Optical Fiber Having Proximal Taper for Ophthalmic Surgical Illumination

• US 20170156581A1
• Filed: 12/02/2015
• Published: 06/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Novartis Ag
• Inventors: Smith, Ronald T., Mirsepassi, Alireza
• Granted Patent: US 10,441,157 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/0008 provided with illuminating means A61B3/117 takes precedence; goniolenses used for laser treatment A61F9/009; illuminating means for optical instruments G02B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/007 Methods or devices for eye surgery
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0006 Coupling light into the fibre in general G02B6/4298
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0008 the light being emitted at the end of the fibre

Abstract

An ophthalmic illumination system can include an optical fiber configured to transmit a light beam output by a light source and focused by a condenser. The optical fiber can include proximal, distal, and central portions. The proximal portion can be configured to receive the light beam focused by the condenser. The distal portion can be configured to emit the light beam to illuminate a surgical field. The central portion can extend between the proximal and distal portions. A core diameter of the proximal portion can be larger than core diameters of the central and distal portions. An ophthalmic illumination method can include focusing, using a condenser, a light beam emitted by a light source onto a proximal portion of an optical fiber. The method can also include transmitting, using the optical fiber, the light beam to a surgical field.

Claims

1. An ophthalmic illumination apparatus, comprising:

an optical fiber configured to transmit a light beam output by a light source and focused by a condenser, the optical fiber including

a proximal portion configured to receive the light beam focused by the condenser,

a distal portion configured to emit the light beam to illuminate a surgical field, and

a central portion extending between the proximal portion and the distal portion,

wherein a core diameter of the proximal portion is larger than a core diameter of the central portion and a core diameter of the distal portion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the proximal portion of the optical fiber includes a tapered section.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

the proximal portion of the optical fiber includes a straight section positioned proximal to the tapered section.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

a core diameter of the proximal portion of the optical fiber is a multiple of the core diameter of the central portion of the optical fiber.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein:

the condenser configured to have an effective focal length based on the core diameter of the proximal portion of the optical fiber.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

the condenser is configured to focus the light beam such that an angular spread of the light beam focused by the condenser is based on the core diameter of the proximal portion of the optical fiber.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the condenser is configured to focus the light beam such that:

an angular spread of the light beam focused by the condenser is less than an angular spread of the light beam transmitted by the optical fiber.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the condenser is configured to focus the light beam such that:

an angular spread of the light beam focused by the condenser is a fractional multiple of an angular spread of the light beam transmitted by the optical fiber.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

the light source.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

the condenser.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a surgical instrument configured to be positioned within the surgical field and coupled to the optical fiber.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

the light source and the condenser are disposed within a housing.

13. An ophthalmic illumination method, the method comprising:

focusing, using a condenser, a light beam emitted by a light source onto a proximal portion of an optical fiber, the optical fiber including the proximal portion, a distal portion, and a central portion extending between the proximal portion and the distal portion, wherein a core diameter of the proximal portion is larger than a core diameter of the central portion and a core diameter of the distal portion; and

transmitting, using the optical fiber, the light beam to a surgical field.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein focusing a light beam includes:

focusing the light beam onto a straight section or a tapered section of the proximal portion of the optical fiber.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein focusing a light beam includes:

focusing the light beam using the condenser having an effective focal length based on the core diameter of the proximal portion of the optical fiber.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein focusing a light beam includes:

focusing the light beam using the condenser such that an angular spread of the light beam is based on the core diameter of the proximal portion of the optical fiber.