Frequency-based mode mixing for surgical laser illumination
Frequency-based mode mixing may be used to homogenize different modes in an optical fiber used for surgical illumination. A laser modulator may introduce frequency modulation to laser light to generate a homogeneous illumination field due to increased mode mixing in the optical fiber.
1. A method for ophthalmic surgical illumination, the method comprising:
projecting first light having a first frequency from a coherent light source onto a laser modulator;
controlling the laser modulator to modulate the first frequency of the first light to generate second light, the second light used for illumination of a patient during a surgery;
projecting the second light onto an optical fiber; and
transmitting the second light from the optical fiber into an eye of the patient;
wherein the coherent light source is a laser, and wherein the laser modulator is included in a laser modulator device further comprising:
an input for receiving the first light;
an output optical connector for connection to the optical fiber; and
a power source to power the laser modulator.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein controlling the laser modulator further comprises:
controlling a modulation amplitude to modulate the first frequency of the first light.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein controlling the laser modulator further comprises:
controlling the modulation amplitude based on a transmission characteristic of the optical fiber.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the transmission characteristic of the optical fiber is selected from at least one of:
a length of the optical fiber;
a dispersion value for the optical fiber;
a core diameter of a core of the optical fiber; and
an index of refraction of the core of the optical fiber.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the coherent light source is a monochromatic laser.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein projecting the second light onto the optical fiber further comprises:
projecting the second light onto the optical fiber using a condenser lens.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein a modulation frequency to modulate the first frequency of the first light is at least 30 Hertz (Hz).
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the second light from the optical fiber into the eye of the patient comprises transmitting the second light through a second optical fiber that projects the second light onto the eye of the patient;
wherein the coherent light source further comprises a third optical fiber receiving the first light from the laser, and wherein the laser modulator device further comprises:
an input optical connector for connection to the third optical fiber.
9. A device for ophthalmic surgical illumination, the device comprising:
a coherent light source for generating first light having a first frequency for illumination of a patient during a surgery;
a laser modulator for receiving the first light and for modulating the first frequency of the first light to generate second light;
an optical fiber for receiving the second light; and
wherein the coherent light source is a laser, and wherein the laser modulator is included in a laser modulator device further comprising:
an input for receiving the first light;
an output optical connector for connection to the optical fiber; and
a power source to power the laser modulator.
10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the laser modulator is controlled by:
controlling a modulation amplitude to modulate the first frequency of the first light.
11. The device of claim 9 , wherein the laser modulator is controlled by:
controlling the modulation amplitude based on a transmission characteristic of the optical fiber.
12. The device of claim 11 wherein the transmission characteristic of the optical fiber is selected from at least one of:
a length of the optical fiber;
a dispersion value for the optical fiber;
a core diameter of a core of the optical fiber; and
an index of refraction of the core of the optical fiber.
13. The device of claim 9 , wherein the coherent light source is a monochromatic laser.
14. The device of claim 9 , further comprising:
a condenser lens for projecting the second light onto the optical fiber.
15. The device of claim 9 , wherein a modulation frequency to modulate the first frequency of the first light is at least 30 Hz.
16. The device of claim 9 , further comprising a second optical fiber receiving the second light from the optical fiber, the second optical fiber projecting the second light onto the patient and
wherein the coherent light source further comprises a third optical fiber receiving the first light from the laser, and wherein the laser modulator device further comprises:
an input optical connector for connection to the third optical fiber.