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Abstract

An illumination system and method of illuminating a surgical site are disclosed. One embodiment of the illumination system comprises: a composite illumination source, comprising a plurality of light sources operable to emit a plurality of collinear light beams; and an illumination lens, operable to receive and focus the plurality of light beams at a focal plane; wherein the plurality of collinear light beams are directed onto an off-axis portion of the illumination lens and wherein the illumination lens is aligned co-axially and confocally with an objective lens of an observation device. The light sources can be solid-state lighting devices, such as light-emitting diodes. The observation device can be a surgical ophthalmic microscope. The illumination lens can have a larger diameter than the objective lens, and the off-axis portion of the illumination lens can comprise a Fresnel type lens. The illumination lens can have a clear central portion of a diameter sufficient to prevent interference with the focusing function of the objective lens, or the illumination lens can comprise a ring with a central opening of a diameter sufficient to prevent interference with the focusing function of the objective lens.

First Claim