Steerable laser probe

• US 9,775,745 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2017
• Issued: 10/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2012
• 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): Eiseman, Lynsey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lukjan, Sebastian X
• Application Number:
  US15/400,478
• Publication Number:
  US 20170112669A1
• Time in Patent Office: 270 Days
• Field of Search: 606 4
• 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 2018/00196 reciprocating lengthwise
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00202 rotating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00589 Coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0091 Handpieces of the surgical instrument or device
• 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: A61F 2002/3037 Translation along the common longitudinal axis, e.g. piston
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00863 Retina
• 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, and inner bore of the handle, an actuation lever of the handle, a housing tube, and an optic fiber disposed within the inner bore of the handle and the 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.

Claims

1. A method for performing an ophthalmic procedure comprising:

actuating an actuation lever of a handle in a first direction wherein the handle has a handle distal end and a handle proximal end and the actuation lever has an actuation lever distal end and an actuation lever proximal end and wherein the actuation lever proximal end is disposed in an actuation lever guide of the handle and wherein the actuation lever distal end is not disposed in the actuation lever guide;

applying a force to a piston wherein the piston has a piston distal end and a piston proximal end;

actuating the piston within a piston guide of the handle;

extending the piston relative to the handle proximal end;

extending a housing tube relative to the handle proximal end wherein the housing tube has a housing tube distal end and a housing tube proximal end;

extending the housing tube relative to a cable wherein the cable has a cable distal end and a cable proximal end wherein the cable distal end is fixed to an inner portion of the housing tube and wherein the cable proximal end is fixed in a position relative to the handle by a fixation pin;

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 the housing tube and wherein the optic fiber distal end is adjacent to the housing tube distal end;

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

performing a photocoagulation procedure.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

curving the housing tube.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

applying a compressive force to a portion of the housing tube.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

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

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

actuating the actuation lever in a second direction.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

reducing the force applied to the piston.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

retracting the piston relative to the handle proximal end.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

retracting the housing tube relative to the handle proximal end.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

retracting the housing tube relative to the cable.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

straightening the optic fiber.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

straightening the housing tube.

12. A method for performing an ophthalmic procedure comprising:

actuating an actuation lever of a handle in a first direction wherein the handle has a handle distal end and a handle proximal end and the actuation lever has an actuation lever distal end and an actuation lever proximal end and wherein the actuation lever proximal end is disposed in an actuation lever guide of the handle and wherein the actuation lever distal end is not disposed in the actuation lever guide;

reducing a force applied to a piston wherein the piston has a piston distal end and a piston proximal end;

actuating the piston within a piston guide of the handle;

retracting the piston relative to the handle proximal end;

retracting a housing tube relative to the handle proximal end wherein the housing tube has a housing tube distal end and a housing tube proximal end;

retracting the housing tube relative to a cable wherein the cable has a cable distal end and a cable proximal end wherein the cable distal end is fixed to an inner portion of the housing tube and wherein the cable proximal end is fixed in a position relative to the handle by a fixation pin;

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 the housing tube and wherein the optic fiber distal end is adjacent to the housing tube distal end;

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

performing a photocoagulation procedure.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

straightening the housing tube.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

reducing a force applied to a portion of the housing tube.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

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

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

actuating the actuation lever in a second direction; and

curving the optic fiber.