Method and apparatus for laser assisted cataract surgery

• US 10,426,661 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2014
• Issued: 10/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Auris Health, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Auris Health, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Kintz, Greg
• Primary Examiner(s): Luan, Scott
• Application Number:
  US14/458,042
• Publication Number:
  US 20150051592A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,876 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/0087 Lens
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00887 Cataract
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00736 Instruments for removal of intra-ocular material or intra-ocular injection, e.g. cataract instruments A61F9/008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/008 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00825 for photodisruption

Abstract

Devices and methods for use in laser-assisted surgery, particularly cataract surgery. Specifically, the use of an optical fiber with a proximal and distal end, wherein the distal end has a non-orthogonal angle with the diameter of the optical fiber, to create an off-axis steam bubble for cutting and removing tissue in an operative region. Where the optical fiber is bent, rotating the fiber creates a circular cutting path for the steam bubble, allowing access to tissues that may normally be blocked by obstructions and obstacles.

Claims

1. A surgical device comprising:

an optical fiber having a proximal end, a distal end, and a neutral axis at the distal end,

wherein the optical fiber is configured to generate a steam bubble from light energy conveyed out the distal end of the fiber, the proximal end is operatively connected to a light source, and the distal end comprises a tip with a tilted edge that is non-orthogonal and non-symmetrical with respect to the neutral axis, the light energy being conveyed out the tilted edge to generate the steam bubble off-angle from the neutral axis of the optical fiber,

wherein the titled edge forms an angle such that at least a portion of the light energy (i) is incident on the tilted edge at an angle of incidence that is less than a critical angle and (ii) exits the optical fiber from the tilted edge.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a tube that encloses the optical fiber.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the tube is pre-bent at a predetermined angle.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein an angle of the tilted edge exceeds 45 degrees.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein an angle of the tilted edge does not exceed 45 degrees.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the angle of the tilted edge exceeds 7 degrees.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the optical fiber is further configured to generate a second steam bubble from the application of the same laser energy conveyed out the tilted edge of the distal end of the fiber.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the tilted edge of the tip of the distal end of the optical fiber extends across the entire diameter of the optical fiber.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the tilted edge of the tip of the distal end of the optical fiber is flat across the entire diameter of the optical fiber.

10. A method comprising:

transmitting light energy through an optical fiber;

generating a steam bubble; and

directing the steam bubble to an operative region of a patient;

wherein the optical fiber has a proximal end, a distal end, and a neutral axis at the distal end, the distal end comprising a tip with a tilted edge that is non-orthogonal and non-symmetrical with respect to the neutral axis, the optical fiber being configured to generate the steam bubble from light energy conveyed out the tilted edge of the distal end of the fiber, the proximal end being operatively connected to a light source, and the steam bubble being generated off-angle from the neutral axis of the optical fiber,

wherein the titled edge forms an angle such that at least a portion of the light energy (i) is incident on the tilted edge at an angle of incidence that is less than a critical angle and (ii) exits the optical fiber from the tilted edge.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the optical fiber is enclosed within a tube.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the tube is pre-bent at a predetermined angle.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising axially rotating the tube to generate a circular cutting path for the steam bubble.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising axially rotating the optical fiber to generate a circular cutting path for the steam bubble.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein an angle of the tilted edge exceeds 45 degrees.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein an angle of the tilted edge does not exceed 45 degrees.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the angle of the tilted edge exceeds 7 degrees.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising generating a second steam bubble from the application of the same laser energy conveyed out the tilted edge of the distal end of the fiber.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein the tilted edge of the tip of the distal end of the optical fiber extends across the entire diameter of the optical fiber.

20. The method of claim 10, wherein the tilted edge of the tip of the distal end of the optical fiber is flat across the entire diameter of the optical fiber.