Steerable laser probe

• US 9,119,702 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2014
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Katalyst Surgical, LLC (Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung)
• Original Assignee: Katalyst Surgical, LLC (Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung)
• Inventors: Scheller, Gregg D, Zeid, Matthew N
• Primary Examiner(s): Crandall, Lynsey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lukjan, Sebastian X
• Application Number:
  US14/461,926
• Publication Number:
  US 20140350532A1
• Time in Patent Office: 379 Days
• Field of Search: 606/1, 606/4
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00318 Steering mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00964 Features of probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2238 with means for selectively laterally deflecting the tip of the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2244 Features of optical fibre cables, e.g. claddings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/71 Manipulators operated by drive cable mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00872 Cornea
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/008 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00802 for photoablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00821 for coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00823 Laser features or special beam parameters therefor

Abstract

A steerable laser probe may include a handle, an actuation structure of the handle, a housing tube, a flexible tube, an optic fiber, and a wire having a pre-formed curve. The flexible tube may be disposed within the housing tube wherein a distal end of the flexible tube projects out from a distal end of the housing tube. The optic fiber may be disposed within an inner bore of the handle, the housing tube, and the flexible tube. The wire may be disposed within the housing tube.

Claims

1. A method for photocoagulation comprising:

aiming a distal end of an optic fiber at a first photocoagulation target within an inner eye;

decompressing an actuation structure of a handle wherein the actuation structure has a plurality of actuation arms and wherein each actuation arm of the plurality of actuation arms has an extension mechanism and an inverted actuation joint;

reducing an amount of force applied to an actuation platform of the handle by at least one inverted actuation joint of at least one actuation arm of the plurality of actuation arms of the actuation structure wherein the actuation platform is disposed within the actuation structure;

curving the optic fiber within the inner eye;

and aiming the distal end of the optic fiber at a second photocoagulation target within the inner eye.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

curving the optic fiber at least 45 degrees relative to a proximal end of a housing tube.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

curving the optic fiber at least 90 degrees relative to the proximal end of the housing tube.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

curving the optic fiber at least 135 degrees relative to the proximal end of the housing tube.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

aiming the distal end of the optic fiber at a third photocoagulation target within the inner eye without increasing a length of the optic fiber within the inner eye.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

aiming the distal end of the optic fiber at a third photocoagulation target within the inner eye without increasing a length of a housing tube within the inner eye.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

aiming the distal end of the optic fiber at a third photocoagulation target within the inner eye without increasing a length of a flexible tube within the inner eye.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

aiming the distal end of the optic fiber at a third photocoagulation target within the inner eye without decreasing a length of the optic fiber within the inner eye.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

aiming the distal end of the optic fiber at a third photocoagulation target within the inner eye without decreasing a length of a housing tube within the inner eye.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

aiming the distal end of the optic fiber at a third photocoagulation target within the inner eye without decreasing a length of a flexible tube within the inner eye.

11. A method for photocoagulation comprising:

aiming a distal end of an optic fiber at a first photocoagulation target within an inner eye;

compressing an actuation structure of a handle wherein the actuation structure has a plurality of actuation arms and wherein each actuation arm of the plurality of actuation arms has an extension mechanism and an inverted actuation joint;

applying a force to an actuation platform of the handle by at least one inverted actuation joint of at least one actuation arm of the plurality of actuation arms of the actuation structure wherein the actuation platform is disposed within the actuation structure

straightening the optic fiber within the inner eye; and

aiming the distal end of the optic fiber at a second photocoagulation target within the inner eye.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

straightening the optic fiber at least 45 degrees relative to a proximal end of a housing tube.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

straightening the optic fiber at least 90 degrees relative to the proximal end of the housing tube.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

straightening the optic fiber at least 135 degrees relative to the proximal end of the housing tube.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

aiming the distal end of the optic fiber at a third photocoagulation target within the inner eye without increasing a length of the optic fiber within the inner eye.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

aiming the distal end of the optic fiber at a third photocoagulation target within the inner eye without increasing a length of a housing tube within the inner eye.

17. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

aiming the distal end of the optic fiber at a third photocoagulation target within the inner eye without increasing a length of a flexible tube within the inner eye.

18. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

aiming the distal end of the optic fiber at a third photocoagulation target within the inner eye without decreasing a length of the optic fiber within the inner eye.

19. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

aiming the distal end of the optic fiber at a third photocoagulation target within the inner eye without decreasing a length of a housing tube within the inner eye.

20. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

aiming the distal end of the optic fiber at a third photocoagulation target within the inner eye without decreasing a length of a flexible tube within the inner eye.