FBG-based sensorized light pipe for robotic intraocular illumination facilitates bimanual retinal microsurgery

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Medical Engineering
• Robotics

Background:

• Retinal surgery demands high precision due to micro-scale, fragile targets.
• Current techniques often limit surgeons to one active tool and one light source.
• Visualization and tool stability are critical for successful intraocular procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel sensorized smart light pipe for robot-assisted intraocular illumination.
• To enable true bimanual surgery by integrating active illumination with surgical tools.
• To improve tool maneuverability and surgical precision in retinal procedures.

Main Methods:

• Development of a "smart" light pipe with integrated fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors.
• Measurement of contact forces between the light pipe shaft and the sclerotomy.
• Calibration and validation of sensor readings for force and sclerotomy location.
• Preliminary functional evaluation of the robotic intraocular illumination system.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated reliable measurement of contact forces at the sclerotomy.
• Successfully detected the location of the sclerotomy using FBG sensors.
• Validated the smart light pipe's capability to accommodate patient eye motion.
• Preliminary experiments showed functional utility for robotic intraocular illumination.

Conclusions:

• The novel smart light pipe facilitates true bimanual retinal surgery.
• Sensorized illumination enhances surgical precision and tool stability.
• This technology has the potential to advance minimally invasive ophthalmic procedures.