# US 10,245,181 B2 · Grin fiber multi-spot laser probe

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- Number: US 10,245,181 B2
- Document ID: US10245181B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/723,600
- Filed: 2012-12-21
- Published: 2014-06-26
- Granted: 2019-04-02
- Earliest claimed: 2012-12-21
- Assignees: Alcon Research, Ltd.
- Applicants: Alcon Research, Ltd.
- Inventors: Chenguang Diao; Ronald T. Smith
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245181B2

## CPC

- A61F 9/00821: {for coagulation}
- A61F 9/00823: {Laser features or special beam parameters therefor}
- A61F 2009/00863: {Retina}
- Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A surgical probe includes a cannula assembly, having a graded index (GRIN) fiber that is configured to receive a multi-spot light beam at a proximal end and to emit the multi-spot light beam at a distal end; an adapter, having a distal end, configured to receive the cannula assembly, with the proximal end of the GRIN fiber, a proximal end, configured to couple to a light guide via a connector and to receive a light delivered by the light guide from a laser source to the adapter, and an interface, configured to couple the light delivered by the light guide to the proximal end of the GRIN fiber; wherein a length of the GRIN fiber is sufficiently long that the interface is outside a patient's eye during a photocoagulation procedure.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A surgical probe, comprising:
a cannula assembly, having
a graded index (GRIN) fiber that is configured to receive a multi-spot light beam at a proximal end and to emit the multi-spot light beam at a distal end, and a cannula encasing the GRIN fiber;
a handpiece coupled to the cannula assembly with a proximal portion of the GRIN fiber extending into a proximal end of the handpiece, the handpiece configured to be manipulated by a surgeon or a surgical machine to control positioning of the distal end of the GRIN fiber; and
an adapter, having
a distal end configured to receive the proximal portion of the handpiece containing the proximal portion of the GRIN fiber,
a proximal end, configured to couple to a light guide via a connector and to receive a light delivered by the light guide from a laser source to the adapter, and
an interface configured between the distal end of the adapter and the proximal end of the adapter;
wherein the interface is outside a patient's eye when the cannula is inserted into the patient's eye during a photocoagulation procedure;
wherein the proximal end of the GRIN fiber is spaced from a distal end of the light guide by a pre-selected distance inside the adapter thereby coupling the light delivered by the light guide to the proximal end of the GRIN fiber in the adapter;
wherein the cannula is removably docked to the adapter.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The surgical probe of claim 1, the light guide comprising:
a fiber bundle.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The surgical probe of claim 1, wherein:
the light guide comprises a single optical fiber; and
the adapter comprises, at the interface,
a lens, optically coupled to the optical fiber; and
a diffractive beam splitter, optically coupled to the lens.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The surgical probe of claim 1, wherein the handpiece is further configured for providing a heat exchange system.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The surgical probe of claim 1, wherein:
the cannula comprises a high thermal-conductivity metal.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The cannula assembly of claim 1, wherein:
the GRIN fiber is encased into the cannula with a highly heat-conducting adhesive along a length of the GRIN fiber.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The surgical probe of claim 1, wherein:
the cannula assembly is disposable, and
the adapter is not disposable.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The surgical probe of claim 1, wherein:
the surgical probe is optically coupled to a surgical light system, comprising
a light source, configured to provide light for the light guide; and
a control processor, configured to control an operation of the surgical light system.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The surgical probe of claim 1, wherein:
the adapter comprises a heat exchange structure.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The surgical probe of claim 1, wherein:
the GRIN fiber has a diameter between 200 microns and 500 microns.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The surgical probe of claim 1, wherein:
the proximal end of the GRIN fiber is coated with an anti-reflective coating.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The surgical probe of claim 1, wherein:
the proximal end of the GRIN fiber is cut at an angle relative to the axis of symmetry of the GRIN fiber.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The surgical probe of claim 1, wherein:
the GRIN fiber comprises a cylindrical core having a refractive index that varies radially.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The surgical probe of claim 1, wherein:
the handpiece is longitudinally aligned with a proximal portion of the GRIN fiber.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The surgical probe of claim 1, wherein:
the handpiece is adjacent to the adapter.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The surgical probe of claim 1, wherein:
the proximal end of the GRIN fiber is disposed within the adapter.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The surgical probe of claim 1, wherein:
a proximal end of the cannula disposed within the adapter.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The surgical probe of claim 1, wherein:
the proximal end of the GRIN fiber and the distal end of the light guide are aligned along a lumen of the adapter.