Adjustable probe
AssigneeLumenis Ltd.
InventorArkady Khachaturov
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An optical fiber endoscopic probe used to deliver radiation, in particular laser radiation, during a surgical procedure. The configuration of components of the endoscopic probe in use is adjustable so as to direct the radiation which exits the fiber as desired. The present invention also relates to a device used to direct the exiting beam of radiation in such an endoscopic probe, which may in particular be used in a narrow probe channel, for example for prostate laser surgery, and to a method of surgical treatment using the endoscopic probe.
Claims23
An endoscopic probe, having a proximal end and a distal end and having one or more channels therethrough;
- an optical fiber having a proximal input end and a distal delivery end, the optical fiber being capable of moving within one of the one or more channels in the probe,
- the delivery end of the fiber further comprising an adjustment mechanism for directing and redirecting light travelling down the fiber such that the light exits the fiber through the delivery end of the adjustment mechanism in a desired direction,
- the adjustment mechanism comprising a rigid, self-supporting curved sheath at least partially surrounding and encompassing the fiber and having proximal and distal ends, the distal end including first, proximal and second, distal adjacent curved sections which are mutually rotatable with respect to one another around the optical fiber;
- further comprising a first tubular sleeve, the first tubular sleeve having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion,
- a second tubular sleeve, the second tubular sleeve at least partially surrounding the first tubular sleeve in the vicinity of its distal end portion to the vicinity of its proximal end portion;
- the second tubular sleeve being rotatable with respect to the first tubular sleeve;
- wherein the distal portion of the first tubular sleeve is connected to the proximal portion of the first section of the sheath,
- wherein the distal portion of the second tubular sleeve is connected to the proximal portion of the second section of the sheath, and
- whereupon, upon actuation of the adjustment mechanism by rotation of the second tubular sleeve with respect to the first tubular sleeve, the second section of the curved sheath rotates relative to the first section of the curved sheath and the shape of the distal end changes from one shape to another shape.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.