HAND PIECE FOR THE DELIVERY OF LIGHT AND SYSTEM EMPLOYING THE HAND PIECE

• US 20070027443A1
• Filed: 06/21/2006
• Published: 02/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ondine International Holdings Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Ondine International Ltd.
• Inventors: Loebel, Nicolas, Rose, Andreas, Herr, Guenter
• Application Number:
  US11/425,548
• Publication Number:
  US 20070027443A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/16
• 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 2018/225 Features of hand-pieces A61B2018/2255 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0813 Accessories designed for easy sterilising, i.e. re-usable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/306 using optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0088 for oral or dental tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/088 Illuminating devices or attachments for examination of the mouth A61B1/24 and A61B1/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/004 Hand-held apparatus, e.g. guns
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/008 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00802 for photoablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0606 Mouth
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0644 Handheld applicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0601 Apparatus for use inside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0603 for treatment of body cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/062 Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/381 of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres

Abstract

The invention described here is an improved hand piece for the delivery of light and a system employing the hand piece. The hand piece typically includes a body and an optical element such as an optical fiber coextensive with the body. The system can include a remote light source and an optical element (e.g., a source optical fiber) for providing light to the hand piece.

Claims

1. A hand piece suitable for the delivery of light in medical applications, the hand piece comprising:

a central shaft assembly having a proximate end and a distal end, the shaft assembly including;

i. an proximal ferrule;

ii. a distal ferrule; and

iii. an optical element extending between the proximal and the distal ferrule;

an outer grippable body for substantially surrounding the central shaft assembly.

2. A hand piece as in claim 1 further comprising a retaining sleeve at the proximate end of the shaft assembly.

3. A hand piece as in claim 1 wherein the optical fiber is hermetically sealed within the central shaft assembly, the body or both such that the hand piece can be sterilized without substantial degradation to the optical fiber.

4. A hand piece as in claim 1 wherein the central shaft assembly further includes a center shaft body.

5. A hand piece as in claim 1 further comprising:

a tip wherein at least the outer body and the tip are disposable and are attachable and removable from the distal ferrule and the optical fiber and wherein the body and the tip cover the distal ferrule and the optical fiber when attached.

6. A hand piece as in claim 1 wherein one or more characteristics of the optical fiber are configured to match one or more characteristics of a source fiber that delivers light to the optical fiber.

7. A hand piece as in claim 6 the one or more characteristics of the optical fiber and the source fibers include diameter of the optical fiber and source fiber and tolerance of the diameter of the optical fiber and source fiber.

8. A hand piece as in claim 1 wherein the proximate ferrule, the distal ferrule or both extend outwardly beyond the outer body of the hand piece thereby allowing for access to the proximate ferrule, the distal ferrule or both, which, in turn, allows for cleaning, polishing or both thereof.

9. A hand piece as in claim 1 wherein the body, the ferrules, the optical fiber or any combination thereof are configured such that exposure of the hand piece to elevated temperature minimally affects the optical performance of the hand piece.

10. A hand piece as in claim 9 wherein the temperature expansion/contraction characteristics of the material of the body are substantially matched to the temperature expansion/contraction characteristics of the optical fiber, the ferrules or both.

11. A hand piece as in claim 4 wherein the hand piece is soaked at an elevated temperature such that the optical fiber is located in the central shaft body, the outer body or both in an manner that provide enough slack to the optical fiber to allow future exposure of the hand piece to elevated temperature without significantly stretching the optical fiber.

12. A hand piece as in claim 1 wherein the proximate ferrule is provided a standard size that allows connection to a source fiber have a standard size connector.

13. A hand piece suitable for the delivery of light in medical applications, the hand piece comprising:

a central shaft assembly having a proximate end and a distal end, the shaft assembly including;

i. a proximate ferrule;

ii. a distal ferrule;

iii. an optical fiber extending between the proximal ferrule and the distal ferrule; and

iv. a central shaft body substantially surrounding the optical fiber;

an outer grippable body for substantially surrounding the central shaft assembly; and

a retaining sleeve for assisting in connecting and disconnecting the hand piece to a source optical element;

wherein, for protecting the optical fiber from degradation during serialization, either i) the optical fiber is hermetically seal within the hand piece, ii) the optical fiber is provided with slack or iii) temperature expansion/contraction characteristics of the material of the outer body, the central shaft body or both are matched to the temperature expansion/contraction characteristics of the optical fiber, the ferrules or both within the hand piece.

14. A hand piece as in claim 13 further comprising:

a tip wherein at least the outer body and the tip are disposable and are attachable and removable from the distal ferrule and the optical fiber and wherein the body and the tip cover the distal ferrule and the optical fiber when attached.

15. A hand piece as in claim 13 wherein one or more characteristics of the optical fiber are configured to match one or more characteristics of a source fiber that delivers light to the optical fiber and wherein the one or more characteristics of the optical fiber and the source fibers include diameter of the optical fiber and source fiber and tolerance of the diameter of the optical fiber and source fiber.

16. A hand piece as in claim 13 wherein the proximate ferrule, the distal ferrule or both extend outwardly beyond the outer body of the hand piece thereby allowing for access to the proximate ferrule, the distal ferrule or both, which, in turn, allows for cleaning, polishing or both thereof.

17. A hand piece as in claim 13 wherein the hand piece is soaked at an elevated temperature such that the optical fiber is located in the central shaft body, the outer body or both in an manner that provide enough slack to the optical fiber to allow future exposure of the hand piece to elevated temperature without significantly stretching the optical fiber.

18. A hand piece as in claim 13 wherein the proximate ferrule is provided a standard size that allows connection to a source fiber have a standard size connector.

19. A hand piece suitable for the delivery of light in medical applications, the hand piece comprising:

a central shaft assembly having a proximate end and a distal end, the shaft assembly including;

i. a proximate ferrule;

ii. a distal ferrule;

iii, an optical fiber extending between the proximal ferrule and the distal ferrule; and

iv, a central shaft body substantially surrounding the optical fiber;

an outer grippable body for substantially surrounding the central shaft assembly; and

a retaining sleeve for assisting in connecting and disconnecting the hand piece to a source optical element;

wherein, for protecting the optical fiber from degradation during sterilization, either i) the optical fiber is hermetically seal within the hand piece, ii) the optical fiber is provided with slack or iii) temperature expansion/contraction characteristics of the material of the outer body, the central shaft body or both are matched to the temperature expansion/contraction characteristics of the optical fiber, the ferrules or both within the hand piece;

wherein one or more characteristics of the optical fiber are configured to match one or more characteristics of a source fiber that delivers light to the optical fiber and the one or more characteristics of the optical fiber and the source fibers include diameter of the optical fiber and source fiber and tolerance of the diameter of the optical fiber and source fiber;

wherein the proximate ferrule, the distal ferrule or both extend outwardly beyond the body of the hand piece thereby allowing for access to the proximate ferrule, the distal ferrule or both, which, in turn, allows for cleaning, polishing or both thereof; and

wherein the proximate ferrule is provided a standard size that allows connection to a source fiber having a standard size connector.

20. A hand piece as in claim 19 further comprising:

a tip wherein at least the outer body and the tip are disposable and are attachable and removable from the distal ferrule and the optical fiber and wherein the body and the tip cover the distal ferrule and the optical fiber when attached.