Steerable laser probe

• US 10,098,786 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2017
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2011
• 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): Downey, John R
• Application Number:
  US15/694,132
• Publication Number:
  US 20180085255A1
• Time in Patent Office: 410 Days
• Field of Search: 606 2- 16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/24 with a catheter A61B18/26, A61B18/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00318 Steering mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2918 flexible handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00184 Moving parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00589 Coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00595 Cauterization
• 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: A61F 2009/00863 Retina
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00885 for treating a particular disease
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0136 Handles therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0138 having flexible regions as a result of weakened outer material, e.g. slots, slits, cuts, joints or coils
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0141 having flexible regions as a result of using materials with different mechanical properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0147 with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires

Abstract

A steerable laser probe may include a handle, an actuation structure, an optic fiber, and a 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. The optic fiber may be disposed within the housing tube and within an inner bore of the handle. A compression of the actuation structure may be configured to gradually curve the optic fiber. A decompression of the actuation structure may be configured to gradually straighten the optic fiber.

Claims

1. A laser probe comprising:

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

a housing tube having a housing tube distal end and a housing tube proximal end wherein the housing tube is configured to actuate relative to the handle;

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

a plurality of apertures of the first housing tube portion;

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

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

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

3. The laser probe of claim 1 wherein the extension of the housing tube proximal end relative to the handle is configured to compress the first housing tube portion.

4. The laser probe of claim 1 wherein the extension of the housing tube proximal end relative to the handle is configured to curve the optic fiber up to 45 degrees relative to the housing tube proximal end.

5. The laser probe of claim 1 wherein the extension of the housing tube proximal end relative to the handle is configured to curve the optic fiber less than 45 degrees relative to the housing tube proximal end.

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

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

8. The laser probe of claim 1 wherein a retraction of the housing tube proximal end relative to the handle is configured to straighten the optic fiber up to 45 degrees relative to the housing tube proximal end.

9. The laser probe of claim 1 wherein a retraction of the housing tube proximal end relative to the handle is configured to straighten the optic fiber less than 45 degrees relative to the housing tube proximal end.

19. The laser probe of claim 1 further comprising:

a light source interface configured to interface with the optic fiber proximal end wherein the light source interface is an SMA connector.

10. A laser probe comprising:

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

a housing tube having a housing tube distal end and a housing tube proximal end wherein the housing tube is configured to actuate relative to the handle;

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

a plurality of apertures of the first housing tube portion;

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

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

11. The laser probe of claim 10 wherein the retraction of the housing tube proximal end relative to the handle is configured to straighten the housing tube.

12. The laser probe of claim 10 wherein the retraction of the housing tube proximal end relative to the handle is configured to straighten the optic fiber up to 45 degrees relative to the housing tube proximal end.

13. The laser probe of claim 10 wherein the retraction of the housing tube proximal end relative to the handle is configured to straighten the optic fiber less than 45 degrees relative to the housing tube proximal end.

14. The laser probe of claim 10 wherein an extension of the housing tube proximal end relative to the handle is configured to curve the optic fiber.

15. The laser probe of claim 10 wherein an extension of the housing tube proximal end relative to the handle is configured to curve the housing tube.

16. The laser probe of claim 10 wherein an extension of the housing tube proximal end relative to the handle is configured to compress the first housing tube portion.

17. The laser probe of claim 10 wherein an extension of the housing tube proximal end relative to the handle is configured to curve the optic fiber up to 45 degrees relative to the housing tube proximal end.

18. The laser probe of claim 10 wherein an extension of the housing tube proximal end relative to the handle is configured to curve the optic fiber less than 45 degrees relative to the housing tube proximal end.

20. The laser probe of claim 10 further comprising:

a light source interface configured to interface with the optic fiber proximal end wherein the light source interface is an SMA connector.