Steerable laser probe

• US 9,554,942 B1
• Filed: 06/20/2016
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Katalyst Surgical, LLC (Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung)
• Original Assignee: Katalyst Surgical, LLC (Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung)
• Inventors: Scheller, Gregg D, Zeid, Matthew N, Moore, Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): Crandall, Lynsey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lukjan, Sebastian X
• Application Number:
  US15/187,165
• Publication Number:
  US 20170007454A1
• Time in Patent Office: 225 Days
• Field of Search: 606/4
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2017/00323 Cables or rods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00172 Connectors and adapters therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00589 Coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0094 Types of switches or controllers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/20357 by movable optical fibre end
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2238 with means for selectively laterally deflecting the tip of the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/225 Features of hand-pieces A61B2018/2255 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2288 the optical fibre cable having a curved distal end
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/715 Cable tensioning mechanisms for removing slack
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/71 Manipulators operated by drive cable mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/008 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00821 for coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00823 Laser features or special beam parameters therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0147 with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires

Abstract

A steerable laser probe may include a handle, an actuation lever, an optic fiber, and a housing tube. The housing tube may have a first housing tube portion having a first stiffness and a second housing tube portion having a second stiffness. The second stiffness may be greater than the first stiffness. The optic fiber may be disposed within the housing tube and within an inner bore of the handle. An actuation of the actuation lever about a pivot pin of the handle may gradually curve the optic fiber. An actuation of the actuation lever about the pivot pin of the handle may gradually straighten the optic fiber.

Claims

1. A method for performing an ophthalmic photocoagulation procedure comprising:

applying a force to an actuation lever of a handle wherein the actuation lever has an actuation lever distal end and an actuation lever proximal end and the handle has a handle distal end and a handle proximal end and wherein the actuation lever proximal end is disposed in an actuation channel of the handle and the actuation lever distal end extends out from the actuation channel;

actuating the actuation lever distal end away from the handle proximal end;

rotating the actuation lever about a pivot pin in a first direction wherein the pivot pin is disposed in a pivot pin housing of the handle and a pivot pin guide of the actuation lever;

retracting a wire relative to a single housing tube wherein the wire wherein the wire has a wire distal end and a wire proximal end and the housing tube has a housing tube distal end and a housing tube proximal end and wherein the wire distal end is adjacent to the housing tube distal end and wherein a portion of the wire is fixed to the housing tube;

curving the housing tube;

curving an optic fiber wherein the optic fiber has an optic fiber distal end and an optic fiber proximal end and wherein the optic fiber is disposed in an inner bore of the handle, the actuation channel, and the housing tube and wherein the optic fiber distal end is adjacent to the housing tube distal end and wherein a portion of the optic fiber is fixed to an inner portion of the housing tube;

aiming the optic fiber distal end at a target within an eye; and

energizing a laser.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

compressing a portion of the housing tube.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

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

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the housing tube has a first housing tube portion having a first stiffness and a second housing tube portion having a second stiffness.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the first housing tube portion has a plurality of apertures.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein at least one aperture of the plurality of apertures is a slit.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

rotating the actuation lever about the pivot pin in a second direction.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

straightening the optic fiber.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

straightening the housing tube.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

extending the wire relative to the housing tube.

11. A method for performing an ophthalmic photocoagulation procedure comprising:

reducing a force applied to an actuation lever of a handle wherein the actuation lever has an actuation lever distal end and an actuation lever proximal end and the handle has a handle distal end and a handle proximal end and wherein the actuation lever proximal end is disposed in an actuation channel of the handle and the actuation lever distal end extends out from the actuation channel;

actuating the actuation lever distal end towards the handle proximal end;

rotating the actuation lever about a pivot pin in a first direction wherein the pivot pin is disposed in a pivot pin housing of the handle and a pivot pin guide of the actuation lever;

extending a wire relative to a single housing tube wherein the wire wherein the wire has a wire distal end and a wire proximal end and the housing tube has a housing tube distal end and a housing tube proximal end and wherein the wire distal end is adjacent to the housing tube distal end and wherein a portion of the wire is fixed to the housing tube;

straightening the housing tube;

straightening an optic fiber wherein the optic fiber has an optic fiber distal end and an optic fiber proximal end and wherein the optic fiber is disposed in an inner bore of the handle, the actuation channel, and the housing tube and wherein the optic fiber distal end is adjacent to the housing tube distal end and wherein a portion of the optic fiber is fixed to an inner portion of the housing tube;

aiming the optic fiber distal end at a target within an eye; and

energizing a laser.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

decompressing a portion of the housing tube.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the housing tube has a first housing tube portion having a first stiffness and a second housing tube portion having a second stiffness.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

rotating the actuation lever about the pivot pin in a second direction.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

curving the optic fiber.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

curving the housing tube.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

retracting the wire relative to the housing tube.

18. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

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