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V O L . X X V I I N O. V M A R C H 8 , 2 0 2 1 18 M A N U FA C T U R I N G F O C U S assists startups and Fortune 500 compa- nies that are incorporating visualization into their medical devices. A typical optical system used in medicine, he says, is the endoscope, which might have as many as 30 lenses to relay light from the tip of the narrow instrument within the body out to a camera. Some newer systems have a tiny camera right at the tip. Mimicking eyeballs Visualization is the primary link between surgeons and their work. Parameters to consider include physical size, overall image quality, illumination requirements, working distance, field of view, direction of view, optical resolution and steriliza- tion techniques, says Snyder. Cost is also important. "If the cost does not align with our customer's business model, we don't have a viable commercial product," Snyder says. For example, Lighthouse develops 2D and 3D camera systems that inte- grate with surgical robots. Stereoscopic 3D systems require precise alignment of two lenses and two image sensors to mimic eyeballs. "e camera is made up of a num- ber of different optical elements, or lenses," he says. "It has electronics and electronic interconnects that transmit the image signal from the image sensor back to our central processing unit. We design and utilize precision mechanical components and housings that create the structure for the optical and elec- tronic components." Hand-assembly of the tiny compo- nents, measuring as little as one milli- meter cubed, requires excellent hand-eye coordination while working under a microscope, Snyder says. "is takes place in a very clean envi- ronment," he adds. "Any dust or debris in the optical path will create a blemish on the image itself." Lighthouse designs, prototypes and manufacturers sub assemblies and full imaging systems. Prototype development typically involves design tweaks based on client feedback. A common tweak, for example, is tuning that addresses image quality. "It could be the colors aren't quite accurate," says Snyder. "We can tweak the color palette of the image. at's common." Going from concept to manufac- turing can take 12 to 24 months. Initial prototyping takes four to eight weeks, depending on factors such as com- plexity of the device and use of off- the-shelf versus custom components. A component that's evolved con- siderably over the years — shrinking in size while gaining in resolution — is the image sensor. "e typical sensor we use today is 1 millimeter by 1 millimeter," or four- hundredths of an inch square, Snyder says. "at enables us to reduce the overall size of the device, which reduces the entrance size required to penetrate into the human body and minimizes the impact to the patient." Leiner says much of that improve- ment has to do with the shrinking of components that go into cellphone technology. Microscopes and AI In Scarborough, Yokogawa Fluid Imaging Technologies Inc. offers a "value add" to optical technology. Its flow imaging technology, called the FlowCam, combines digital imag- ing, microscopes and flow cytom- eters — which analyze microscopic cells or particles suspended in a liquid medium — into a single instrument. New artificial intelligence software expands the instrument's image-anal- ysis capability. e instruments are used in fields such as marine research, municipal water management and industries ranging from biopharmaceuticals and chemicals to oil and gas. e instru- ment can be used to study the amount and type of toxic algae in drinking water reservoirs and the correct formu- lation of therapeutic drugs. "A lot of our instruments are generally the same and applied to different applications," says CEO Kent Peterson. » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E Hardworking YOUR TEAM IS HARDWORKING, YOU NEED OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT WORK JUST AS HARD. Seven clinic locations in Maine and a range of customizable services provide individual attention and team success. workhealthllc.org 1.844.WRKHLTH(1.844.975.4584) Presque Isle | Bangor | Ellsworth | Pittsfield | Waterville | Portland Occupational Health - Now in Ellsworth! P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y L E I N E R O P T I C S It's a pretty hot industry. — Dennis Leiner Leiner Optics Dennis Leiner, founder of Leiner Optics in Cape Elizabeth, says an endoscope might have as many as 30 lenses.

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