Method and apparatus for cyclo-scanner using surface emitting lasers or LEDs

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11058890-B2
Application number	US-201815892809-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 9, 2018
Priority date	Feb 15, 2017
Publication date	Jul 13, 2021
Grant date	Jul 13, 2021

Abstract

A handheld device for delivering therapeutic light toward an eye of a patient includes a device housing that is configured to be held by a user in delivering the therapeutic light, a plurality of light sources disposed within the device housing, and an array of lenses disposed near the distal end of the device housing. Each light source is configured to independently emit a beam of therapeutic light and each lens of the array is aligned with a respective light source so that each beam of therapeutic light that is emitted from the respective light sources is focused and directed by the respective lenses of the array to target tissue of the eye in order to therapeutically treat to the target tissue.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device for delivering therapeutic light toward an eye of a patient, the device comprising:
a device housing having a proximal end and a distal end opposite the proximal end;
a plurality of light sources disposed within the device housing, each light source being configured to independently deliver a beam of therapeutic light toward the distal end of the device housing; and
an array of lenses disposed near the distal end of the device housing, each lens of the array being aligned with a respective light source of the plurality of light sources so that the beam of therapeutic light that is delivered from the respective light source is directed by the respective lens of the array to target tissue of the eye in order to therapeutically treat the target tissue;
wherein the array of lenses is arranged so that the array of lenses encircles a limbus of the eye and so that each lens of the array is positioned radially outward of the limbus.

2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a control unit that is coupled with the plurality of light sources and that is configured to independently control each light source to switch each light source on and off in therapeutically treating the target tissue.

3. The device of claim 2 , further comprising an infrared camera that is configured to produce an observable spot on the target tissue of the eye by reflection of the beam of therapeutic light from the target tissue, wherein the beam of therapeutic light is delivered from at least one light source of the plurality of light sources and wherein the beam of therapeutic light is delivered to target tissue of an eye at a power level of less than 1 mW.

4. The device of claim 2 , wherein the control unit is configured to switch each light source on and off in a sequential manner so that the therapeutic light is delivered sequentially among a plurality of target locations.

5. The device of claim 2 , wherein the control unit is configured to switch the light sources on and off so that the therapeutic light is delivered in a sweeping motion across the target tissue of the eye.

6. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a contact tip having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the contact tip being detachably coupled with the distal end of the device housing and the distal end of the contact tip comprising a contact surface that is positionable on a surface of the eye.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of light sources comprises vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs), surface emitting LEDs, a combination thereof.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein one or more batteries are disposed within the housing such that the device is a self-contained single use disposable unit.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device comprises between 10 and 50 individual light sources and lenses.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the device comprises 20 individual light sources and lenses.

11. A device for use with a plurality of light sources for providing a therapeutic treatment to an eye of a patient, the device comprising:
a housing having a proximal end and a distal end;
an array of lenses disposed near the distal end of the housing body, each lens of the array being aligned with a beam of therapeutic light provided by a respective light source of a plurality of light sources, each lens of the array being configured to direct the beam of therapeutic light to target tissue of the eye in order to provide the therapeutic treatment; and
a control unit that is operably coupled with the plurality of light sources and that is configured to independently control each light source in order to independently deliver the therapeutic light from each light source in an automated fashion;
further comprising a contact tip that houses or includes the array of lenses, the contact tip having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the contact tip being coupled with the distal end of the housing and the distal end of the contact tip being configured for positioning on a surface of the eye; and
wherein the array of lenses is arranged so that when the contact tip is positioned on the eye, the therapeutic treatment is provided to the eye without requiring a repositioning of the contact tip relative to the eye.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of light sources are disposed within the housing.

13. The device of claim 11 , further comprising an infrared camera that is configured to produce an observable spot on the target tissue of the eye by reflection of the beam of therapeutic light from the target tissue, wherein the beam of therapeutic light is delivered from at least one light source of the plurality of light sources and wherein the beam of therapeutic light is delivered at a power level of less than 1 mW.

14. The device of claim 11 , wherein the proximal end of the housing is coupleable with an external light source that houses the plurality of light sources.

15. The device of claim 11 , wherein the contact tip is removable from the distal end of the housing.

16. The device of claim 11 , wherein the distal end of the contact tip is curved to correspond with a contour of eye such that the therapeutic light, directed by the array of lenses, exiting the distal end of the contact tip enters the eye at an angle that is relatively normal to the surface of the eye.

17. The device of claim 11 , wherein the array of lenses is arranged so that a respective beam of therapeutic light that is delivered from each lens is disposed radially outward of a limbus of the eye, and wherein the control unit is configured to deliver the therapeutic light from each light source in a sequential manner so that therapeutic light is delivered to the target tissue of the eye around the limbus.

Assignees

• Iridex Corp

Inventors

• Chen Howard

Classifications

• A61N5/067

  using laser light · CPC title

• A61F2009/00868

  Ciliary muscles or trabecular meshwork · CPC title

• A61F2009/00844

  Feedback systems · CPC title

• A61N2005/0648

  the light being directed to the eyes · CPC title

• A61N5/0622 Primary

  Optical stimulation for exciting neural tissue · CPC title