The United States of America As Represented by the Department of Health

Georgetown University

Iris Medical Instruments, Inc.

Douglas E Gaasterland

David M Buzawa

Alan H Rich

Thomas E Tedder

A fiber optic handpiece has portions formed with special contours that facilitate consistent placement of the probe in an axial rather than radial orientation, thus decreasing the likelihood of incidental laser exposure to unintended structures while maintaining the intrinsically higher laser-tissue coupling efficiency of a contact technique. One particular embodiment incorporates features that permit rapid and consistent positioning relative to visible landmark structures such as the limbus, thereby reducing treatment variability.

Contact probe for laser cyclophotocoagulation

An apparatus is provided for permitting high power laser pulses to be controllably focused in the center of a biomicroscope field of observation by means of a mirror movable in three dimensions. The shutter mechanism, synchronized to the generation of each laser pulse, closes to protect the eyes of an observer against damage from the laser. The mirror is mounted on a shaft disposed on a housing for movement longituinally of its axis, rotationally about that axis, and pivotably about a point on the axis. The apparatus is portable so as to be easily transported to various locations in a medical facility.

Growing community of inventors

Potomac, MD, United States of America

Douglas E Gaasterland