Novartis Ag

Alcon, Inc.

Alcon Research, Ltd.

Barry Lynn Wheatley

Kambiz Parto

Michael James Papac

Alireza Mirsepassi

Brian William McDonell

Edouard G Schmidtlin

Ronald T Smith

Lingfeng Yu

Chenguang Diao

Dean Lin

Tammo Heeren

Mark Harrison Farley

Mauricio Jochinsen

Brian William Mcdonell

Jack Robert Auld

Thomas Kern

Tammo Hereen

Vinh Vu

An ophthalmic cannula assembly may include a cannula having an outer cannula surface and an inner cylindrical bore. A hub adjoining a proximal end of the cannula may define a maximum outer hub diameter that is greater than an outer diameter of the cannula. An optical fiber may be attached to the outer cannula surface for at least a portion of a length of the cannula. A cover material may be in contact with the outer cannula surface, and may cover at least a portion of the optical fiber. A light diffuser may be disposed at a distal tip of the optical fiber.

Illuminated ophthalmic cannula

In some embodiments, an illuminated microsurgical instrument system includes a microsurgical instrument having a distally projecting tubular member arranged to perform a medical procedure. The tubular member has a distal tip and an outer surface, the outer surface having a flat surface formed therein. The instrument includes a sheath member surrounding a portion of the tubular member and extending toward the distal tip of the tubular member and an optical fiber extending along a length of the flat surface between the tubular member and the sheath member. The instrument may include an opening such as a slot in the distal end of the sheath member to direct exiting air away from the tip of the optical fiber. The instrument may further include a slack chamber, collar structure, and fiber guard member to support and guide the optical fiber to the distal tip.

Medical instrument with an integrated optical fiber

Provided herein is an illuminated microsurgical instrument system and an illuminated microsurgical instrument. In one implementation, the system includes a microsurgical instrument having a distally projecting tubular member arranged to perform a medical procedure at an interventional site. The tubular member has a distal tip and an outer surface, the outer surface having a flat surface formed therein. The instrument includes a sheath member surrounding a portion of the tubular member and extending toward the distal tip of the tubular member and an optical fiber extending along a length of the flat surface between the tubular member and the sheath member. The instrument may further include a slack chamber, collar structure, and fiber guard member to support and guide the optical fiber to the distal tip.

Devices, systems, and methods that utilize electroactive polymer actuators to impart motion to an optical fiber positioned within an imaging probe are provided. In some embodiments, an ophthalmic imaging apparatus comprises an optical probe having a handle sized and shaped for handheld grasping by a user; and a cannula coupled to the handle, the cannula sized and shaped for insertion into an eye to be treated; an optical fiber positioned at least partially within the optical probe, the optical fiber configured to receive an imaging light from an imaging light source and guide the imaging light to an optical element positioned within the cannula of the optical probe; and an actuator system configured to impart motion to the optical fiber, the actuator system including an electroactive polymer (EAP) actuator positioned within the optical probe.

Imaging probes and associated devices, systems, and methods utilizing electroactive polymer actuators

An illuminated microsurgical instrument is provided herein that includes a microsurgical instrument having a tubular member arranged to treat patient tissue at a surgical site, the tubular member having a distal tip, an inner surface, and an outer surface. The inner surface defines a lumen. The outer surface has a notch formed therein. The illuminated microsurgical instrument further includes an optical fiber arranged to deliver light to the surgical site. The optical fiber includes a proximal end arranged to receive a light beam from a light source and also includes a curved distal end arranged to emit light adjacent to the distal tip. A portion of the curved distal end is positioned within the notch and curves away from the tubular member.

Vitreous cutter with integrated illumination system

A scanning optical probe and method includes a cannula, optical fiber, lens, and an actuating mechanism for tilting the optical fiber back and forth within the cannula. An actuator in the probe handle is coupled to various flexing and guide components extending through the cannula and towards the distal end of the scanning optical probe. Reciprocating motion from the actuator is transmitted to the components thereby causing the optical fiber at the distal end of the scanning optical probe to aim across target surfaces. The light emitted from the optical fiber is processed to generate a scan of the target area.

Scanning optical probe with flexing mechanism

The imaging probe can comprise a housing, having a proximal region configured to be coupled to an optical cable; a cannula, extending from a distal region of the housing; an optical guide, positioned partially in the housing and partially in the cannula, configured to receive an imaging light from the cable in the proximal region of the housing, and to guide the imaging light towards a distal end of the cannula; an optical focusing element, configured to receive the imaging light from the optical guide, and to emit a focused imaging light; an elastomeric optical element, configured to receive the focused imaging light from the optical focusing element, and to be deformable to redirect the focused imaging light; and an actuator system, configured to deform the elastomeric optical element to redirect the focused imaging light.

Imaging probes and associated devices, systems, and methods utilizing an elastomeric optical element

An optical light scanning probe is presented, the probe comprising a handle, shaped for grasping by a user; a cannula, protruding from a distal portion of the handle with an outer diameter smaller than 20 gauge; an optical fiber with a distal fiber-portion off a probe-axis, configured to receive a light from a light-source at a proximal fiber-portion, and to emit the received light at the distal fiber-portion; a fixed beam forming unit, disposed at a distal portion of the cannula, configured to receive the light from the distal fiber-portion, and to deflect the received light toward a target region; and a fiber actuator, housed at least partially in the handle, configured to move the distal fiber-portion to scan the deflected light along a scanning curve in the target region.

Forward scanning-optical probes, circular scan patterns, offset fibers

An adjustment system for an Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) imaging system includes an OCT light source; a beam splitter, splitting the OCT light beam into an imaging beam to an imaging arm, and a reference beam to a reference arm; a probe, guiding the imaging beam onto a target and receiving a returned imaging beam from the target; the beam splitter generating an interference beam from the returned imaging beam and a returned reference beam from the reference arm; an imaging detector, detecting the interference beam; an imaging processor, generating an OCT image from the detected interference beam; and an adjustment device, removably coupled to the probe, the adjustment device comprising the target attached to a distal region of a target holder at a working distance from a distal end of the imaging probe, wherein an optical length of the reference arm is adjustable to improve a calibration of the OCT image.

Devices, systems, and methods for calibrating an OCT imaging system in a laser surgical system

Devices, systems, and methods that utilize at least one charged electrode to impart motion to an optical fiber positioned within an imaging probe by an electrostatic force are provided. In some embodiments, an ophthalmic imaging probe can include a handle; a cannula coupled to the handle; an optical fiber positioned at least partially within the handle and the cannula, the optical fiber configured to receive an imaging light from an imaging light source and guide the imaging light to an optical element positioned within the cannula; and an actuator system configured to impart motion to the optical fiber, the actuator system including an electrode positioned within the cannula and configured to impart motion to the optical fiber by selectively imparting an electric charge to the electrode and/or the electrically conductive layer of the optical fiber.

Imaging probes and associated devices, systems, and methods utilizing electrostatic actuators

Devices, systems, and methods that utilize a ferrofluid-impregnated medium to impart motion to an optical fiber positioned within an imaging probe are provided. In some embodiments, an ophthalmic imaging probe can include a housing having a proximal portion and a distal portion; an optical fiber positioned within the housing, the optical fiber configured to receive an imaging light from an imaging light source and guide the imaging light to an optical element positioned within the distal portion of the housing; and an actuator system configured to impart motion to the optical fiber, the actuator system including a ferrofluid-impregnated medium (FIM) and an electrically energizable coil positioned within the housing.

Imaging probes and associated devices, and systems utilizing ferrofluid-impregnated actuators

An OCT probe includes a cannula and includes a selectively displaceable light-carrying optical fiber disposed within the cannula. The optical fiber may be arranged to emit light from a distal end thereof. A flexor may be bent to divide the flexor into a first segment and a second segment extending along a lumen of the cannula. The first segment may be coupled to the optical fiber. A driver may be configured to push or pull the second segment in the axial direction to elastically bow the second segment and laterally displace the optical fiber to perform an OCT scan.

OCT probe with bowing flexor

In certain embodiments, a scanning system includes optical elements and a movement system. The optical elements include an optical fiber and a gradient-index (GRIN) lens. The optical fiber has a fiber axis that extends to an imaginary fiber axis, and is configured to transmit a light ray. The GRIN lens has a GRIN perimeter and a GRIN lens optical axis, and is configured to refract the light ray. The movement system moves a first optical element relative to a second optical element in a closed path such that the GRIN lens optical axis substantially aligns with the imaginary fiber axis at at least one point of the path and the GRIN perimeter intersects the imaginary fiber axis at at least two points of the path.

Forward scanning optical probes

Micro-volume devices, systems, and associated methods that facilitate the injection or aspiration of precisely controlled volumes of materials at precisely controlled rates are provided. In one embodiment, a micro-volume device includes a syringe and a lead screw connected to a plunger of the syringe. A mechanical interface is connected to the lead screw and includes a first set of cams adjacent a proximal portion and a second set of cams adjacent a distal portion. A mechanism is configured to oscillate a structure in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the lead screw such that one or more projections of the structure to alternatively engage cams of the first and second sets of cams in a manner that results in rotation of the mechanical interface in a single direction for highly controlled linear displacement of the plunger.

Device for at least one of injection or aspiration

An OCT probe for imaging patient tissue may include an actuation system arranged to displace an optical fiber within a cannula. The actuation system may include a driver actuatable to displace a portion of the optical fiber, with the driver acting in an angled direction relative to the axis of the cannula. The actuation system also may include a pivot feature operably engaged with the optical fiber in a manner permitting the optical fiber to pivot on the pivot feature when the driver actuates to displace the portion of the optical fiber.

Growing community of inventors

Oceanside, CA, United States of America

Barry Lynn Wheatley