Vitrectomy lens with integrated illuminator

Details Vitrectomy lens with integrated illuminator Vitrectomy lens with integrated illuminator

1999-07-07

2001-04-24

O'Connor, Cary (Department: 3736)

Surgery

Diagnostic testing

Eye or testing by visual stimulus

C351S200000, C606S004000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06221028

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to apparatus for illuminating the inner eye of a patient during surgery.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Optical fibers or channel waveguides are well known and commercially available. The use of such components as sensors for physical or chemical phenomenon is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,321,057 issued Mar. 23, 1982 to Richard G. Buckles.
The above-noted copending application describes techniques for controlling the power dissipated per unit length of an optical fiber in order to, for example, provide a linear sensitivity over the length of a fiber. The application also describes such techniques for optical fibers and resulting uniform power dissipation for uniform illumination purposes.
Present eye illumination apparatus is bulky, costly, and cumbersome and produces light which is difficult to direct precisely to the area a surgeon wishes to illuminate.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the principles of this invention, an optical fiber (or channel waveguide) configured to provide uniform illumination, in response to white light launched therein, in one embodiment of the fiber is attached to a corneal contact lens to provide a ring illuminator thereabout. In another embodiment, the fiber is embedded, as a ring illuminator, within the body of the contact lens. In a further embodiment, a plurality of optical fibers is used with fiber ends arranged around the periphery of a contact lens. A mirror is positioned at each fiber end to direct light to illuminate the entire inner eye and prevent shadows.
The contact lens is not necessarily contoured to correct the vision of the patient. Instead, the lens has a contoured surface to follow the contour of the eye of the patient and a planar outer surface which serves as the surgeon's viewing surface.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3780979 (1973-12-01), de Guillebon
patent: 5133708 (1992-07-01), Smith
patent: 5521657 (1996-05-01), Klopotek
patent: 5608972 (1997-03-01), Szirth et al.

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