Thermally robust laser probe assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11344449-B2
Application number	US-201816218382-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 12, 2018
Priority date	Dec 12, 2017
Publication date	May 31, 2022
Grant date	May 31, 2022

Abstract

Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a thermally robust laser probe assembly comprising a cannula, wherein one or more optical fibers extend at least partially through the cannula for transmitting laser light from a laser source to a target location. The probe assembly further comprises a lens housed in the cannula and a protective component press-fitted to the distal end of the cannula, wherein the lens is positioned between the one or more optical fibers and the protective component.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A probe assembly, comprising:
a multi-core optical fiber;
a nitinol cannula, wherein the multi-core optical fiber extends at least partially through the nitinol cannula for transmitting laser light from a laser source to a target location;
a gradient index (GRIN) lens housed in the cannula, wherein the multi-core optical fiber touches a proximal end of the GRIN lens; and
a cylindrical sapphire window press-fitted to a distal end of the nitinol cannula, wherein a distal end of the GRIN lens touches a proximal end of the cylindrical sapphire window inside the nitinol cannula and wherein a distal end of the cylindrical sapphire window extends outside the nitinol cannula, wherein the GRIN lens is positioned between the multi-core optical fiber and the cylindrical sapphire window and wherein the GRIN lens is external to the cylindrical sapphire window.

2. The probe assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical sapphire window comprises transparent material.

3. The probe assembly of claim 2 , wherein the cylindrical sapphire window has optical power.

4. The probe assembly of claim 2 , wherein the cylindrical sapphire window is without optical power.

5. The probe assembly of claim 1 ,
wherein the proximal end of the cylindrical sapphire window comprises a convex surface.

6. The probe assembly of claim 1 ,
wherein the proximal end of the cylindrical sapphire window comprises a spherical segment.

7. The probe assembly of claim 1 ,
wherein the proximal end of the cylindrical sapphire window comprises a molded aspherical segment.

8. The probe assembly of claim 1 , wherein
the proximal end of the GRIN lens is curved.

9. The probe assembly of claim 8 , wherein the proximal end of the GRIN lens is spherical.

10. The probe assembly of claim 1 , wherein
the distal end of the GRIN lens is curved.

11. The probe assembly of claim 10 , wherein the proximal end of the GRIN lens is spherical.

12. The probe assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical sapphire window is press-fitted such that the cylindrical sapphire window reduces leakage of material into the nitinol cannula.

13. A surgical system, comprising:
a laser source;
a multi-core optical fiber;
a probe assembly connected to the laser source through the multi-core optical fiber, the probe assembly comprising:
a hand-piece connected to a nitinol cannula, the nitinol cannula comprising a distal end, wherein the multi-core optical fiber extends through the hand-piece and at least partially through the nitinol cannula for transmitting laser light from the laser source to a target location;
a GRIN lens housed in the cannula, wherein the multi-core optical fiber touches a proximal end of the GRIN lens; and
a cylindrical sapphire window press-fitted to the distal end of the nitinol cannula, wherein a distal end of the GRIN lens touches a proximal end of the cylindrical sapphire window inside the nitinol cannula and wherein a distal end of the cylindrical sapphire window extends outside the nitinol cannula, wherein the GRIN lens is positioned between the multi-core optical fiber and the cylindrical sapphire window and wherein the GRIN lens is external to the cylindrical sapphire window.

14. The surgical system of claim 13 , wherein the cylindrical sapphire window comprises transparent material.

15. The surgical system of claim 14 , wherein the cylindrical sapphire window has optical power.

16. The surgical system of claim 14 , wherein the cylindrical sapphire window is without optical power.

17. The surgical system of claim 13 ,
wherein the proximal end of the cylindrical sapphire window comprises a convex surface.

18. The surgical system of claim 13 ,
wherein the proximal end of the cylindrical sapphire window comprises a spherical segment.

19. The surgical system of claim 13 ,
wherein the proximal end of the cylindrical sapphire window comprises a molded aspherical segment.

20. The surgical system of claim 13 , wherein the cylindrical sapphire window is press-fitted such that the cylindrical sapphire window reduces leakage of material into the nitinol cannula.

Assignees

• Novartis Ag
• Alcon Inc

Inventors

• Cook Christopher
• Diao Chenguang
• Farley Mark Harrison
• Mirsepassi Alireza
• Parto Kambiz
• Smith Ronald T

Classifications

• A61B2018/2244

  Features of optical fibre cables, e.g. claddings · CPC title

• A61B2018/2205

  Characteristics of fibres · CPC title

• A61B18/20

  using laser · CPC title

• A61B2018/2266

  with a lens, e.g. ball tipped · CPC title

• A61B2018/2255

  Optical elements at the distal end of probe tips · CPC title