Ophthalmic surgery light transmitting apparatus

• US 7,470,269 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2003
• Issued: 12/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peregrine Surgical Limited (D.O.R.C. Dutch Ophthalmic Research Center (International) B.V.), Synergetics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Synergetics Incorporated
• Inventors: Auld, Michael D., Poulsen, Michael S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shay; David
• Application Number:
  US10/435,100
• Publication Number:
  US 20040010247A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,062 Days
• Field of Search: 606/4, 606 7- 16
• US Class Current: 606/4
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/306 using optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/36 Image-producing devices or illumination devices not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/007 Methods or devices for eye surgery

Abstract

An ophthalmic surgery light transmitting apparatus has an optic fiber having a flexible length with a light source connector mounted on one end of the optic fiber and the opposite end of the optic fiber being adapted to be mounted to an ophthalmic surgery instrument to provide illumination for the instrument. The cross-sectional area of the optic fiber transitions as it extends from the end connected to the light source connector to the opposite end of the optic fiber. The optic fiber transitions from a larger cross-sectional area of the optic fiber at the light source connector to a smaller cross-sectional area of the optic fiber at the opposite end.

Claims

1. A surgery light transmitting apparatus comprising:

an optic fiber having a length between opposite proximal and distal end surfaces, the optic fiber length having a proximal portion adjacent the optic fiber proximal end surface that has a first cross-sectional area, the optic fiber length having an intermediate portion adjacent the proximal portion that has a second cross-sectional area that is smaller than the first cross-sectional area, the optic fiber length having a distal portion adjacent the optic fiber distal end surface that has a third cross-sectional area that is smaller than the second cross-sectional area, where the intermediate portion of the optic fiber length extends along a majority of the optic fiber length between the proximal and distal end surfaces; and

,

the first-cross-sectional area being constant along the proximal portion of the optic fiber length, the second cross-sectional area being constant along the intermediate portion of the optic fiber length, and the third cross-sectional area being constant along the distal portion of the optic fiber length.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

the optic fiber length having a first tapered section between the proximal portion and the intermediate portion of the optic fiber length where the optic fiber tapers down from the first cross-sectional area to the second cross-sectional area, and a second tapered section between the intermediate portion and the distal portion of the optic fiber length where the optic fiber tapers down from the second cross-sectional area to the third cross-sectional area.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

the optic fiber length between the proximal end surface and the distal end surface consisting essentially of the proximal portion, the first tapered section, the intermediate portion, the second tapered section, and the distal portion of the optic fiber length.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a light source connector mounted on the optic fiber proximal portion; and

,

a surgical instrument mounted on the optic fiber distal portion.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:

the intermediate portion of the optic fiber length extending between the light source connector and the surgical instrument.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:

the surgical instrument having a handle and a tubular needle projecting from the handle, and the distal portion of the optic fiber length extending through the tubular needle.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:

the third cross-sectional area being constant along the distal portion of the optic fiber length extending through the tubular needle.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:

the distal portion of the optic fiber length being removably mounted in the tubular needle.

9. A surgery light transmitting apparatus comprising:

an optic fiber having a length between opposite proximal and distal end surfaces, the optic fiber length having a proximal portion adjacent the proximal end surface that has a first cross-sectional area, the optic fiber length having an intermediate portion adjacent the proximal portion that has a second cross-sectional area that is smaller than the first cross-sectional area, the optic fiber length having a distal portion adjacent the optic fiber distal end surface that has a third cross-sectional area that is smaller than the second cross-sectional area;

a light source connector mounted on the optic fiber proximal portion;

a surgical instrument mounted on the optic fiber distal portion, the surgical instrument having a tubular needle and the distal portion of the optic fiber extending through the tubular needle to the distal end surface of the optic fiber; and

,

the optic fiber length having a first tapered section between the proximal portion and the intermediate portion of the optic fiber length where the optic fiber tapers down from the first cross-sectional area to the second cross-sectional area, and a second tapered section between the intermediate portion and the distal portion of the optic fiber length where the optic fiber tapers down from the second cross-sectional area to the third cross-sectional area.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

the optic fiber length between the proximal end surface and the distal end surface consisting essentially of the proximal portion, the first tapered section, the intermediate portion, the second tapered section, and the distal portion of the optic fiber length.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

the first-cross-sectional area being constant along the proximal portion of the optic fiber length, the second cross-sectional area being constant along the intermediate portion of the optic fiber length, and the third cross-sectional area being constant along the distal portion of the optic fiber length.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

the optic fiber second tapered section being outside the needle.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

the optic fiber first tapered section being inside the light source connector.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

the intermediate portion of the optic fiber length extending between the light source connector and the surgical instrument.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

the optic fiber distal portion having a constant cross-sectional area extending through the instrument needle.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

the surgical instrument having a handle, and the needle being rigid and projecting from the handle.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

the intermediate portion of the optic fiber length extending into the instrument and the distal portion of the optic fiber length extending into the needle.

18. A surgery light transmitting apparatus comprising:

an optic fiber having a length between opposite proximal and distal end surfaces, the optic fiber length having a proximal portion adjacent the proximal end surface that has a first cross-sectional area, the optic fiber length having an intermediate portion adjacent the proximal portion that has a second cross-sectional area that is smaller than the first cross-sectional area, the optic fiber length having a distal portion adjacent the optic fiber distal end surface that has a third cross-sectional area that is smaller than the second cross-sectional area;

a light source connector mounted on the optic fiber proximal portion;

a surgical instrument mounted on the optic fiber distal portion, the surgical instrument having a tubular needle and the distal portion of the optic fiber extending through the tubular needle to the distal end surface of the optic fiber; and

,

the tubular needle having an end and the optic fiber distal end surface being at the needle end.