Swept source optical coherence tomography based smart handheld vitreoretinal microsurgical tool for tremor suppression

Microsurgeons require the ability to make precise and stable maneuvers in order to achieve surgical objectives and to minimize surgical risks during freehand microsurgical procedures. This work presents a novel common path swept source optical coherence tomography based smart surgical tool that suppresses hand tremor. It allows enhanced tool tip stabilization, more accurate targeting and may lower surgical risk. Here the one dimensional motion tremor of a surgeon´s hand is assessed by the surgical instrument. The ability to accurately locate a surgical target and the ability to maintain tool tip offset distances in a chicken embryo model are significantly improved as compared to freehand use.