Sub-micron alignment of a monitoring fiber for optical feedback in an ophthalmic endo-illumination system

摘要

An ophthalmic endo-illumination system includes a light source producing a light beam, a beam splitter configured to split the light beam into a first beam provided to a fiber port and a second beam coupled to a monitoring fiber, and an alignment system for aligning the monitoring fiber. The alignment system includes a moveable ferrule housing having the monitoring fiber secured therein and a displacement mechanism for displacing housing in a first direction. The displacement mechanism includes a transfer spring coupled to the housing and a screw actuator having a sloped surface contacting a motion transfer ball such that movement of the screw actuator causes the motion transfer ball to move along the sloped surface, the motion transfer ball contacting the transfer spring such that movement of the motion transfer ball along the sloped surface causes a displacement of the transfer spring, thereby displacing the housing in the first direction.

主权项

1. An ophthalmic endo-illumination system, comprising:
a light source configured to produce a light beam; a condenser configured to provide at least a portion of the light beam to a fiber port configured to couple the at least a portion of the light beam to an optical fiber of an illumination probe; a beam splitter disposed between the fiber port and the condenser, the beam splitter configured to receive the light beam from the condenser and split the light beam into a first beam a second beam, the first beam being provided to the fiber port and the second beam being coupled to a monitoring fiber; and an alignment system for aligning the monitoring fiber with the second beam, the alignment system comprising:
a moveable ferrule housing having the monitoring fiber secured therein; anda first displacement mechanism for displacing the moveable ferrule housing in a first direction, the first displacement mechanism comprising:
a transfer spring coupled to the moveable ferrule housing; anda screw actuator having a sloped surface contacting a motion transfer ball such that movement of the screw actuator causes the motion transfer ball to move along the sloped surface, the motion transfer ball contacting the transfer spring such that movement of the motion transfer ball along the sloped surface causes a displacement of the transfer spring, thereby displacing the moveable ferrule housing in the first direction.