Stroboscopic ophthalmic illuminator

• US 9,314,374 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2010
• Issued: 04/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Alcon Research Limited (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Artsyukhovich, Alexander N., Boukhny, Mikhail, Dacquay, Bruno
• Primary Examiner(s): Merene, Jan Christopher
• Assistant Examiner(s): COTRONEO, STEVEN J
• Application Number:
  US12/727,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20110230728A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,223 Days
• Field of Search: 351/221, 600160-183, 600247-249, 606/107, 606 79- 85
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00165 with light-conductive means, e.g. fibre optics A61B1/07 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00154 pulsed
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00194 Means for setting or varying the repetition rate
• 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 90/20 Surgical microscopes characterised by non-optical aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/30 Devices for illuminating a surgical field, the devices having an interrelation with other surgical devices or with a surgical procedure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00745 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic

Abstract

An ophthalmic illuminator is provided that includes a pulse generator to provide amplified pulses and an amplifier to amplify the current pulses to produce amplified pulses. A light source within the ophthalmic illuminator is driven by the amplified pulses so as to stroboscopically illuminate a vibrating ophthalmic surgical tool within the interior of an eye.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a surgical tool comprising a cutting element configured to vibrate at a tool vibration frequency; and

a fiber endo-illuminator, comprising;

a pulse generator configured to;

receive a signal indicating the tool vibration frequency;

determine, based at least in part on the received signal, a pulse repetition frequency corresponding to the tool vibration frequency to make the cutting element of the surgical tool appear either to be stationary or to be moving at a frequency lower than the tool vibration frequency; and

provide electrical pulses at the determined pulse repetition frequency;

an amplifier configured to amplify the electrical pulses to produce amplified pulses;

a light source driven by the amplified pulses to produce light pulses;

at least one optical fiber configured to receive the light pulses and to stroboscopically illuminate the cutting element of the surgical tool; and

the pulse generator is further configured to adjust the pulse repetition frequency in response to triggering light pulses transmitted from the fiber endo-illuminator.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the light source is an LED.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the light source is a high-discharge lamp.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the pulse repetition frequency is determined based at least in part on a received a pulse repetition frequency command.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a proximal connector for receiving the at least one optical fiber; and

optics for focusing the light pulses onto a proximal end of the at least one optical fiber within the proximal connector.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising:

a handpiece for manually directing a distal end of the at least one optical fiber.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the distal end of the at least one optical fiber is contained within a cannula.

8. The system of claim 1, the tool vibration frequency ranging from a low of 30 to 42 kHz to a high of 50 to 60 kHz.

9. A method of stroboscopically illuminating an ophthalmic operating field within a human eye, comprising:

receiving a signal indicating a vibration frequency of a cutting element of an ophthalmic surgical tool;

determining, based at least in part on the received signal, a pulse repetition frequency corresponding to the tool vibration frequency to make the cutting element of the surgical tool appear either to be stationary or to be moving at a frequency lower than the tool vibration frequency;

providing electrical pulses at the determined pulse repetition frequency to a light source operable to generate corresponding light pulses, the corresponding light pulses, when transmitted into the ophthalmic operating field, stroboscopically illuminating the cutting element of the ophthalmic surgical tool; and

adjusting the pulse repetition frequency in response to triggering light pulses received from the ophthalmic operating field.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the ophthalmic surgical tool is a phaco-emulsification tool.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the vibration frequency of the cutting element of the ophthalmic surgical tool is in the range of 30 to 80 kHz.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the determined pulse repetition frequency matches the tool vibration frequency of the cutting element of the ophthalmic surgical tool.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the ophthalmic surgical tool is a vitrectomy cutting tool.

14. A system comprising:

a surgical tool comprising a cutting element configured to vibrate at a tool vibration frequency; and

an ophthalmic illuminator, comprising;

a pulse generator configured to;

receive a signal indicating the tool vibration frequency;

determine, based at least in part on the received signal, a pulse repetition frequency corresponding to the tool vibration frequency to make the cutting element of the surgical tool appear either to be stationary or to be moving at a frequency lower than the tool vibration frequency; and

provide electrical pulses at the determined pulse repetition frequency;

an amplifier configured to amplify the electrical pulses to produce amplified pulses;

a light source driven by the amplified pulses to stroboscopically illuminate the cutting element of the surgical tool; and

the pulse generator is further configured to adjust the pulse repetition frequency in response to triggering light pulses transmitted from the ophthalmic illuminator.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the light source is contained within an endo-illuminator.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the light source is contained within an ophthalmic microscope.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the light source drives a fiber bundle within the ophthalmic microscope.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the amplifier includes a switch in series with a power source and an LED light source, the switch being responsive to the electrical pulses so as to turn on and allow the power source to drive current through the LED light source.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the switch is a transistor switch.

20. The system of claim 14, the tool vibration frequency ranging from a low of 30 to 42 kHz to a high of 50 to 60 kHz.