Transscleral LED illumination pen
Abstract
Existing light sources for intraocular illumination are often bulky and expensive and pose a risk for the patient, because light guides are inserted in the eye through incisions and if the tip of these light guides get too close to the retina, the retina can be damaged photochemically within minutes or even seconds. Therefore a new, safe and simple device for intraocular illumination is developed and evaluated for its thermal and photochemical risks to the patient. It consists of a white LED which is integrated into a pen like holder. This device is pressed against the sclera by the physician who seeks for illumination during surgery or for diagnostic purposes. The LED light is transmitted through the sclera without the need for an incision. Considering the relevant standards, the device poses no harm to the patient, and in tests with the authors’ own eyes a sufficient intraocular illumination is reached. The proposed device is quite simple but easy to handle and very gentle for the patient.
Keywords
Transscleral illumination Photochemical hazard Thermal hazard Retinal diagnostics White LEDNotes
Acknowledgement
Support of the “Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie” (ZIM-Förderkennzeichen ZF4137902AK6) is gratefully acknowledged.
Compliance with ethical standards
Conflict of interest
Frank Koch and Pia Klante declare to have no conflict of interests. Christian Lingenfelder, Philipp Koelbl and Martin Hessling have filed a German patent application in November 2014.
Informed consent
Informed consent has been obtained from all individuals included in this study.
References
- 1.Helmholtz H. Beschreibung eines Augenspiegels zur Untersuchung der Netzhaut im lebenden Auge. Berlin: Springer; 1851. doi: 10.1007/978-3-662-41295-4.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 2.Machemer R, Buettner H, Norton EW, Parel JM. Vitrectomy: a pars plana approach. Trans Am Acad Ophthalmol Otolaryngol. 1971;75:813–20. doi: 10.1016/S0002-7154(71)30199-1.Google Scholar
- 3.Mellerio J. Light effects on the retina (Chap 116). In: Albert DM, Jakobiec FA, editors. Principles and practice of ophthalmology: basic sciences. Philadelphia: Saunders; 1994. p. 1326–45.Google Scholar
- 4.Ach T, Hoeh AE, Amberger R, Dithmar S. Lichtexposition bei vitreoretinaler Chirurgie. Der Ophthalmol. 2008;105:905–91. doi: 10.1007/s00347-008-1795-y.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 5.von Graefe A. Zusätze über intraoculäre Tumoren. Arch für Ophthalmol. 1868;14:103–44.Google Scholar
- 6.Koelbl PS, Lindner C, Lingenfelder C, Deuchler S, Singh P, Koch F, Hessling M. An extraocular non-invasive transscleral LED-endoilluminator for eye speculum integration. Graefe’s Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2015;253(9):1–7. doi: 10.1007/s00417-015-3036-9.Google Scholar
- 7.Vogel A, Dlugos C, Nuffer R, Birngruber R. Optical properties of human sclera, and their consequences for transscleral laser applications. Lasers Surg Med. 1991;11:331–40. doi: 10.1002/lsm.1900110404.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- 8.Fisher H. Three_Internal_chambers_of_the_Eye, 2013 http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/archive/8/8a/20130204203139!Three_Internal_chambers_of_the_Eye.png?uselang=de. Accessed 11 May 2016.
- 9.Steiner M. Entwicklung und Zertifizierung eines transskleralen LED-Endoilluminators für die Ophthalmologie (Bachelor Thesis). Ulm: Ulm University of Applied Sciences; 2016.Google Scholar
- 10.Deutsches Institut für Normung e. V. ISO/DIS 15004-2 (Ophthalmic instruments - Fundamental requirements and test methods - Part 2: Light hazard protection (Draft version). Berlin: Beuth Verlag; 2014.Google Scholar
- 11.Hessling M, Koelbl PS, Lingenfelder C, Koch F. Miniature LED endoilluminators for vitreoretinal surgery. In Proc SPIE 9542 (Medical Laser Applications and Laser-Tissue Interactions VII 2015). 2015; 95421A pp. 1–9. doi: 10.1117/12.2197603.
- 12.Novack RL. The CONSTELLATION Vision system: assessing the improvements in illumination for vitreoretinal surgery. Retinal Physician, http://www.retinalphysician.com/articleviewer.aspx?articleID=102828. 2009, Accessed 28 Feb 2015.