Steerable laser probe

• US 10,052,232 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2015
• Issued: 08/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Katalyst Surgical, LLC (Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung)
• Original Assignee: Katalyst Surgical, LLC (Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung)
• Inventors: Scheller, Gregg D, Zeid, Matthew N
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomson, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lukjan, Sebastian X
• Application Number:
  US14/979,210
• Publication Number:
  US 20160287442A1
• Time in Patent Office: 973 Days
• Field of Search: 606 4, 606 16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/201 with beam delivery through a hollow tube, e.g. forming an articulated arm through a flexible conduit A61B18/22; Hand-pieces therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/24 with a catheter A61B18/26, A61B18/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00196 reciprocating lengthwise
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/20357 by movable optical fibre end
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2238 with means for selectively laterally deflecting the tip of the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2253 characterised by additional functions, e.g. surface cooling or detecting pathological tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2288 the optical fibre cable having a curved distal end
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/70 Manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00863 Retina
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/008 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00821 for coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00823 Laser features or special beam parameters therefor

Abstract

A steerable laser probe may include a handle, and inner bore of the handle, an actuation structure of the handle, a housing tube, and an optic fiber disposed within the inner bore of the handle and the housing tube. The housing tube may include a first housing tube portion having a first stiffness and a second housing tube portion having a second stiffness. The second stiffness may be greater than the first stiffness. A surgeon may aim the steerable laser probe by varying a rotational position of the handle and an amount of compression of the actuation structure.

Claims

1. A method for performing an ophthalmic procedure comprising:

applying a compressive force to an actuation structure of a handle wherein the handle has a handle distal end and a handle proximal end;

compressing and extending the actuation structure wherein the actuation structure comprises a plurality of actuation arms and wherein each actuation arm of the plurality of actuation arms has at least one inverted actuation joint and wherein each actuation arm of the plurality of actuation arms has at least one extension mechanism;

extending each actuation arm of the plurality of actuation arms;

transferring the compressive force to a distal end of an actuation platform of the handle wherein the actuation platform is at least partially disposed in the actuation structure;

fixing a portion of a wire in a position relative to the actuation platform by an actuation mechanism wherein the wire has a wire distal end and a wire proximal end;

actuating the actuation platform towards the handle proximal end and away from the handle distal end;

retracting the actuation platform relative to a handle base of the handle;

retracting the actuation platform relative to a single housing tube wherein the housing tube has a housing tube distal end and a housing tube proximal end and wherein the housing tube is fixed to a housing tube platform of the handle;

applying a force to a portion of the housing tube;

compressing the portion of the housing tube;

curving the housing tube;

curving an optic fiber wherein the optic fiber has an optic fiber distal end and an optic fiber proximal end; and

energizing a laser.

2. The method for performing the ophthalmic procedure of claim 1 further comprising:

curving the optic fiber at least 45 degrees relative to the housing tube proximal end.

3. The method for performing the ophthalmic procedure of claim 2 further comprising:

curving the optic fiber at least 90 degrees relative to the housing tube proximal end.

4. The method for performing the ophthalmic procedure of claim 3 further comprising:

curving the optic fiber at least 135 degrees relative to the housing tube proximal end.

5. The method for performing the ophthalmic procedure of claim 1 further comprising:

retracting the wire relative to the housing tube.

6. The method for performing the ophthalmic procedure of claim 1 wherein the portion of the housing tube comprises at least one aperture.

7. The method for performing the ophthalmic procedure of claim 1 further comprising:

aiming the optic fiber distal end at a photocoagulation target within an eye without increasing a length of the optic fiber within the eye.

8. The method for performing the ophthalmic procedure of claim 1 further comprising:

aiming the optic fiber distal end at a photocoagulation target within an eye without decreasing a length of the optic fiber within the eye.

9. The method for performing the ophthalmic procedure of claim 1 further comprising:

decompressing the actuation structure.

10. The method for performing the ophthalmic procedure of claim 1 further comprising:

extending the actuation platform relative to the housing tube.

11. The method for performing the ophthalmic procedure of claim 1 further comprising:

extending the wire relative to the housing tube.

12. The method for performing the ophthalmic procedure of claim 1 further comprising:

decompressing the portion of the housing tube.

13. The method for performing the ophthalmic procedure of claim 1 further comprising:

straightening the housing tube.

14. The method for performing the ophthalmic procedure of claim 1 further comprising:

straightening the optic fiber.

15. A method for performing an ophthalmic procedure comprising:

applying a compressive force to an actuation structure of a handle wherein the handle has a handle distal end and a handle proximal end;

rotating the handle;

compressing and extending the actuation structure wherein the actuation structure comprises a plurality of actuation arms and wherein each actuation arm of the plurality of actuation arms has at least one inverted actuation joint and wherein each actuation arm of the plurality of actuation arms has at least one extension mechanism;

extending each actuation arm of the plurality of actuation arms;

transferring the compressive force to a distal end of an actuation platform of the handle wherein the actuation platform is at least partially disposed in the actuation structure;

fixing a portion of a wire in a position relative to the actuation platform by an actuation mechanism wherein the wire has a wire distal end and a wire proximal end;

actuating the actuation platform towards the handle proximal end and away from the handle distal end;

retracting the actuation platform relative to a handle base of the handle;

retracting the actuation platform relative to a single housing tube wherein the housing tube has a housing tube distal end and a housing tube proximal end and wherein the housing tube is fixed to a housing tube platform of the handle;

applying a force to a portion of the housing tube;

compressing the portion of the housing tube;

curving the housing tube;

curving an optic fiber wherein the optic fiber has an optic fiber distal end and an optic fiber proximal end; and

energizing a laser.

16. The method for performing the ophthalmic procedure of claim 15 further comprising:

curving the optic fiber at least 45 degrees relative to the housing tube proximal end.

17. The method for performing the ophthalmic procedure of claim 15 further comprising:

retracting the wire relative to the housing tube.

18. The method for performing the ophthalmic procedure of claim 15 wherein the portion of the housing tube comprises at least one aperture.

19. The method for performing the ophthalmic procedure of claim 15 further comprising:

straightening the housing tube.

20. The method for performing the ophthalmic procedure of claim 15 further comprising:

straightening the optic fiber.