# US 11,992,264 B2 · Enhanced fiber probes for ELT

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- Number: US 11,992,264 B2
- Document ID: US11992264B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/139,139
- Filed: 2023-04-25
- Published: 2023-11-02
- Granted: 2024-05-28
- Earliest claimed: 2019-04-19
- Assignees: Elios Vision, Inc.
- Applicants: Elios Vision, Inc.
- Inventors: Johannes Junger; Markus Enders
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11992264B2

## CPC

- A61B 18/22: the beam being directed along or through a flexible conduit, e.g. an optical fibre; {Couplings or} hand-pieces therefor
- A61F 9/00781: {Apparatus for modifying intraocular pressure, e.g. for glaucoma treatment (drainage implants in general A61M27/002)}
- A61F 9/00802: {for photoablation}
- A61B 90/98: using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
- A61B 2017/00057: {Light}
- A61B 2017/00185: {Means for setting or varying the pulse height}
- A61B 2017/0019: {Means for setting or varying the pulse width}
- A61B 2017/00199: {with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display}
- A61B 2018/00321: {Head or parts thereof}
- A61B 2018/00577: {Ablation}
- A61B 2018/00702: {Power or energy}
- A61B 2018/00761: {Duration}
- A61F 9/0017: {implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts}
- A61F 2009/00844: {Feedback systems}
- A61F 2009/00868: {Ciliary muscles or trabecular meshwork}
- A61F 2009/00891: {Glaucoma}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- 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 for treatment of glaucoma comprise an excimer laser, a plurality of fiber probes, and a processor. Each fiber probe is attachable to the excimer laser to treat a subject having glaucoma by delivering shots from the laser. The processor is configured to monitor and limit a variable number of shots delivered by each fiber probe, the number of shots delivered by each fiber probe programmable within a range. Methods of treating glaucoma include programming a fiber probe to deliver a number of shots from an excimer laser. The fiber probe is inserted into an eye of a subject having glaucoma and adjusted to a position transverse to Schlemm's canal in the eye. A plurality of shots is applied from the excimer laser source while the probe is in the transverse position, thereby treating glaucoma by creating a plurality of perforations in Schlemm's canal and/or the trabecular meshwork.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for treatment of glaucoma comprising:
an excimer laser;
a plurality of fiber probes, each fiber probe of the plurality of fiber probes attachable to the excimer laser to treat a subject having glaucoma by delivering shots from the excimer laser;
a display; and
a processor configured to monitor and limit a number of shots delivered by each fiber probe of the plurality of fiber probes, the number of shots delivered by each fiber probe of the plurality of fiber probes programmable by the processor,
wherein the processor is further configured to cause the display to indicate a number of laser shots that have already been fired from a first probe of the plurality of fiber probes while the first probe is connected to the excimer laser.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the number of shots is a variable number programmable within a range from a minimum to a maximum.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein a maximum number of shots is greater than about 10 shots per eye.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein a delivery tip of each fiber of the plurality of fiber probes comprises an optical fiber jacketed in a metal.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein the delivery tip is beveled.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein an interactive user interface is communicatively coupled to the processor for programming each fiber probe of the plurality of fiber probes.

### Claim 7

A method of treating glaucoma comprising:
programming a fiber probe to deliver a number of shots from an excimer laser source;
inserting the fiber probe into an eye of a subject having glaucoma;
adjusting placement of the fiber probe to a position transverse to the Schlemm's canal in the eye;
applying a plurality of shots from the excimer laser source while the fiber probe is in the position transverse to the Schlemm's canal, thereby treating the glaucoma by creating a plurality of perforations in the Schlemm's canal and/or trabecular meshwork of the eye; and
updating, after each of the plurality of shots is fired, a display to indicate an updated number of laser shots fired by the fiber probe.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the number of shots is a variable number programmable within a range from a minimum to a maximum.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein a maximum number of shots is greater than about 10 shots per eye.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein a light source aids in adjusting placement of the fiber probe.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein each perforation of the plurality of perforations has a diameter of about 200 μm.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the fiber probe is inserted into an incision in the eye.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the incision has a length of about ⅛ inch or smaller.

### Claim 14 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, further comprising analyzing effectiveness of at least one shot of the plurality of shots by visualizing drainage of at least one of aqueous humor or bloody reflux.

### Claim 15 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, further comprising closing an incision in the eye through which the fiber probe was inserted using one or more sutures.

### Claim 16

A system for treatment of glaucoma comprising:
an excimer laser;
a plurality of fiber probes, each fiber probe attachable to the excimer laser to treat a subject having glaucoma by delivering shots from the excimer laser;
a display; and
a processor configured to:
cause the display to indicate a number of laser shots that have already been fired from a first probe of the plurality of fiber probes while the first probe is connected to the excimer laser;
cause a subsequent laser shot to be fired from the first probe; and
after the subsequent laser shot is fired from the first probe, cause the display to change to indicate an updated number of laser shots fired by the first probe based on the subsequent laser shot being fired.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The system of claim 16, wherein the system further comprises a user input button configured to receive a user input, wherein the processor is configured to adjust at least one aspect of a laser shot to be delivered by the first probe based on the user input.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one aspect of the laser shot is a pulse width of the laser shot.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one aspect is an amplitude of the laser shot.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The system of claim 16, wherein the system further comprises a user interface, and wherein the processor is further configured to:
receive a first signal from the user interface based on a first user input, wherein the first signal is indicative of a first user specified number of maximum shots deliverable by the first probe; and
cause the display to show the first user specified number of maximum shots.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to cause, after a subsequent laser shot is fired from the first probe, cause the display to change to indicate an updated number of laser shots fired by the first probe based on the subsequent laser shot being fired.

### Claim 22 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, further comprising displaying, on the display, a number of laser shots that have already been fired from the fiber probe while the fiber probe is connected to the excimer laser.

### Claim 23

A system for treatment of glaucoma comprising:
an excimer laser;
a plurality of fiber probes, each fiber probe attachable to the excimer laser to treat a subject having glaucoma by delivering shots from the excimer laser;
a display; and
a processor configured to:
cause the display to indicate a number of laser shots that have already been fired from a first probe of the plurality of fiber probes while the first probe is connected to the excimer laser.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The system of claim 23, wherein the processor is further configured to, after a laser shot is fired from the first probe, cause the display to change to indicate an updated number of laser shots fired by the first probe based on the laser shot being fired.