New publication on multi-axis position measurement during vitrectomy

Retinal damage during vitrectomy is often caused by the suction, cut and aspiration rate, and the instrument's proximity to the retina. To control this proximity, we developed two miniaturized fiber-optic distance sensors using low-coherence interferometry for direct integration into a 25G vitrectome. The first sensor measures distance laterally, while the second measures both laterally and axially. These sensors feature beam-shaping micro-optics fabricated with two-photon polymerization and gold coating for enhanced reflectivity. Successful distance measurements were demonstrated in artificial samples and ex vivo pig eyes, achieving a maximum SNR of 80 dB, highlighting their potential for various medical applications.

You can access the full article here.

Reference: Lux, F., Calikoglu, A., Klusmann, C., Hillenbrand, M. and Ataman, Ç., 2024. 3D nanoprinted catadioptric fiber sensor for dual-axis distance measurement during vitrectomy. Applied Optics, 63(11), pp.2806-2814.