Multi-LED Ophthalmic Illuminator

• US 20080246920A1
• Filed: 04/09/2007
• Published: 10/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Novartis Ag
• Original Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Inventors: Huculak, John C., Artsyukhovich, Alexander N., Buczek, Mark J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,682,027 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 351/221
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0655 Control therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/306 using optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/309 using white LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/0008 provided with illuminating means A61B3/117 takes precedence; goniolenses used for laser treatment A61F9/009; illuminating means for optical instruments G02B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/36 Image-producing devices or illumination devices not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/007 Methods or devices for eye surgery

Abstract

An ophthalmic endoilluminator has a power supply coupled to a light source, a controller, a collimation device, an alignment device, a lens, and an optical fiber. The light source has three light emitting diodes. Each of the three light emitting diodes produces a different color light. The controller controls the operation of the three light emitting diodes. The collimation device collimates the light produced by at least one of the light emitting diodes. The alignment device aligns the light individually produced by the three light emitting diodes into a single light beam. The lens focuses the single light beam. The optical fiber for carries the single light beam.

Claims

1. An ophthalmic endoilluminator comprising:

a light source with at least three light emitting diodes, each of the at least three light emitting diodes producing a different color light;

one or more collimation elements for collimating the light produced by the light emitting diodes;

a device for aligning the light individually produced by the at least three light emitting diodes into a single light beam;

a lens for focusing the single light beam; and

a first optical fiber for carrying the single light beam.

2. The endoilluminator of claim 1 further comprising:

a power supply coupled to the light source.

3. The endoilluminator of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one polarization device for polarizing the light produced by at least one of the light emitting diodes.

4. The endoilluminator of claim 1 wherein the at least three light emitting diodes emit a red light, a green light and a blue light, respectively.

5. The endoilluminator of claim 4 further comprising fourth and fifth light emitting diodes.

6. The endoilluminator of claim 5 wherein the fourth light emitting diode emits an amber light and the fifth light emitting diode emits a white light.

7. The endoilluminator of claim 1 further comprising:

a second optical fiber for carrying the single light beam.

8. The endoilluminator of claim 7 further comprising:

an optical coupling device for coupling the first optical fiber to the second optical fiber.

9. The endoilluminator of claim 8 further comprising:

an instrument assembly comprising a connector, the second optical fiber, a hand piece, and a probe.

10. The endoilluminator of claim 8 wherein the connector aligns the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber.

11. The endoilluminator of claim 9 wherein the probe terminates at an end of the second optical fiber so that the single beam of light is transmitted into an eye.

12. The endoilluminator of claim 8 wherein the optical coupling device is a ball lens.

13. The endoilluminator of claim 1 wherein the device for aligning the light individually produced by the three light emitting diodes is selected from a group consisting of a dichroic beam splitter, an x-prism, and a mirror.

14. The endoilluminator of claim 1 further comprising:

a controller for controlling the operation of the three light emitting diodes.

15. The endoilluminator of claim 14 wherein an intensity of each of the at least three light emitting diodes is controlled independently by the controller such that the at least three light emitting diodes emit light of different intensities.

16. The endoilluminator of claim 14 wherein the controller utilizes an algorithm to control at least one of the light emitting diodes, the algorithm selected from the group consisting of:

an algorithm for strobing a light emitting diode, a pulse width modulation algorithm, and an amplitude modulation algorithm.

17. An ophthalmic endoilluminator comprising:

a power supply;

a light source coupled to the power supply, the light source comprising three light emitting diodes, each of the three light emitting diodes producing a different color light;

a controller coupled to the power supply, the controller for controlling the operation of the three light emitting diodes;

a collimation device for collimating the light produced by at least one of the light emitting diodes;

a device for aligning the light individually produced by the three light emitting diodes into a single light beam;

a lens for focusing the single light beam; and

an optical fiber for carrying the single light beam.

18. The endoilluminator of claim 17 further comprising:

at least one polarization device for polarizing the light produced by at least one of the light emitting diodes.

19. The endoilluminator of claim 17 wherein the three light emitting diodes emit a red light, a green light and a blue light, respectively.

20. The endoilluminator of claim 19 further comprising fourth and fifth light emitting diodes.

21. The endoilluminator of claim 20 wherein the fourth light emitting diode emits an amber light and the fifth light emitting diode emits a white light.

22. The endoilluminator of claim 17 wherein the device for aligning the light individually produced by the three light emitting diodes is selected from a group consisting of:

a dichroic beam splitter, an x-prism, and a mirror.

23. The endoilluminator of claim 17 wherein an intensity of each of the three light emitting diodes is controlled independently by the controller such that the three light emitting diodes emit light of different intensities.

24. The endoilluminator of claim 17 wherein the controller utilizes an algorithm to control at least one of the light emitting diodes, the algorithm selected from a group consisting of:

an algorithm for strobing a light emitting diode, a pulse width modulation algorithm, and an amplitude modulation algorithm.

25. A method of providing ophthalmic illumination comprising:

providing current to at least three light emitting diodes to cause the at least three light emitting diodes to emit light;

collimating the light emitted by the at least three light emitting diodes;

aligning the collimated light into a single light beam;

focusing the single light beam; and

transmitting the single light beam over an optical fiber.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

polarizing the collimated light.

27. The method of claim 27 further comprising:

individually controlling the intensity of the at least three light emitting diodes.