Steerable laser probe

• US 9,782,294 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2016
• Issued: 10/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2011
• 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, Moore, Craig, Zeid, Matthew N
• Primary Examiner(s): FARAH, AHMED M
• Application Number:
  US15/216,832
• Publication Number:
  US 20170165115A1
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: 606 1, 606 4, 606 6, 606 13- 16, 607 88- 92, 128898
• 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 2017/00331 with preformed bends
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00336 with a protective sleeve, e.g. retractable or slidable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00184 Moving parts
• 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 2018/2244 Features of optical fibre cables, e.g. claddings
• 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 2009/00874 Vitreous
• 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 having a handle distal end and a handle proximal end, a housing sleeve disposed in an inner bore of the handle configured to project a distance from the handle distal end, an optic fiber disposed in the housing sleeve, a shape memory sleeve disposed over a distal end of the optic fiber, and a light source configured to connect to a proximal end of the optic fiber. The shape memory sleeve may be configured to curve the distal end of the optic fiber at an angle, e.g., 90 degrees, when the shape memory sleeve is not contained within the housing sleeve.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

retracting an actuation mechanism of a handle away from an actuation mechanism distal interface wherein the handle has a handle distal end and a handle proximal end;

retracting the actuation mechanism relative to the handle proximal end;

actuating the actuation mechanism along an actuation mechanism guide;

retracting an actuation guide interface within an actuation channel;

retracting a housing sleeve relative to an optic fiber wherein the optic fiber has an optic fiber distal end and an optic fiber proximal end;

retracting the housing sleeve relative to a shape memory sleeve wherein the shape memory sleeve has a shape memory sleeve distal end and a shape memory sleeve proximal end and wherein the optic fiber distal end is adjacent to the shape memory sleeve distal end; and

curving the optic fiber.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

curving the shape memory sleeve.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

curving the optic fiber within an inner eye.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

aiming the optic fiber distal end at a target within an inner eye.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

orientating the shape memory sleeve to curve the optic fiber within a particular transverse plane of an inner eye.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

orientating the shape memory sleeve to curve the optic fiber within a particular sagittal plane of an inner eye.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the shape memory sleeve has a pre-bent angle.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the shape memory sleeve is manufactured from nitinol.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

performing a photocoagulation procedure.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a facilitating force that facilitates the retraction of the actuation mechanism relative to the handle proximal end.

11. A method comprising:

advancing an actuation mechanism of a handle towards an actuation mechanism distal interface wherein the handle has a handle distal end and a handle proximal end;

extending the actuation mechanism relative to the handle proximal end;

actuating the actuation mechanism along an actuation mechanism guide;

advancing an actuation guide interface within an actuation channel;

extending a housing sleeve relative to an optic fiber wherein the optic fiber has an optic fiber distal end and an optic fiber proximal end;

extending the housing sleeve relative to a shape memory sleeve wherein the shape memory sleeve has a shape memory sleeve distal end and a shape memory sleeve proximal end and wherein the optic fiber distal end is adjacent to the shape memory sleeve distal end; and

straightening the optic fiber.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

straightening the shape memory sleeve.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

straightening the optic fiber within an inner eye.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

aiming the optic fiber distal end at a target within an inner eye.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

orientating the shape memory sleeve to straighten the optic fiber within a particular transverse plane of an inner eye.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

orientating the shape memory sleeve to straighten the optic fiber within a particular sagittal plane of an inner eye.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the shape memory sleeve has a pre-bent angle.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the shape memory sleeve is manufactured from nitinol.

19. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

performing a photocoagulation procedure.

20. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

providing a resistive force that resists the extension of the actuation mechanism relative to the handle proximal end.