Steerable laser probe

• US 10,076,444 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2017
• Issued: 09/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2012
• 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:
  US15/680,701
• Publication Number:
  US 20180161206A1
• Time in Patent Office: 396 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/22 the beam being directed along or through a flexible conduit, e.g. an optical fibre; Couplings or hand-pieces therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00589 Coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00595 Cauterization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00625 Vaporization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/202 Laser enclosed in a hand-piece
• 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 2018/2244 Features of optical fibre cables, e.g. claddings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00863 Retina
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00821 for coagulation

Abstract

A steerable laser probe may include an actuation structure, a nosecone fixed to the actuation structure by one or more links and one or more link pins, a housing tube having a first housing tube portion with a first stiffness and a second housing tube portion with a second stiffness, and an optic fiber disposed in the housing tube and the actuation structure. A compression of the actuation structure may be configured to gradually curve the housing tube and the optic fiber. A decompression of the actuation structure may be configured to gradually straighten the housing tube and the optic fiber.

Claims

1. A laser probe comprising:

a handle having a handle distal end and a handle proximal end;

an actuation structure of the handle;

a nosecone of the handle;

a plurality of links wherein each link of the plurality of links connects the nosecone and the actuation structure and wherein a compression of the actuation structure is configured to actuate each link of the plurality of links and extend the nosecone relative to the handle proximal end;

a piston having a piston distal end and a piston proximal end wherein the piston is disposed in the handle;

an inner hypodermic tube disposed in a distal ring and a front plug;

a proximal ring disposed over an end plug;

a single housing tube having a housing tube distal end and a housing tube proximal end wherein the housing tube proximal end is disposed in the handle;

a first housing tube portion of the housing tube having a first stiffness;

a plurality of slits of the first housing tube portion wherein the plurality of slits are configured to separate at least one solid portion of the housing tube;

a second housing tube portion of the housing tube having a second stiffness wherein the second stiffness is greater than the first stiffness;

a cable having a cable distal end and a cable proximal end wherein the cable is disposed in the handle and the housing tube and wherein a portion of the cable is fixed in the housing tube; and

an optic fiber having an optic fiber distal end and an optic fiber proximal end wherein the optic fiber is disposed in the housing tube and the handle and wherein the optic fiber distal end is adjacent to the housing tube distal end and wherein an extension of the housing tube relative to the handle is configured to compress the first housing tube portion and curve the housing tube.

2. The laser probe of claim 1 wherein the extension of the housing tube relative to the handle is configured to curve the optic fiber.

3. The laser probe of claim 1 wherein a retraction of the housing tube relative to the handle is configured to straighten the housing tube.

4. The laser probe of claim 1 wherein a retraction of the housing tube relative to the handle is configured to decompress the first housing tube portion.

5. The laser probe of claim 1 wherein a retraction of the housing tube relative to the handle is configured to straighten the optic fiber.

6. The laser probe of claim 1 wherein the extension of the housing tube relative to the handle is configured curve the housing tube within an eye.

7. The laser probe of claim 1 wherein the extension of the housing tube relative to the handle is configured to curve the optic fiber within an eye.

8. The laser probe of claim 1 wherein the extension of the housing tube relative to the handle is configured aim the optic fiber distal end at a surgical target.

9. The laser probe of claim 1 further comprising:

a light source interface configured to interface with the optic fiber proximal end.

10. The laser probe of claim 9 wherein the light source interface is an SMA.

11. A laser probe comprising:

a handle having a handle distal end and a handle proximal end;

an actuation structure of the handle;

a nosecone of the handle;

a plurality of links wherein each link of the plurality of links connects the nosecone and the actuation structure and wherein a decompression of the actuation structure is configured to actuate each link of the plurality of links and retract the nosecone relative to the handle proximal end;

a piston having a piston distal end and a piston proximal end wherein the piston is disposed in the handle;

an inner hypodermic tube disposed in a distal ring and a front plug;

a proximal ring disposed over an end plug;

a single housing tube having a housing tube distal end and a housing tube proximal end wherein the housing tube proximal end is disposed in the handle;

a first housing tube portion of the housing tube having a first stiffness;

a plurality of slits of the first housing tube portion wherein the plurality of slits are configured to separate at least one solid portion of the housing tube;

a second housing tube portion of the housing tube having a second stiffness wherein the second stiffness is greater than the first stiffness;

a cable having a cable distal end and a cable proximal end wherein the cable is disposed in the handle and the housing tube and wherein a portion of the cable is fixed in the housing tube; and

an optic fiber having an optic fiber distal end and an optic fiber proximal end wherein the optic fiber is disposed in the housing tube and the handle and wherein the optic fiber distal end is adjacent to the housing tube distal end and wherein a retraction of the housing tube relative to the handle is configured to decompress the first housing tube portion and straighten the housing tube.

12. The laser probe of claim 11 wherein the retraction of the housing tube relative to the handle is configured to straighten the optic fiber.

13. The laser probe of claim 11 wherein an extension of the housing tube relative to the handle is configured to curve the housing tube.

14. The laser probe of claim 11 wherein an extension of the housing tube relative to the handle is configured to curve the optic fiber.

15. The laser probe of claim 11 wherein an extension of the housing tube relative to the handle is configured to compress the first housing tube portion.

16. The laser probe of claim 11 wherein the retraction of the housing tube relative to the handle is configured to straighten the housing tube within an eye.

17. The laser probe of claim 11 wherein the retraction of the housing tube relative to the handle is configured to straighten the optic fiber within an eye.

18. The laser probe of claim 11 wherein the retraction of the housing tube relative to the handle is configured to aim the optic fiber distal end at a surgical target.

19. The laser probe of claim 11 further comprising:

a light source interface configured to interface with the optic fiber proximal end.

20. The laser probe of claim 19 wherein the light source interface is an SMA.