, for housing and directing the optical assembly to illuminate a selected area, such as a surgical site. The optical assembly can comprise, for example, a fiber/polymer-dispersed-liquid-crystal ("PDLC") diffuser optically coupled to an optical needle or a nested compound parabolic concentrator ("CPC") cone. In the PDLC diffuser/needle embodiment, the fiber can be a standard endo-illuminator optical fiber with 0.50 NA or similar value. The light beam from the light source is emitted from the distal end of the optical fiber and provided to the PDLC diffuser for further transmission. The degree of diffusion of the light beam at the PDLC diffuser can be electrically controlled and can be varied from no diffusion to very high degree of diffusion. After passing through the PDLC diffuser, the light beam is provided to a needle or fiber, such as a glass needle or fiber, that transmits the light beam to the surgical site in the eye.