Steerable Laser Probe With Segmented Housing Tube

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Solution Overview

Problem

Ophthalmic surgeons face challenges in accurately aiming and controlling a laser beam during procedures like photocoagulation, requiring a surgical instrument that can be easily steered to multiple targets within the eye.

Innovation Solution

A steerable laser probe with a handle, housing tube, and optic fiber, where the housing tube's stiffness and curvature can be adjusted via an actuation control, allowing the optic fiber to be gradually curved or straightened for precise targeting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a rigid housing tube is used to maintain structural stability, then the probe can maintain its shape, but the laser beam cannot be easily steered to multiple targets within the eye

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of steering laser beamVSAvoidstructural stability of housing tube

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The housing tube is divided into multiple segments (first housing tube portion and second housing tube portion) with different stiffness characteristics. The first portion has higher stiffness to maintain structural stability, while the second portion has lower stiffness to enable flexible steering. This segmentation allows the probe to simultaneously achieve both structural integrity and maneuverability for steering the laser beam to multiple targets within the eye.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the housing tube are assigned different local qualities in terms of stiffness. The first housing tube portion is designed with higher stiffness to provide structural support and stability, while the second housing tube portion is designed with lower stiffness to allow flexible bending and steering. This local differentiation enables the probe to maintain overall structural stability while providing the flexibility needed for easy steering to multiple targets.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If the housing tube is made flexible to enable steering, then the laser beam can be directed to multiple targets, but the probe loses structural stability and precision

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to target multiple areasVSAvoidprecision of laser targeting

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The housing tube is segmented into a first portion with higher stiffness and a second portion with lower stiffness. The stiffer first portion maintains structural stability and precision for accurate laser targeting, while the more flexible second portion provides adaptability for steering the beam to multiple targets. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by distributing different functional requirements to different segments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different local qualities of stiffness are assigned to different portions of the housing tube. The first portion has higher stiffness to ensure measurement precision and accurate laser positioning, while the second portion has lower stiffness to provide adaptability for steering. This local quality differentiation allows the probe to simultaneously achieve precision and versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If a single-stiffness housing tube is used, then the manufacturing is simpler, but the probe cannot achieve both stability and steerable flexibility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of housing tube manufacturingVSAvoidsteerable flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The housing tube is manufactured as multiple separate segments with different stiffness characteristics, which are then assembled together. While this segmentation increases manufacturing complexity compared to a single uniform tube, it enables the probe to achieve both structural stability and steerable flexibility. The first segment provides stability while the second segment provides flexibility, resolving the functional requirements that cannot be met by a single-stiffness tube.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The housing tube employs composite construction with different materials or structural configurations in different portions. The first housing tube portion uses materials or structures with higher stiffness for stability, while the second portion uses materials or structures with lower stiffness for flexibility. This composite approach allows the probe to achieve both stability and steerable flexibility, overcoming the limitations of a single-material construction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS10064755B2Steerable laser probe

Publication Date: 2018.09.04 KATALYST SURGICAL LLC

AI summary

A steerable laser probe may include a handle having a handle distal end and a handle proximal end, an actuation control of the handle, a housing tube having a housing tube distal end and a housing tube proximal end, a first housing tube portion having a first stiffness, a second housing tube portion having a second stiffness, an optic fiber disposed within an inner portion of the handle and the housing tube, and a cable disposed within the housing tube and the actuation control. A rotation of the actuation control may be configured to gradually curve the housing tube and the optic fiber. A rotation of the actuation control may be configured to gradually straighten the housing tube and the optic fiber.