Optical noninvasive pressure sensor
First Claim
1. A non-invasive pressure sensing assembly, comprising:
- a plurality of coherent light sources, wherein the plurality of coherent light sources are located in a fixed relationship to one another;
an image sensor; and
a pressure chamber, comprising a flexible diaphragm, the flexible diaphragm configured to flex in response to a change in pressure in the pressure chamber and operable to reflect a beam of light originating from each of the plurality of coherent light sources onto the image sensor.
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Abstract
A system and method for non-invasive pressure sensing are disclosed. One embodiment of the system is an assembly comprising: a plurality of coherent light sources, wherein the plurality of coherent light sources are located in a fixed relationship to one another; an image sensor; and a pressure chamber, comprising a flexible diaphragm, the flexible diaphragm configured to flex in response to a change in pressure in the pressure chamber and operable to reflect a beam of light originating from each of the plurality of coherent light sources onto the image sensor. The pressure sensing assembly can further comprise a processing module operably coupled to the plurality of coherent light sources and to the image sensor and a memory operably coupled to the processing module, wherein the memory includes operational instructions that cause the processing module to carry out the steps of an embodiment of the method for non-invasive pressure sensing of this invention. Such a method can comprise the steps of: directing the plurality of coherent light beams, at a known incidence angle, onto the flexible diaphragm, wherein the plurality of coherent light beams form a pattern of light spots on the diaphragm; capturing at the image sensor an image of the light spot pattern reflected from the diaphragm, wherein the light spot pattern is indicative of the pressure within the pressure chamber; and determining the pressure within the pressure chamber from the captured light spot pattern of the image. The pressure sensing assembly can further comprise a fluidics interface operably coupled to the processor for receiving instructions from the processor to control fluid flow in a fluidics system coupled to the pressure chamber. Such a fluidics interface could be, for example, part of a surgical system, such as an ophthalmic surgical system, incorporating an embodiment of the present invention. The pressure sensing assembly can also comprise a calibration interface for providing calibration inputs to the processor.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. A non-invasive pressure sensing assembly, comprising:
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a plurality of coherent light sources, wherein the plurality of coherent light sources are located in a fixed relationship to one another;
an image sensor; and
a pressure chamber, comprising a flexible diaphragm, the flexible diaphragm configured to flex in response to a change in pressure in the pressure chamber and operable to reflect a beam of light originating from each of the plurality of coherent light sources onto the image sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for non-invasive pressure sensing, comprising:
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directing a plurality of coherent light beams, at a known incidence angle, onto a flexible diaphragm, wherein the flexible diaphragm forms a portion of a pressure chamber and is configured to flex in response to a change in pressure in the pressure chamber and wherein the plurality of coherent light beams form a pattern of light spots on the diaphragm;
capturing at an image sensor an image of the light spot pattern reflected from the diaphragm, wherein the light spot pattern is indicative of the pressure within the pressure chamber; and
determining, at a processor operably coupled to receive image data from the image sensor, the pressure within the pressure chamber from the captured light spot pattern image. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A non-invasive pressure sensing assembly, comprising:
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a plurality of coherent light sources, wherein the plurality of coherent light sources are located in a fixed relationship to one another;
an image sensor;
a pressure chamber, comprising a flexible diaphragm, the flexible diaphragm configured to flex in response to a change in pressure in the pressure chamber and operable to reflect a beam of light originating from each of the plurality of coherent light sources onto the image sensor;
a processing module operably coupled to the plurality of coherent light sources and to the image sensor; and
a memory operably coupled to the processing module, wherein the memory includes operational instructions that cause the processing module to;
direct the plurality of coherent light beams, at a known incidence angle, onto the flexible diaphragm, wherein the plurality of coherent light beams form a pattern of light spots on the diaphragm;
capture at the image sensor an image of the light spot pattern reflected from the diaphragm, wherein the light spot pattern is indicative of the pressure within the pressure chamber; and
determine the pressure within the pressure chamber from the captured light spot pattern image.
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Specification