Steerable laser probe

• US 8,840,605 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2012
• Issued: 09/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Katalyst Surgical, LLC (Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung)
• Original Assignee: Katalyst Surgical, LLC (Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung)
• Inventors: Scheller, Gregg D., Moore, Craig, Zeid, Matthew N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crandall, Lynsey
• Assistant Examiner(s): JENNESS, NATHAN JAY
• Application Number:
  US13/586,811
• Publication Number:
  US 20130060240A1
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 606 1- 19, 607 88- 95
• US Class Current: 606/15
• 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 2018/00589 Coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2238 with means for selectively laterally deflecting the tip of the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2288 the optical fibre cable having a curved distal end
• 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 having a handle proximal end and a handle distal end, an actuation structure of the handle, a housing sleeve, a shape memory sleeve at least partially disposed within the housing sleeve, and an optic fiber disposed within the shape memory sleeve and within an inner bore of the handle. A compression of the actuation structure may be configured to gradually curve the optic fiber. A compression of the actuation structure may be configured to gradually straighten the optic fiber. A decompression of the actuation structure may be configured to gradually curve the optic fiber. A decompression of the actuation structure may be configured to gradually straighten the optic fiber.

Claims

1. An instrument comprising:

a handle having a handle distal end and a handle proximal end;

a housing sleeve having a housing sleeve distal end and a housing sleeve proximal end;

a shape memory sleeve having a shape memory sleeve distal end and a shape memory sleeve proximal end, the shape memory sleeve at least partially disposed within the housing sleeve;

a pre-bent angle of the shape memory sleeve;

an optic fiber having an optic fiber distal end and an optic fiber proximal end, the optic fiber disposed within an optic fiber guide of the handle and the shape memory sleeve;

an actuation structure of the handle having an actuation structure distal end and an actuation structure proximal end;

a plurality of actuation arms of the actuation structure, each actuation arm of the plurality of actuation arms having at least one extension mechanism; and

an actuation cone having an actuation cone distal end and an actuation cone proximal end, the actuation cone at least partially disposed within the actuation structure wherein a compression of the actuation structure is configured to retract the actuation cone into the actuation structure and gradually curve the optic fiber.

2. The instrument of claim 1 wherein the compression of the actuation structure is configured to gradually retract the housing sleeve relative to the shape memory sleeve and the optic fiber.

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

4. The instrument of claim 3 wherein the decompression of the actuation structure is configured to gradually extend the housing sleeve relative to the shape memory sleeve and the optic fiber.

5. The instrument of claim 3 wherein the decompression of the actuation structure is configured to extend the actuation cone from the actuation structure.

6. The instrument of claim 1 further comprising:

a pressure mechanism having a pressure mechanism distal end and a pressure mechanism proximal end, the pressure mechanism disposed within a pressure mechanism housing of the handle wherein the pressure mechanism distal end abuts the actuation cone proximal end.

7. The instrument of claim 6 wherein the pressure mechanism is configured to provide a force to resist a refraction of the actuation cone into the actuation structure.

8. The instrument of claim 1 wherein the optic fiber is fixed in a position within the shape memory sleeve.

9. The instrument of claim 1 wherein the optic fiber distal end is adjacent to the shape memory sleeve distal end.

10. The instrument of claim 1 further comprising:

a light source interface configured to interface with the optic fiber proximal end.

11. The instrument of claim 10 wherein the light source interface is an SMA.

12. The instrument of claim 1 wherein the shape memory sleeve is manufactured from nitinol.

13. The instrument of claim 1 wherein the compression of the actuation structure is configured to gradually curve the shape memory sleeve.

14. The instrument of claim 13 wherein the compression of the actuation structure is configured to gradually curve the shape memory sleeve to the pre-bent angle.

15. The instrument of claim 1 wherein a decompression of the actuation structure is configured to gradually straighten the shape memory sleeve.

16. The instrument of claim 15 wherein the decompression of the actuation structure is configured to gradually straighten the pre-bent angle.

17. The instrument of claim 1 further comprising:

a fixation mechanism housing of the handle.

18. The instrument of claim 1 further comprising:

a fixation mechanism configured to fix the shape memory sleeve in a position relative to the handle.

19. The instrument of claim 18 wherein the fixation mechanism is configured to fix the optic fiber in the position relative to the handle.