Lamellar Illumination Apparatus For Eye Surgery-Patent Number 5582608

Patent Number: 5582608

Abstract: Apparatus for illuminating a central area of an eye by lamellar lighting during eye surgery. Basically, a support fixture carrying alight emitter is adapted to be placed adjacent to the surgical field.  The support fixture, when in place on an eye, directs light from the light emitter toward the surgical field tangentially to the cornea, at an angle of from about 0 to 45 to the plane of the eye iris.  The light entering the eye travels along the lamellae of the cornea in the manner of a light pipe.  Very little, if any light reaches the back of the eye, avoiding patient discomfort, or is directed toward the surgical microscope as glare.  This lamellar lighting combines scleral scatter and retro illumination.  In preferred embodiments, the light emitter may be mounted on, or incorporated in, a conventional eyelid speculum or a fixation ring.

Filed: April 11, 1995

Date of Patent: Dec. 10, 1996

Inventor: Alan W. Brown