STEERABLE LASER PROBE

• US 20140107628A1
• Filed: 09/13/2013
• Published: 04/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2012
• 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.
• Granted Patent: US 9,763,830 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/4
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00863 Retina
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/008 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00821 for coagulation

Abstract

A steerable laser probe may include a handle, an actuation structure having an actuation structure distal end and an actuation structure proximal end, a housing tube, a first housing tube portion of the housing tube having a first stiffness, a second housing tube portion of the housing tube having a second stiffness, and an optic fiber disposed within an inner bore of the handle and the housing tube. An extension of the actuation structure distal end relative to the actuation structure proximal end may be configured to gradually curve the housing tube and the optic fiber. A retraction of the actuation structure distal end relative to the actuation structure proximal end may be configured to gradually straighten the housing tube and the optic fiber.

Claims

1. An instrument 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, the actuation structure having a density in a range of 0.02 to 0.06 pounds per cubic inch;

a plurality of actuation arms of the actuation structure;

a housing tube having dimensions configured for performing ophthalmic surgical procedures;

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

a second housing tube portion of the housing tube, the second housing tube portion having a second stiffness; and

an optic fiber disposed within an inner bore of the handle and the housing tube, the optic fiber configured to transmit laser light.

2. The instrument of claim 1 wherein the density of the actuation structure is 0.041 pounds per cubic inch.

3. The instrument of claim 1 wherein the actuation structure has a mass in a range of 0.01 to 0.03 pounds.

4. The instrument of claim 3 wherein the mass of the actuation structure is 0.024 pounds.

5. The instrument of claim 1 wherein the actuation structure has a volume in a range of 0.3 to 0.7 cubic inches.

6. The instrument of claim 5 wherein the volume of the actuation structure is 0.577 cubic inches.

7. The instrument of claim 1 wherein the actuation structure has a surface area in a range of 10.0 to 20.0 square inches.

8. The instrument of claim 7 wherein the surface area of the actuation structure is 14. 87 square inches.

9. The instrument of claim 1 wherein the actuation structure is manufactured from Nylon.

10. The instrument of claim 1 wherein the actuation structure is manufactured using selective laser sintering.

11. The instrument of claim 1 wherein the actuation structure is manufactured using 3D printing.

12. The instrument of claim 1 wherein a compression of the actuation structure is configured to gradually curve the optic fiber.

13. The instrument of claim 12 wherein the compression of the actuation structure is configured to extend the actuation structure distal end relative to the actuation structure proximal end in a range of 0.02 to 0.06 inches.

14. The instrument of claim 12 wherein the compression of the actuation structure is configured to increase a distance between the actuation structure distal end and the actuation structure proximal end in a range of 0.5 to 2.5 percent.

15. The instrument of claim 1 wherein an application of a force having a magnitude in a range of 0.6 to 1.6 pounds to a portion of the actuation structure is configured to compress the actuation structure.

16. The instrument of claim 1 wherein a decompression of the actuation structure is configured to gradually straighten the optic fiber.

17. The instrument of claim 16 wherein the decompression of the actuation structure is configured to retract the actuation structure distal end relative to the actuation structure proximal end in a range of 0.02 to 0.06 inches.

18. The instrument of claim 16 wherein the decompression of the actuation structure is configured to decrease a distance between the actuation structure distal end and the actuation structure proximal end in a range of 0.5 to 2.5 percent.

19. The instrument of claim 1 further comprising:

a cable having a cable distal end and a cable proximal end, the cable disposed within the inner bore of the handle and the housing tube.

20. The instrument of claim 1 further comprising:

a slight curve of the housing tube, the slight curve configured to indicate a direction that the optic fiber is configured to curve.