# US 10,500,094 B2 · Convex contact probe for the delivery of laser energy

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- Number: US 10,500,094 B2
- Document ID: US10500094B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/616,768
- Filed: 2017-06-07
- Published: 2018-01-04
- Granted: 2019-12-10
- Earliest claimed: 2014-06-27
- Assignees: IRIDEX Corporation; National University Hospital (Singapore) Pte Ltd; National University of Singapore
- Applicants: IRIDEX Corporation; National University Hospital (Singapore) PTE Ltd.; National University of Singapore
- Inventors: David Buzawa; Paul T. K. Chew
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10500094B2

## CPC

- A61F 9/008: using laser
- A61F 9/00781: {Apparatus for modifying intraocular pressure, e.g. for glaucoma treatment (drainage implants in general A61M27/002)}
- A61F 9/00821: {for coagulation}
- A61F 9/009: Auxiliary devices making contact with the eyeball and coupling in laser light, {e.g. goniolenses (apparatus for eye examination A61B3/0008)}
- A61F 2009/00865: {Sclera}
- A61F 2009/00868: {Ciliary muscles or trabecular meshwork}
- A61F 2009/00891: {Glaucoma}
- 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)

## Abstract

Systems, devices, and methods for treating a glaucomatous eye are provided. Embodiments may provide a treatment probe for treating an eye of a patient. The treatment probe may have an elongate body with a contact surface at a distal end of the elongate body. A treatment fiber or light source may be housed in the treatment probe and may be configured to direct treatment energy from the contact surface. The contact surface may be configured to couple to a surface of the eye to deliver the energy into the target area. In many embodiments the contact surface may have a convex configuration with a rounded outer shape and edge that facilitates the sweeping of the probe surface across the eye during treatment delivery. In some embodiments the probe may be swept in arc motions while delivering treatment energy to the eye.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A contact member for use with a treatment probe for treating a portion of an eye, the contact member comprising:
a main body having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the main body being coupleable with a distal end of the treatment probe and the distal end of the main body being configured for positioning on a surface of the eye to deliver a treatment beam to the eye;
wherein the distal end of the main body includes a convex contact surface, and wherein the convex contact surface has a 5-50 mm radius of curvature; and
wherein the convex contact surface includes an opening for a treatment fiber that delivers the treatment beam to the eye.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The contact member of claim 1, wherein the main body is coupleable with the treatment fiber.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The contact member of claim 2, wherein a distal end of the treatment fiber terminates at or protrudes distally from the convex contact surface of the main body.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The contact member of claim 2, wherein the distal end of the treatment fiber is centered about the convex contact surface of the main body.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The contact member of claim 4, wherein the distal end of the treatment fiber is between 2-5 mm from an edge of the convex contact surface.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The contact member of claim 1, wherein the contact member further comprises a registration feature for aligning the treatment probe with a limbus of the eye.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The contact member of claim 1, wherein the convex contact surface has a radius of less than 12 mm.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The contact member of claim 7, wherein the convex contact surface has a radius between 8-10 mm.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The contact member of claim 1, wherein the convex contact surface does not conform to a sclera of the eye.

### Claim 10

A method for treating a portion of an eye comprising:
providing a treatment probe that includes:
an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end;
a treatment fiber that is coupled with the elongate body and configured for delivering a treatment beam to the eye; and
a contact member coupled with the distal end of the elongate body, the contact member having a convex contact surface, wherein the convex contact surface has a 5-50 mm radius of curvature and wherein the convex contact surface includes an opening for the treatment fiber;
positioning the convex contact surface of the contact member on a surface of the eye; and
delivering the treatment beam to the eye via the treatment fiber.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein a distal end of the treatment fiber terminates at or protrudes distally of the convex contact surface of the contact member.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising:
maintaining the treatment fiber in sliding contact with a sclera of the eye at a desired distance posterior from a limbus of the eye while sliding the convex contact surface across the surface of the eye; and
delivering the treatment laser.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising:
sliding the convex contact surface across the surface of the eye along a treatment region that is posterior to a limbus of the eye; and
delivering the treatment beam to the treatment region while sliding the convex contact surface across the surface of the eye.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising sliding the convex contact surface in an arc motion about the eye.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the arc motion is less than 180°.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the arc motion comprises an arc of between 140-160°.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein sliding the convex contact surface comprises sliding between 2-10 traverses in the arc motion in less than 100 seconds.

### Claim 18 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein delivering the treatment beam comprises delivering a train of beam pulses so as to induce a healing response without coagulation.