Optically-implemented microsurgery system and approach
AssigneeThe Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
InventorsXiaojing Zhang, Olav Solgaard
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Abstract
According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a vibration-actuated microsurgical system includes an optical force detection arrangement having an optical encoding device configured to modulate an intensity of light in response to a displacement of a portion of the microsurgical system. Light sensing circuitry is configured to detect a force applied to the microsurgical system (e.g., and thereby to a sample) based on the intensity of light sensed from the optical encoding device. This detected force is used in controlling the application of the microsurgical system.
Claims10
A method comprising:
- illuminating a diffraction phase micrograting coupled to a vibration-actuated microsurgical tool and configured to change position, relative to a fixed scale micrograting and in response to movement of the vibration-actuated microsurgical tool;
- sensing an intensity of light diffracted by the diffraction phase micrograting and the fixed scale micrograting;
- and
- determining a force applied to the microsurgical tool based on the sensed intensity of light diffracted by the diffraction phase micrograting.
A method for surgically treating a sample, the method comprising:
- vibrationally-actuating and applying a probe tip to a sample;
- illuminating a diffraction phase micrograting coupled to a vibration-actuated microsurgical tool and configured to change position, relative to a fixed scale micrograting and in response to movement of the vibration-actuated microsurgical tool;
- sensing an intensity of light diffracted by the diffraction phase micrograting and the fixed scale micrograting;
- determining a force applied to the microsurgical tool based on the sensed intensity of light diffracted by the diffraction phase micrograting;
- and
- controlling the application of the probe tip to the sample as a function of the determined force.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.