Steerable laser probe

• US 10,245,183 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2018
• Issued: 04/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2012
• 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): Luan, Scott
• Application Number:
  US15/893,191
• Publication Number:
  US 20180161207A1
• Time in Patent Office: 417 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00589 Coagulation
• 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 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, an actuation structure of the handle, a housing tube, a wire having a pre-formed curve, and an optic fiber disposed within the housing tube and an inner bore of the handle. 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 compression of the actuation structure may curve or straighten the housing tube. A decompression of the actuation structure may curve or straighten the housing tube.

Claims

1. An ophthalmic laser probe comprising:

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

an actuation structure of the handle having an actuation structure distal end and an actuation structure proximal end, wherein the actuation structure has a plurality of actuation arms and wherein each actuation arm of the plurality of actuation arms has an inverted actuation joint;

a housing tube having a housing tube distal end and a housing tube proximal end wherein the housing tube proximal end is disposed in an optic fiber guide of 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;

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 a compression of the actuation structure is configured to curve the housing tube.

2. The ophthalmic laser probe of claim 1 wherein the compression of the actuation structure is configured to curve the optic fiber.

3. The ophthalmic laser probe of claim 2 wherein the compression of the actuation structure is configured to curve the optic fiber up to 45 degrees.

4. The ophthalmic laser probe of claim 2 wherein the compression of the actuation structure is configured to curve the optic fiber at least 45 degrees.

5. The ophthalmic laser probe of claim 1 wherein a decompression of the actuation structure is configured to straighten the housing tube.

6. The ophthalmic laser probe of claim 1 wherein a decompression of the actuation structure is configured to straighten the optic fiber.

7. The ophthalmic laser probe of claim 1 wherein the compression of the actuation structure is configured to curve the optic fiber in an eye without increasing an amount of the ophthalmic laser probe in the eye.

8. The ophthalmic laser probe of claim 1 wherein the compression of the actuation structure is configured to curve the optic fiber in an eye without decreasing an amount of the ophthalmic laser probe in the eye.

9. The ophthalmic laser probe of claim 1 further comprising:

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

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

11. An ophthalmic laser probe comprising:

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

an actuation structure of the handle having an actuation structure distal end and an actuation structure proximal end, wherein the actuation structure has a plurality of actuation arms and wherein each actuation arm of the plurality of actuation arms has an inverted actuation joint;

a housing tube having a housing tube distal end and a housing tube proximal end wherein the housing tube proximal end is disposed in an optic fiber guide of 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;

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 a de-compression of the actuation structure is configured to straighten the housing tube.

12. The ophthalmic laser probe of claim 11 wherein the decompression of the actuation structure is configured to straighten the optic fiber.

13. The ophthalmic laser probe of claim 12 wherein the decompression of the actuation structure is configured to straighten the optic fiber up to 45 degrees.

14. The ophthalmic laser probe of claim 12 wherein the decompression of the actuation structure is configured to straighten the optic fiber at least 45 degrees.

15. The ophthalmic laser probe of claim 11 wherein a compression of the actuation structure is configured to curve the housing tube.

16. The ophthalmic laser probe of claim 11 wherein a compression of the actuation structure is configured to curve the optic fiber.

17. The ophthalmic laser probe of claim 11 wherein the decompression of the actuation structure is configured to straighten the optic fiber in an eye without increasing an amount of the ophthalmic laser probe in the eye.

18. The ophthalmic laser probe of claim 11 wherein the decompression of the actuation structure is configured to straighten the optic fiber in an eye without decreasing an amount of the ophthalmic laser probe in the eye.

19. The ophthalmic laser probe of claim 11 further comprising:

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

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