STEERABLE LASER PROBE

• US 20130304045A1
• Filed: 04/11/2013
• Published: 11/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2012
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 9,023,019 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/4
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00318 Steering mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00336 with a protective sleeve, e.g. retractable or slidable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00589 Coagulation
• 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: A61F 2009/00863 Retina
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00872 Cornea
• 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, an optic fiber, and an optic fiber sleeve. 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 that the first stiffness. The optic fiber may be disposed within an inner bore of the handle, the optic fiber sleeve, the actuation structure, and the housing tube. The optic fiber sleeve may enclose at least a portion of the optic fiber and the optic fiber sleeve may be disposed within the actuation structure and the housing tube. A compression of the actuation structure may be configured to curve the housing tube and the optic fiber.

Claims

1. An instrument comprising:

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

an actuation structure of the handle;

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

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

a first housing tube portion of the housing tube, the first housing tube portion having a first stiffness;

a second housing tube portion of the housing tube, the second housing tube portion having a second stiffness wherein the second stiffness is greater than the first stiffness;

an optic fiber sleeve having an optic fiber sleeve distal end and an optic fiber sleeve proximal end, the optic fiber sleeve disposed in the handle and the housing tube; and

an optic fiber having an optic fiber distal end and an optic fiber proximal end, the optic fiber disposed in an inner bore of the handle, the optic fiber sleeve, and the housing tube.

2. The instrument of claim 1 wherein a compression of the actuation structure is configured to gradually curve the optic fiber.

3. The instrument of claim 2 wherein the compression of the actuation structure is configured to gradually curve the optic fiber sleeve.

4. The instrument of claim 2 wherein the compression of the actuation structure is configured to gradually curve the housing tube.

5. The instrument of claim 2 wherein the compression of the actuation structure is configured to extend the housing tube relative to the optic fiber sleeve.

6. The instrument of claim 2 wherein the compression of the actuation structure is configured to retract the optic fiber sleeve relative to the housing tube.

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

8. The instrument of claim 7 wherein the decompression of the actuation structure is configured to gradually straighten the optic fiber sleeve.

9. The instrument of claim 7 wherein the decompression of the actuation structure is configured to gradually straighten the housing tube.

10. The instrument of claim 7 wherein the decompression of the actuation structure is configured to retract the housing tube relative to the optic fiber sleeve.

11. The instrument of claim 7 wherein the decompression of the actuation structure is configured to extend the optic fiber sleeve relative to the housing tube.

12. A method comprising:

applying a force to an actuation arm of an actuation structure of a handle;

compressing the actuation structure of the handle;

curving a housing tube;

curving an optic fiber sleeve;

curving an optic fiber; and

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

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

maintaining a length of a portion of a laser probe within the eye without increasing or decreasing the length of the portion of the laser probe within the eye.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

extending the housing tube relative to the optic fiber sleeve.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

retracting the optic fiber sleeve relative to the housing tube.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

compressing a portion of the housing tube.

17. A method comprising:

reducing a force applied to an actuation arm of an actuation structure of a handle;

decompressing the actuation structure of the handle;

straightening a housing tube;

straightening an optic fiber sleeve;

straightening an optic fiber; and

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

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

maintaining a length of a portion of a laser probe within the eye without increasing or decreasing the length of the portion of the laser probe within the eye.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

retracting the housing tube relative to the optic fiber sleeve.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

extending the optic fiber sleeve relative to the housing tube.