Available Technology
Tunable optic and acoustic devices
Technology:
Adaptive elastomer lens
Markets Addressed
Adaptive elastomer lens that can be tuned to achieve control of focal length, aberration characteristics, spatial optical axis, speckle patterns and mechanical properties of the lens itself via electrically-controlled actuation. Can be configured as a single lens or as an array of lenses. The diameter of each lens can be any size above 50 microns.
The primary commercial application is medical imaging, particularly endoscopy. The electrically actuated lens enables a surgeon to more easily focus the imaging system on the field of view, compared to existing mechanical approaches.
The lens is also intended for acoustic applications, particularly ultrasound imaging, extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy, sonar or acoustic microscopy. For example, in ultrasound, the elasomer construction of the lens provides for better impedance matching to the body than existing ultrasonic devices.
Innovations and Advantages
The first lens of its type that integrates the actuator component within the optical elements of the lens itself, with a much larger range of focus than existing glass lenses. Key advantages of this approach include:
1) enabling a large actuation strain
2) enabling spatial control of deformation within the optical path
3) compact and simple construction
4) large, optically active area for high numerical aperture devices
Additional Information
Intellectual Property Status: Patent(s) pending
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Inventor(s):
Clarke, David R.
Diebold, Roger Mitchell
Shian, Samuel
Categories:
For further information, please contact:
Sam Liss, Director of Business Development
(617) 495-4371
Reference Harvard Case #4565