Detachable laser optical fiber assembly and method of adjustment

• US 4,526,170 A
• Filed: 03/23/1983
• Issued: 07/02/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: HGM Medical Laser Systems, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: HEM Incorporated
• Inventors: Tanner, Howard M. C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coven, Edward M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max F.
• Application Number:
  US06/478,158
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 128/4-8, 128/303.1, 128/395-398, 350/96.15, 350/96.2-96.26, 362/32, 362/289
• US Class Current: 606/7
• 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 2018/00172 Connectors and adapters therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2244 Features of optical fibre cables, e.g. claddings
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4296 coupling with sources of high radiant energy, e.g. high power lasers, high temperature light sources

Abstract

A detachable optical fiber assembly for transmitting a laser beam from a laser source to a surgical laser instrument such as a slit lamp or operating microscope. The assembly comprises an optical fiber enclosed within a protective casing with connectors attached to the ends thereof. The connector which attaches the fiber to the laser source includes means for adjusting the alignment of the fiber within the connector as well as the depth to which it penetrates the socket in the laser source to insure that the tip of the fiber is positioned at the focal point of the laser beam.

Claims

1. In a laser system, in combination:

(a) laser apparatus having;

(i) a cylindrical laser beam connector receptacle for receiving a cylindrical connector plug forming part of the proximal end of a detachable optical fiber assembly connecting said laser apparatus to a laser instrument;

(ii) a flat surface surrounding the entrance to said connector receptacle;

(iii) means providing a laser beam source positioned on the axis of said connector receptacle; and

(iv) offset from said laser beam connector receptacle a cylindrical guide pin receptacle with an entrance surrounded by said flat surface and concentric with an axis parallel to the axis of said laser beam connector receptacle;

(b) a laser instrument operative with said laser beam and having a cylindrical instrument receptacle for receiving a cylindrical connector plug forming part of the distal end of a detachable optical fiber assembly connecting said laser apparatus and instrument;

(c) an elongated flexible optical fiber structure comprising;

(i) a central optical fiber core for transmitting said beam;

(ii) optical transmission enhancement cladding covering said fiber core;

(iii) a tubular fiber core protective sheath loosely surrounding said core and cladding for a major portion of the length thereof, said protective sheath terminating inwardly from each of the respective proximal and distal ends of said core and cladding, said core being relatively fragile with respect to the fragility of said core protective sheath; and

(iv) a ferrule surrounding and secured to said protective sheath at each of the respective proximal and distal ends thereof enabling stress applied to said ferrules and thus to said protective sheath to be isolated from the more fragile said optical fiber core;

(d) a proximal connector assembly mated to said laser apparatus connector and pin receptacles for connecting the proximal end of said optical fiber structure to said laser apparatus, comprising;

(i) a first tubular substantially rigid sheath having a first concentric bore extending from its distal end for a major portion of its length and a second concentric bore of reduced diameter at its proximal end, a proximal end portion of said optical fiber core and cladding located outwardly from the proximal end of said fiber core protective sheath being loosely confined in said first bore and fixedly concentrically secured in said second bore with the extreme proximal end of said fiber core extending beyond the proximal end of said first sheath;

(ii) a second substantially rigid tubular sheath concentrically mounted on said first said tubular sheath and extending from the distal end of said first sheath for a major portion of the length of said first sheath, said second sheath being secured to said first sheath for adjustable lengthwise positioning thereon;

(iii) a third substantially rigid tubular sheath having enlarged concentric bores formed at the proximal and distal ends thereof and therebetween a concentric connecting bore of reduced size defined by an internally-formed annular shoulder, said second tubular sheath having its proximal end seated in said shoulder and being mounted within the enlarged distal end bore of said third sheath to allow vertical and horizontal positioning therein, the proximal end of said first sheath extending in a proximal direction from said shoulder being mounted within the enlarged proximal end bore of said third sheath to allow vertical and horizontal positioning therein, said third tubular sheath at its proximal end being precision formed to mate and snugly fit within said laser apparatus receptacle and thereby locate the extreme proximal end of said optical fiber core proximate said laser beam source;

(iv) a fourth tubular sheath threadably secured at its proximal end to a mated distal end of said third tubular sheath, having an enlarged bore at its distal end and a connecting bore of reduced diameter formed by an internally-formed annular shoulder, said ferrule at the proximal end of said optical fiber structure protective sheath being releasably secured within the said enlarged bore at the distal end of said fourth sheath;

(v) a compression spring seated between said fourth sheath annular shoulder and the distal end of said second tubular sheath and operative to resiliently force the proximal end of said second tubular sheath into a seated position in said third tubular sheath annular shoulder while permitting at least limited vertical and horizontal positioning of the distal end of said second sheath within the enlarged bore within the distal end of said third sheath;

(vi) a plurality of set screws mounted in spaced circumferential positions in said third tubular sheath and adjustably positioned in contact with the outer surface of a distal end portion of said second tubular sheath, selected ones of said set screws being adjustable to tilt said second sheath both vertically and horizontally on said third tubular sheath annular shoulder to precisely align the extreme proximal end of said optical fiber with said laser apparatus source;

(vii) a collar concentric with and adjustably mounted for lengthwise positioning on said third tubular sheath and having a proximal end portion thereof engagable with said laser apparatus flat surface to control the depth of insertion of said third sheath proximal end in said laser apparatus receptacle;

(viii) a guide pin secured in said collar and located on an offset axis parallel to the axis of said collar and being adapted to fit into said guide pin receptacle for aligning the proximal end of said third sheath with said laser apparatus receptacle; and

(ix) a cover surrounding said collar, third and fourth tubular sheaths and removably secured to said fourth tubular sheath; and

(e) a distal connector assembly for connecting the distal end of said optical fiber structure to said laser instrument, comprising;

(i) a fifth tubular substantially rigid sheath having a first concentric bore extending from its proximal end for a major portion of its length and a second concentric bore of reduced diameter at its distal end, a distal end portion of said optical fiber core and cladding located outwardly from the distal end of said fiber core protective sheath being loosely confined in said fifth sheath first bore and fixedly concentrically secured in said fifth sheath second bore with the extreme distal end of said fiber core extending beyond the distal end of said fifth sheath;

(ii) a sixth substantially rigid tubular sheath having a first concentric bore at the outer distal end thereof surrounding the distal end of said fifth sheath and the distal end of said fiber core, a second concentric bore extending for a major portion of the length thereof and a third concentric bore formed by an internally-formed annular shoulder and communicating said sixth sheath first and second bores, a distal outer end portion of said sixth sheath being adapted to mate and fit in said laser instrument receptacle and having a larger proximal end portion;

(iii) a cover having its distal end releasably secured to said sixth sheath larger proximal end portion; and

(iv) means securing the other of said ferrules at the distal end of said optical fiber structure in a manner enabling force transmitted thereto to be transferred to said sixth sheath.