Method and apparatus for sensing position between layers of an eye
First Claim
1. A system for delivering therapeutic agent to an eye, wherein the system comprises:
- (a) a surgical instrument, wherein the surgical instrument comprises;
(i) a body,(ii) a cannula extending distally from the body, wherein the cannula is sized and configured to be insertable between a choroid and a sclera of a patient'"'"'s eye, wherein the cannula defines a longitudinal axis,(iii) a hollow needle having a sharp distal tip, wherein the needle is slidable relative to the cannula, and(iv) an actuation assembly, wherein the actuation assembly is operable to actuate the needle relative to the cannula to thereby drive a distal portion of the needle along an exit axis; and
(b) an interferometer system comprising;
(i) a light source,(ii) an optical fiber in communication with the light source, and(iii) an optical probe coupled with a distal end of the optical fiber, wherein the optical probe is coupled with a distal portion of the hollow needle such that a central axis of the optical probe is laterally offset from a central axis of the distal portion of the hollow needle, wherein the optical probe is operable to slide concurrently with the hollow needle within the cannula,wherein the optical probe is configured to project light onto tissue and receive light reflected back from the tissue such that the interferometer system is operable to provide data indicating a position of the distal tip of the hollow needle within a patient'"'"'s eye.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for delivering therapeutic agent to an eye comprises a body, a cannula, a hollow needle, an actuation assembly, and a detection/visualization system. The cannula extends distally from the body and is sized and configured to be insertable between a choroid and a sclera of a patient'"'"'s eye. The actuation assembly is operable to actuate the needle relative to the cannula to thereby drive a distal portion of the needle along an exit axis. The cannula may be inserted through a sclerotomy incision and advanced through the choroid to deliver the therapeutic agent adjacent to the potential space between the neurosensory retina and the retinal pigment epithelium layer. The detection/visualization system is operable to detect or visualize penetration of the choroid of a patient'"'"'s eye and provide feedback to the operator and/or automatic control of the apparatus based on penetration of the choroid.
11 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for delivering therapeutic agent to an eye, wherein the system comprises:
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(a) a surgical instrument, wherein the surgical instrument comprises; (i) a body, (ii) a cannula extending distally from the body, wherein the cannula is sized and configured to be insertable between a choroid and a sclera of a patient'"'"'s eye, wherein the cannula defines a longitudinal axis, (iii) a hollow needle having a sharp distal tip, wherein the needle is slidable relative to the cannula, and (iv) an actuation assembly, wherein the actuation assembly is operable to actuate the needle relative to the cannula to thereby drive a distal portion of the needle along an exit axis; and (b) an interferometer system comprising; (i) a light source, (ii) an optical fiber in communication with the light source, and (iii) an optical probe coupled with a distal end of the optical fiber, wherein the optical probe is coupled with a distal portion of the hollow needle such that a central axis of the optical probe is laterally offset from a central axis of the distal portion of the hollow needle, wherein the optical probe is operable to slide concurrently with the hollow needle within the cannula, wherein the optical probe is configured to project light onto tissue and receive light reflected back from the tissue such that the interferometer system is operable to provide data indicating a position of the distal tip of the hollow needle within a patient'"'"'s eye. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for delivering therapeutic agent to an eye, wherein the system comprises:
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(a) a surgical instrument, wherein the surgical instrument comprises; (i) a body, (ii) a cannula extending distally from the body, wherein the cannula is sized and configured to be insertable between a choroid and a sclera of a patient'"'"'s eye, wherein the cannula defines a longitudinal axis, (iii) a hollow needle having a sharp distal tip, wherein the needle is translatable relative to the cannula, (iv) a light-emitting fiber optic cable, wherein the fiber optic cable is operable to emit light into the patient'"'"'s eye through a retina thereof, and (v) an actuation assembly, wherein the actuation assembly is operable to actuate the needle relative to the cannula to thereby drive a distal portion of the needle along an exit axis; (b) a microscope positionable adjacent to a cornea of the patient'"'"'s eye, wherein the microscope is operable to receive light emitted from the fiber optic cable as the light exits the patient'"'"'s eye through a pupil thereof; and (c) an image sensor operatively connected with the microscope, wherein the image sensor is operable to detect that the light received by the microscope exceeds a threshold light intensity associated with the distal tip of the needle reaching a subretinal space in the patient'"'"'s eye. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for delivering therapeutic agent to an eye, wherein the system comprises:
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(a) a surgical instrument, wherein the surgical instrument comprises; (i) a body, (ii) a cannula extending distally from the body, wherein the cannula is sized and configured to be insertable between a choroid and a sclera of a patient'"'"'s eye, wherein the cannula defines a longitudinal axis, (iii) a hollow needle having a sharp distal tip, wherein the needle is slidable relative to the cannula, and (iv) an actuation assembly, wherein the actuation assembly is operable to actuate the needle relative to the cannula to thereby drive a distal portion of the needle along an exit axis; and (b) a detection or visualization system having; (i) an optical fiber, and (ii) an optical probe at a distal end of the optical fiber, wherein the optical probe is configured to project light onto tissue and receive light reflected back from the tissue, wherein the optical fiber and the optical probe are fixedly disposed along an exterior side surface of a distal portion of the needle and are operable to slide concurrently with the needle within the cannula, wherein the detection or visualization system is operable to detect or visualize penetration of the choroid of the patient'"'"'s eye. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification