U.S. patent application number 13/190142 was filed with the patent office on 2011-11-17 for enhanced visualization illumination system.
This patent application is currently assigned to DOHENY EYE INSTITUTE. Invention is credited to Aaron Barnes, Prashant Bhadri, Sophia Fang, Mark Humayun, Ralph Kems, James Lescoulie, Matthew McCormick.
Application Number | 20110282161 13/190142 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41581254 |
Filed Date | 2011-11-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110282161 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bhadri; Prashant ; et
al. |
November 17, 2011 |
ENHANCED VISUALIZATION ILLUMINATION SYSTEM
Abstract
A first light source producing a first light beam with a first
intensity and a second light source producing a second light beam
with a second intensity. A light filter device receives the first
light beam and transmits a filtered portion of the first light
beam. A first angling device reflects the filtered portion of the
first light beam in a first angled direction and a second angling
device reflects the second light beam in a second angled direction.
A mirror receives and in turn reflects the filtered portion of the
first light beam reflected by the first angling device and the
second light beam reflected by the second angling device to form a
converged light beam with a third intensity.
Inventors: |
Bhadri; Prashant; (Pico
Rivera, CA) ; Lescoulie; James; (Irvine, CA) ;
Fang; Sophia; (Los Angeles, CA) ; McCormick;
Matthew; (Forest Falls, CA) ; Kems; Ralph;
(Laguna Niguel, CA) ; Humayun; Mark; (Glendale,
CA) ; Barnes; Aaron; (Washington, DC) |
Assignee: |
DOHENY EYE INSTITUTE
Los Angeles
CA
|
Family ID: |
41581254 |
Appl. No.: |
13/190142 |
Filed: |
July 25, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12641269 |
Dec 17, 2009 |
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13190142 |
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11938233 |
Nov 9, 2007 |
7654716 |
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12641269 |
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60858176 |
Nov 10, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
600/249 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 3/13 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
600/249 |
International
Class: |
A61B 1/06 20060101
A61B001/06 |
Claims
1. An enhanced illumination system for ophthalmic surgery on an eye
comprising: a first light source configured to produce a first
light comprising substantially white light; a second light source
configured to produce a second light comprising bandwidth limited
light; a coupling system for combining the first and second lights
to produce a third light of tinted light directed through an
output; wherein an intensity of the third light is greater than an
intensity of the first light or an intensity of the second light,
and a fiber optic cable having a first end and a second end, the
first end configured to receive from the output the third light,
the second end configured to be inserted into the eye, wherein the
fiber optic cable directs the third light onto a surgical area
within the eye.
2. The enhanced illumination system for ophthalmic surgery of claim
1, wherein the second end is inserted through a sclerotomy in a
wall of the eye.
3. The enhanced illumination system for ophthalmic surgery of claim
1, wherein at least one of the first and second light sources is a
light emitting diode.
4. The enhanced illumination system for ophthalmic surgery of claim
1, wherein the second light source comprises two or more light
emitting diodes to produce the bandwidth limited light.
5. The enhanced illumination system for ophthalmic surgery of claim
1, further comprising a shutter configured to adjust the intensity
of the third light.
6. The enhanced illumination system for ophthalmic surgery of claim
1, further comprising a filter, wherein the bandwidth limited light
is produced by passing light from the second light source through
the filter.
7. The enhanced illumination system for ophthalmic surgery of claim
6, wherein the filter is configured to substantially block red
light, and wherein the second light is substantially red-free light
for generating the tinted light for enhancing fundus details and
examination of a nerve fiber layer.
8. The enhanced illumination system for ophthalmic surgery of claim
1, further comprising a curved mirror to receive the first light
and the second light and to reflect the first light and the second
light into the coupling system.
9. The enhanced illumination system for ophthalmic surgery of claim
1, further comprising a first mirror to receive the first light and
a second mirror to receive the second light, wherein the first and
second mirrors are configured to reflect the first light and the
second light into the coupling system.
10. The enhanced illumination system for ophthalmic surgery of
claim 1, further comprising a sensor system coupled to at least one
of the first and second light sources to monitor functionality and
spectrum stability of the at least one of the first and second
light sources.
11. An enhanced illumination system for a medical procedure
comprising: a first light source configured to produce a first
light comprising substantially white light; a second light source
configured to produce a second light comprising bandwidth limited
light; a coupling system for combining the first and second lights
to produce a third light of tinted light at an output; wherein an
intensity of the third light is greater than an intensity of the
first light or an intensity of the second light, and an optical
fiber having a first end and second end, the first end configured
to receive from the output the third light, the second end
configured to be inserted into a body cavity, wherein the optical
fiber directs the third light onto a tissue area, wherein at least
one of the first light source and the second light source is an
light emitting diode.
12. The enhanced illumination system of claim 11, wherein the
second end is inserted through a sclerotomy in a wall of the
eye.
13. The enhanced illumination system of claim 11, further
comprising a shutter configured to adjust the intensity of the
third light.
14. The enhanced illumination system of claim 11, further
comprising a filter, wherein the bandwidth limited light is
produced by passing light from the second light source through the
filter.
15. The enhanced illumination system of claim 14, wherein the
filter is configured to substantially block red light, and wherein
the second light is substantially red-free light for generating the
tinted light for enhancing fundus details and examination of a
nerve fiber layer.
16. The enhanced illumination system of claim 11, further
comprising a curved mirror to receive the first light and the
second light and to reflect the first light and the second light
into the coupling system.
17. The enhanced illumination system of claim 11, further
comprising a first mirror to receive the first light and a second
mirror to receive the second light, wherein the first and second
mirrors are configured to reflect the first light and the second
light into the coupling system.
18. The enhanced illumination system of claim 11, further
comprising a sensor system coupled to at least one of the first and
second light sources to monitor functionality and spectrum
stability of the at least one of the first and second light
sources.
19. The enhanced illumination system of claim 11, wherein the
second light source comprises two or more light emitting diodes to
produce the bandwidth limited light.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0001] The present application is a divisional of U.S. application
Ser. No. 12/641,269, filed Dec. 17, 2009, which is a continuation
of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/938,233, filed Nov. 9, 2007, which
claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.
60/858,176 filed on Nov. 10, 2006. The foregoing applications are
hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to an illumination system for
surgery, and more particularly, to an illumination system for
enhanced lighting conditions for ophthalmic surgery.
BACKGROUND
[0003] During surgical procedures, a surgeon depends on an
operating microscope and an illuminating light source, such as, for
example, an endoilluminator, to visualize the anatomical structures
of the eye on which an operation is being conducted. If the surgeon
experiences limited visibility in posterior eye procedures, the
current protocol is to generally increase the intensity of the
illuminating light source. In this regard, the medical illumination
industry offers light sources with higher intensities.
[0004] The higher intensity light source, however, is not always
sufficient to accurately view the fundus of the eye. The fundus is
in the posterior section of the human eye, which includes the
retina, blood vessels, the optic nerve, the choroid, and the like.
Each of these anatomical features has a specific color when viewed
with an operating microscope. During surgery, some structures can
be easily seen. However other features can potentially be washed
out with the bright white light of the endoilluminator.
[0005] Current attempts to overcome this problem are
unsophisticated and generally involve the use of red-free light to
visualize certain features of the fundus such as the retinal blood
vessels and pathologic focal atrophy of the nerve fiber layer.
Accordingly, what is desired is an illumination system that
improves the quality, intensity, and contrast of light to provide
surgeons with better illumination during ophthalmic surgery.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] An aspect of an embodiment of the present invention is
directed toward an enhanced illumination system that improves the
quality, intensity, and contrast of light.
[0007] An embodiment of the present invention provides an enhanced
illumination system including: a light source configured to produce
a light beam; an angling device configured to receive light
produced by the light source and configured to be adjusted to a
first position for reflecting at least a portion of the light beam
in a first angled direction, and further configured to be adjusted
to a second position for allowing the light beam to bypass the
angling device; a mirror configured to reflect at least a portion
of the light beam in response to the angling device being adjusted
to the first position; a first output port for outputting the at
least a portion of the light beam reflected by the mirror; and a
second output port for outputting the light beam bypassing the
angling device in response to the angling device being adjusted to
the second position.
[0008] The enhanced illumination system may further include a light
filter configured to receive the first light beam and generate a
filtered light beam for transmitting to the first angling
device.
[0009] The enhanced illumination system may further include a
coupling system configured to couple the portion of the light beam
to an optical fiber coupled to the first output port.
[0010] The enhanced illumination system may further include a
shutter configured to receive the light beam from the light source
and adjust an intensity of the light beam.
[0011] The mirror may be a substantially curved mirror.
[0012] The angling device may include a mirror or a beam
splitter.
[0013] Another embodiment of the present invention provides an
enhanced illumination system including: a first light source
configured to produce a first light beam with a first intensity; a
second light source configured to produce a second light beam with
a second intensity; at least one light filter device configured to
receive the first light beam and transmit a filtered portion of the
first light beam; a first angling device configured to be adjusted
to a first position for reflecting the filtered portion of the
first light beam in a first angled direction; a second angling
device configured to be adjusted to a second position for
reflecting at least a portion of the second light beam in a second
angled direction; a mirror configured to receive and reflect at
least the filtered portion of the first light beam reflected by the
first angling device and at least a portion of the second light
beam for forming a converged light beam with a third intensity; and
an output port for outputting the converged light beam.
[0014] The light filter device may be configured to filter out
light of particular bandwidths.
[0015] The enhanced illumination may further include a coupling
system configured to couple the converged light beam to an optical
fiber coupled to the output port.
[0016] The enhanced illumination may further include a first
shutter configured to adjust the first intensity of the first light
source and a second shutter configured to adjust the second
intensity of the second light source.
[0017] The mirror may be a substantially curved mirror.
[0018] The angling device may be a mirror or a beam splitter.
[0019] The converged light beam may converge bandwidth limited
light from the first light source with substantially white light
from the second light source.
[0020] The third intensity of the converged light beam may be
greater than the first or second intensity alone.
[0021] Another embodiment of the present invention provides a
method for generating enhanced illumination that includes:
producing by a first light source a first light beam with a first
intensity; producing by a second light source a second light beam
with a second intensity; receiving the first light beam by a light
filter device and transmitting a filtered portion of the first
light beam; reflecting by a first angling device the filtered
portion of the first light beam in a first angled direction;
reflecting by a second angling device at least a portion of the
second light beam in a second angled direction; receiving and
reflecting by a mirror to reflect at least the filtered portion of
the first light beam reflected by the first angling device and at
least the portion of the second light beam reflected by the second
angling device for forming a converged light beam with a third
intensity; and outputting the converged light beam at an output
port.
[0022] The method may further include configuring a first lens
system to couple the first light beam to a first optical fiber,
configuring a second lens system to couple the second light beam to
a second optical fiber, and configuring a third lens system to
couple the converged light beam to a third optical fiber.
[0023] The method may further include configuring a first shutter
to adjust the first intensity of the first light source and
configuring a second shutter to adjust the second intensity of the
second light source.
[0024] The mirror may be a substantially curved mirror.
[0025] The angling device may be a mirror or a beam splitter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an enhanced
illumination control system according to one embodiment of the
invention;
[0027] FIG. 2A is a more detailed schematic diagram of an enhanced
illumination system in the enhanced illumination control system of
FIG. 1 according to one embodiment of the invention;
[0028] FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram of an enhanced illumination
system according to an alternative embodiment of the invention with
one light source coupled to an angling device;
[0029] FIG. 2C is a schematic block diagram of an enhanced
illumination system with an angling device positioned in the bypass
position;
[0030] FIG. 2D is a schematic block diagram of an enhanced
illumination system with two angling devices positioned in a bypass
position; and
[0031] FIG. 3 is a photographic image of an enhanced illumination
system according to another embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0032] Surgeons generally need high intensity light to perform
different types of eye surgeries, including vitreo retinal
procedures. In a vitreo retinal procedure, the vitreous is removed
by using small instrumentation through small openings (e.g.
sclerotomies) in the wall of the eye. This procedure is commonly
referred to as a pars plana vitrectomy. However, illumination
through small sclerotomies inside the dark cavity of the eyeball is
a challenge. In some cases, opacities inside the eye further
degrade visualization. In addition, certain anatomical features of
the fundus are not visible with the white light emitted via the
illumination source.
[0033] According to one embodiment, bandwidth limited light may be
used to enhance visualization of the fundus. For example, red-free
light may be used for enhancing fundus photography and examination
of the nerve fiber layer. Bandwidth limited light may also improve
the contrast of fundus details and reduce (or eliminate) the loss
of image quality associated with chromatic aberrations.
Furthermore, the visualization and documentation of fundus
structures may be improved and details may be distinguished which
would otherwise be invisible with white light. The use of bandwidth
limited light therefore improves the ability to differentiate
fundus details by observing changes in their appearance under
different bandwidths. Further, structures may be more accurately
localized with regard to depth in the stratified layers of the
fundus.
[0034] Accordingly, various embodiments of the present invention
are directed to an enhanced illumination system that combines two
or more light sources to provide different light quality,
intensities, contrasts, and/or colors. Thus, depending on the
particular need during surgery, the surgeon may manipulate the
enhanced illumination system to combine the output of the two or
more light sources into a single output that provides light that is
enhanced or otherwise different over what would be output with only
one of the light sources. The surgeon may also manipulate the
enhanced illumination system to invoke only one of the light
sources to provide white light or bandwidth limited light. Thus,
the various lighting needs of the surgeon during different parts of
the surgery may be met via the single enhanced illumination
system.
[0035] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an enhanced
illumination control system according to one embodiment of the
invention. The system includes an illumination system 16 coupled to
a computer 12 over a data communications link 14. The
communications link 14 may be a direct wire, an infrared data port,
a wireless communications link, local area network link, or any
other communications medium known in the art.
[0036] According to one embodiment of the invention, the
illumination system includes various output ports (or channels)
18a, 18b, 18c configured to be coupled to one of more illumination
outputs 20a, 20b, 20c such as, for example, a fiber optic cable or
light pipe. According to one exemplary embodiment, output port A is
configured to output white light of a specified intensity, output
port B is configured to output light of limited bandwidth, and
output port C is configured to output light that is a combination
of the light that would be output at port A and that would be
output at port B. As a result, the light output at port C may be a
light that has an intensity greater than what is output at port A
or port B alone. In addition, the light that is output at port C
may be light that is tinted as a result of the combination of the
white light output at port A and the bandwidth limited light output
at port B. Of course, a person of skill in the art should
understand that port A may be configured so that in addition or in
lieu of the white light that is output by port A, port A may also
be configured to output bandwidth limited light. In addition, port
B may be configured so that in addition or in lieu of the bandwidth
limited light that is output by port B, port B may also be
configured to output white light.
[0037] According to one embodiment of the invention, the computer
12 is configured with a memory containing computer program
instructions that are executed by a processor for configuring and
controlling the illumination system 16. The computer program
instructions may provide, for example, a graphical user interface
(GUI) which allows the user to view, set, and modify different
parameters for controlling the light that is output via the output
ports 18a, 18b, 18c. A user input device 10 coupled to the computer
12, such as, for example, a keypad, keyboard, stylus, and the like,
facilitates user control of the different parameters. The computer
may also provide a screen that incorporates pressure-sensitive
(touch screen) technology so that a user may view, set, and modify
the different parameters by merely touching certain portions of the
screen.
[0038] For example, the GUI may provide a turn on/off parameter for
port A, turn on/off parameter for port B, light intensity parameter
for port A, light intensity parameter for port B, filter selection
parameter for port A, filter selection parameter for port B, and/or
select/deselect parameter for port C. Each of these parameters may
be set by a doctor or nurse prior to or during a particular
ophthalmic procedure. According to one embodiment of the invention,
computer program instructions are provided to process the entered
parameters and transmit appropriate commands to the enhanced
illumination system 16 for causing a desired type of illumination
to be output via the selected port.
[0039] According to one embodiment of the invention, one or more
mechanical buttons or switches may be provided by the illumination
system 16 for being directly manipulated by a user in order to
configure and set the various lighting parameters.
[0040] FIG. 2A is a more detailed schematic diagram of the enhanced
illumination system 16 according to one embodiment of the
invention. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2A, the enhanced
illumination system includes a light source A 50 and a light source
B 66 which respectively emit light beam A and light beam B. Light
beam A and light beam B are converged downstream into light beam C
and output via output port C 18c. According to one embodiment,
converged light beam C has an intensity greater than the intensity
of light beam A or light beam B alone.
[0041] More specifically, light source A 50 may emit light beam A
through a mechanical shutter 52 that has an opening area that may
be increased or decreased to respectively increase or decrease
light intensity based on monitoring of the light path via a
feedback system (not shown), and/or one or more commands from the
computer 12. A person of skill in the art should understand that
the mechanical shutter 52 may take any form conventional in the
art. Light source A may be a halogen lamp, metal halide lamp,
xenon, lamp, em-arc lamp, LED, or any other light source
conventional in the art.
[0042] The light emitted from light source A is focused and
collimated via a lens system 54. According to one embodiment of the
invention, the lens system 54 is formed via one or more concave,
convex, and/or meniscus lens, which allow increased coupling of the
light beam A.
[0043] According to one embodiment of the invention, the collimated
light beam A is received and reflected by an angling device 58. The
angling device 58 may take the form of a mirror, beam splitter, or
any like device conventional in the art that is capable of being
rotated into a particular angle to allow light to be reflected onto
one or more mirrors 64. According to one embodiment of the
invention the light reflected by the angling device 58 is received
by a single curved mirror and is in turn reflected by the mirror
onto a coupling system 80. According to another embodiment of the
invention, two flat mirrors placed at an angle may replace the
single curved mirror.
[0044] The coupling system 80 focuses and collimates light beam A
into output port C 18c. Output port C may be, for example, an
optical fiber channel.
[0045] The coupling system 80 also focuses and collimates light
beam B from light source B 66. Light source B may be of a type
similar to light source A. In this regard, light source B emits
light through a mechanical shutter 68 which may be similar to the
mechanical shutter 52 for light source A. The light emitted from
the light source 66 is focused and collimated via a lens system 70
which may be similar to the lens system 54 for light source A.
[0046] According to one embodiment of the invention, at least one
light filter device 72, such as a filter or a filter wheel
including multiple filters, is placed in the path of collimated
light beam B. According to one embodiment of the invention, the
filter device 72 is adjusted based on one or more commands from the
computer 12 to allow all or only certain bandwidths of the
collimated light beam B to pass through. For example, the filter
device 72 may block red light and allow other colors of light beam
B to pass to generate a substantially red-free light. The filter
device 72 may also be adjusted to allow or block other colors of
light. The generating of a bandwidth dependent wavelength helps
improve the viewing of the different structures of the fundus of
the eye. The light filtering device 72 may also act as an
attenuator to control light intensity.
[0047] According to one embodiment of the invention, light passing
through the light filter device 72 is received and reflected by an
angling device 76 which may be similar to the angling device 58 for
light source A. The angling device 76 is rotated to a particular
position for allowing the light beam to be reflected onto the
mirror 64 and onto the coupling system 80. In this manner, light
beam A and light beam B are combined in output port C 18C to
generate a light beam C which has a greater intensity than light
beam A or light beam B alone. In addition, the combination of light
beam A in the form of a white light and light beam B in the form of
a limited bandwidth light results in light beam C which is referred
to a tinted light. Tinted light is beneficial because it enhances
the contrast of fundus details.
[0048] In another embodiment of the invention, the coupling system
80 is replaced with a 2.times.1 optical coupler that combines light
beam A and light beam B to light beam C.
[0049] Although the enhanced illumination system described with
respect to FIG. 2A includes angling devices 58, 76 for both light
source A 50 and light source B 66, a person of skill in the art
should recognize that only one of the light sources may be Coupled
to the angling device.
[0050] FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram of an enhanced illumination
system 16a according to an alternative embodiment of the invention
where only one of the light sources is coupled to an angling
device. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2B, only light source
A is coupled to the angling device 58, causing light beam A to
reflect onto the mirror 64 for being output via output port C as
light beam C. Light source B is not coupled to the angling device.
Thus, light beam B is focused and collimated by a coupling system
78 which may be similar to the coupling system 80 for output via
output port B.
[0051] Alternatively, instead of eliminating one or more angling
devices, the one or more of the angling devices may be configured
to be rotated into a first position when convergence of light beams
is desired, and rotated into a second bypass position when
convergence is not desired.
[0052] FIG. 2C is a schematic block diagram of an enhanced
illumination system 16b with one of the angling devices positioned
in the bypass position. According to this embodiment, the angling
device 76 associated with light source B is placed in the bypass
position in response to one or more commands from the computer 12.
When placed in the bypass position, the angling device 76 is not in
the path of light beam B. As a result, light beam B is received by
the coupling system 78 which focuses and collimates the light into
the output port B.
[0053] FIG. 2D is a schematic block diagram of an enhanced
illumination system 16c with both of the angling devices positioned
in the bypass position. According to this embodiment, both the
angling device 58 and the angling device 76 are placed in the
bypass position. In this regard, neither the angling device 58 nor
the angling device 76 is in the path of light beam A or light beam
B. As a result, light beam A is received by a coupling system 62
which focuses and collimates the light into the output port A, and
light beam B is received by the coupling system 78 which focuses
and collimates the light into the output port B.
[0054] FIG. 3 is a photographic image of an enhanced illumination
system 16c according to another embodiment of the invention.
According to this embodiment, a mirror 110 and angling devices 100a
and 100b are mounted on a rotation device 112. In this regard, the
angling devices 100a and 100b are rotated to a particular position
for allowing the light beams A and B to be reflected onto the
mirror 110 and combine in output port C 18C to generate a light
beam C. Alternatively, the rotation device 112 may be rotated so
that the mirror 110 and angling devices 100a and 100b are placed in
a bypass position. In this regard, neither the angling device 100a
or angling device 100b is in the path of light beam A or light beam
B. As a result, light beam A is output via output port A 18a and
light beam B is output via output port B 18b. A fan 50 may also be
included to cool the enhanced illumination system 16.
[0055] In another embodiment of the invention a sensor system
coupled to one or more of the light sources may be used to monitor
the bulb functionality and spectrum stability of the one or more
light sources.
[0056] According to one embodiment of the invention, the enhanced
illumination system is integrated into a vitrectomy machine. The
integration into the vitrectomy machine provides practical
advantages from an economic, transportability, ergonomic, and
usability standpoint. Furthermore, the enhanced illumination system
is designed to give the surgeon the option of using a single light
source to cause light to be output by either output port A or
output port B, or a combination of two light sources for
complimentary illumination via output port C. For example, during a
portion of a surgery that requires only white light of a desired
intensity, the surgeon may cause the computer 14 to transmit
commands to the illumination system to actuate port A for
outputting white light with the desired intensity. In this regard,
the angling device 58 may be rotated to be in a bypass mode, and
ports Band C may be disabled. If however, instead of white light,
bandwidth limited light is desired, the surgeon may alter the
settings of the computer to cause the computer to transmit commands
to the illumination system to actuate port B for outputting limited
bandwidth light. In addition, if during a different portion of the
surgery tinted light is desired for better visibility of the
internal structures of the fundus, the surgeon may alter the
settings of the computer to cause the computer to transmit commands
to rotate the angling devices 58, 76 to be in angled positions to
cause convergence of the white light from light source A and the
bandwidth limited light from light source B, and actuate port C to
cause output of the converged light via port C that is tinted for
better contrast and has a higher intensity than the intensity
allowed by light source A or B alone. Of course, a person of skill
in the art should recognize that white light of higher intensity
may also be provided by disabling the filter device coupled to
light source B, and causing the convergence of white lights from
light source A and light source B.
[0057] A person of skill in the art should recognize that the
claimed enhanced illumination system allows for a high optical
output intensity, in addition to improved visualization. For
example, the use of bandwidth limited wavelength light allows
physicians to operate with improved contrast for visualization of
specific structures in the eye. Additional features include
controlling not only the intensity, but also the quality of the
light, which is improved by changing the color (or color
temperature) of the light from the light source via the filter
device 72, with the light produced from one or more channels.
[0058] The illumination system allows for various novel
applications, including use inside the operating room or outside
the operating room (office based procedures) for not only
ophthalmic procedures but any other procedure that mayor may not
relate to a human body by providing a high intensity output. The
illumination system also allows for improved structural viewing by
color contrasts, one or more outputs (with variable intensity and
color), compatibility with numerous light sources (such as halogen,
metal halide, xenon and em-arc), and/or constant monitoring of the
status of the light source.
[0059] Furthermore, to those skilled in the various arts, the
invention itself herein will suggest other variations to the
described embodiment which in no way depart from the scope and
spirit of the present invention. For example, although a filter
wheel is depicted as being coupled to only light source B, a person
of skill in the art should recognize that the filter wheel may also
be coupled to light source A. Furthermore, a single light source or
more than two light sources may be used in alternative embodiments
of the enhanced illumination system in providing light beams A and
B. In another embodiment, the enhanced illumination system may be
implemented without the lens system. Furthermore, a person of skill
in the art should also recognize that the various components of the
enhanced illumination system of the above embodiments may be
implemented as separate physical components, or one or more of the
functionalities of the various components combined into a single
physical component or housed in a single physical housing.
[0060] Furthermore, to those skilled in the various arts, the
invention itself herein will suggest solutions to other tasks and
adaptations for other applications. It is the Applicants' intention
to cover all such uses of the invention and those changes and
modifications which could be made to the embodiments of the
invention herein chosen for the purpose of disclosure without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the
present embodiments of the invention should be considered in all
respects as illustrative and not restrictive.
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