Multi-spot laser probe with faceted optical element
AssigneeAlcon Research, Ltd.
InventorsRonald T. Smith, Michael A. Zica
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In certain embodiments, a method includes forming a ferrule from a portion of a tube. The tube is cut to yield the ferrule and a short cannula. A multi-spot generator with a faceted optical element is added to the short cannula. An optical fiber is placed into the ferrule, and the ferrule and the short cannula are assembled. In certain embodiments, a system includes a long cannula, an optical fiber, and a multi-spot generator. The optical fiber can carry a laser beam to a distal end of the long cannula. The multi-spot generator is located at the distal end and comprises a faceted optical element and a ball lens. The faceted optical element can be formed directly onto or separately from the ball lens. The ball lens can be spherical or hemispherical.
Claims16
A method comprising:
- forming a ferrule from a portion of a tube, the tube having an interior region;
- cutting the tube to yield the ferrule and a short cannula;
- adding a multi-spot generator to the interior region of the short cannula, the multi-spot generator having a faceted optical element with a faceted end surface, the adding the multi-spot generator further comprising:
- inserting a ball lens into the interior region of the short cannula, the diameter of the ball lens substantially equivalent to the diameter of the short cannula;
- depositing an optical adhesive in a proximal direction from the ball lens;
- and
- forming the faceted surface on the optical adhesive;
- placing at least one optical fiber into the interior region of the ferrule;
- and
- assembling the ferrule and the short cannula.
A system comprising:
- a long cannula;
- at least one optical fiber disposed within the long cannula, the at least one optical fiber configured to carry a laser beam from a laser source to a distal end of the long cannula;
- and
- a multi-spot generator located at the distal end of the long cannula, the multi-spot generator comprising:
- a faceted optical element with a faceted end surface, the faceted end surface including at least one facet oblique to a path of the laser beam, the faceted optical element configured to receive the laser beam from the optical fiber;
- and
- a ball lens configured to receive the laser beam from the faceted optical element, the diameter of the ball lens substantially equivalent to the diameter of the long cannula, the faceted optical element formed separately from the ball lens.
A system comprising:
- a long cannula;
- at least one optical fiber disposed within the long cannula, the at least one optical fiber configured to carry a laser beam from a laser source to a distal end of the long cannula;
- and
- a multi-spot generator located at the distal end of the long cannula, the multi-spot generator comprising:
- a faceted optical element with a faceted end surface, the faceted end surface including at least one facet oblique to a path of the laser beam, the faceted optical element configured to receive the laser beam from the optical fiber;
- and
- a hemispherical ball lens configured to receive the laser beam from the faceted optical element, the hemispherical ball lens having a planar surface that is substantially flush with a distal end of the long cannula.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.