Illuminated Directional Laser Probe for Single-Incision Ophthalmic Surgery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ophthalmic surgery instruments require two incisions in the eye for illumination and laser light delivery, causing trauma and limiting illumination and laser light access to the anterior retina.
Innovation Solution
A microsurgical illuminated directional laser probe that combines illumination and laser optic fibers within a single instrument, allowing both light types to be delivered through a single incision and directed to anterior eye regions via a mechanism that extends and retracts the fibers using a shape memory material to maintain a curved configuration for precise delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If two separate instruments (illumination instrument and laser instrument) are used, then illumination light and laser light can be delivered to the posterior area of the eye, but at least two incisions are required in the eye, increasing trauma and limiting access to anterior portions of the retina
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the illumination optic fiber and laser optic fiber into a single integrated probe instrument. The handle contains both fibers extending through a common bore, allowing both illumination and laser delivery through one incision. This merging eliminates the need for separate instruments and multiple incisions, directly resolving the contradiction between versatility and trauma reduction
Solution Approach 2:
The single probe instrument performs multiple functions: it delivers both illumination light and laser light, and can access both posterior and anterior portions of the retina through the same incision. The curved configuration capability adds directional control, making the instrument universally applicable to various surgical sites within the eye through a single access point
2Productivity
If the distal ends of the optic fibers are extended from the tip for delivery, then both illumination and laser light can be delivered through a single incision, but the fibers must be precisely positioned and maintained in a curved configuration for optimal delivery to anterior portions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs curved configurations of the optic fibers within the probe. The fibers are positioned in a curved path within the handle and tip structure, allowing them to extend at optimal angles for delivering light to anterior portions of the retina. This curved geometry enables efficient delivery while maintaining precise positioning without requiring complex active control mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The illumination optic fiber and laser optic fiber are nested within the same handle and tip structure, with both fibers passing through the common bore. The fibers are arranged concentrically or adjacently within the confined space, allowing precise relative positioning while maintaining a compact single-instrument design that enables delivery through one incision
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient delivery of both illumination and laser light to the eye's interior through a single incision, reducing trauma and allowing access to anterior surgical sites, improving surgical precision and reducing the need for multiple incisions.
Implementation Method 1
a mechanism that extends and retracts the fibers using a shape memory material to maintain a curved configuration for precise delivery
Data Source
AI summary
An ophthalmic surgery illuminated directional laser probe has a handle and a rigid tubular tip projecting from the handle, and has an illumination optic fiber and a laser optic fiber that extend through the handle and the tip. A mechanism on the handle is operable to extend distal ends of the illumination optic fiber and the laser optic fiber from the distal end of the instrument tip, and to retract the distal ends of the illumination optic fiber and the laser optic fiber back into the interior of the tip. At least one of the distal ends of the illumination optic fiber and the laser optic fiber is held in a curved configuration. The distal ends of the illumination optic fiber and the laser optic fiber are secured to each other, whereby both the illumination optic fiber and the laser optic fiber curve into a bent configuration as the distal ends of the illumination optic fiber and the laser optic fiber are extended from the distal end of the instrument tip.