EP0152686A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Laser incisional device
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1984-12-04
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2004-12-04
Abstract
Abstract The invention contemplates an elongate pencil-like tool (12) having flexible fiber-optical connection at one end to the output of a laser emitting in the ultra-violet region of the spectrum. The fiber-optic transmission (11) is expanded within the tool (12) and converted to a collimated-light region which is adapted to serve a selected one of a plurality of different optical-projection configurations, each such configuration being unique to a different one of a plurality of projection fittings (18), detachably securable to the other end of the tool (12).
Inventors
- 👤 Francis A. L'esperance
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:36
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/22; A61B2018/2015; A61B2018/202; A61B2018/2255; A61B2018/2266
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
In combination, laser means having a radiation-beam output, means including an elongate flexible optical-fiber cable coupled at one end to said output, and a manipulable tool having a body with a cavity bore open at one end and with the other end of said cable retained by said body and positioned within and on the axis of said bore for conically divergent laser-output discharge in the direction of the open end of the bore, optical-element means in said bore and within said divergent discharge for establishing a collimated beam of laser radiation in the direction of the open end of the bore, and a lens mount selectively attachable to the open end of said body, said lens mount including a lens element positioned in the collimated beam when said mount is attached to said body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
In combination, laser means having a radiation-beam output, means including an elongate flexible optical-fiber cable coupled at one end to said output, and a manipulable tool having a body with a cavity bore open at one end and with the other end of said cable retained by said body and positioned within and on the axis of said bore for conically divergent laser-output discharge in the direction of the open end of the bore, optical-element means in said bore and within said divergent discharge for establishing a collimated beam of laser radiation in the direction of the open end of the bore, and a lens mount selectively attachable to the open end of said body, said lens mount including a lens element positioned in the collimated beam when said mount is attached to said body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination of claim 1, in which the lens element of said mount is a spherical lens, whereby the collimated laser radiation may be focused to a point-like spot at longitudinal offset from the lens element
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The combination of claim 1, in which the lens element of said mount is a cylindrical lens, whereby the collimated laser radiation may be focused to a line transverse to said axis and at longitudinal offset from the lens element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
77 words
The combination of claim 1, in which the lens element of said mount comprises at least two components, namely, a spherical lens for converting the collimated radiation to a conically convergent beam, and a cylindrical lens positioned at axial offset from the focal point of the convergent beam for converting convergent-beam radiation to a line of length substantially proportional to the diametrical extent of the convergent beam at the location of cylindrical-lens placement in the convergent beam.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
83 words
The combination of claim 1, in which the lens element of said mount comprises at least two components, namely a first spherical lens for converting the collimated radiation to a conically convergent beam, and a second spherical lens positioned beyond the focal point of the convergent beam and of shorter focal length, than that of said first spherical lens for converting laser radiation from said spherical lens to a collimated beam of reduced section as compared with that of the first-mentioned collimated beam.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination of claim 1, in which said laser is of ultraviolet variety, characterized by a beam output of not more than substantially 400 nm wavelength.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The combination of claim 6, in which the coupling of said cable to said laser output includes a beam splitter, and in which a source of visible light is also coupled to said cable via said beam splitter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination of claim 1, in which optical fiber of said cable is of quartz, and in which said laser is of ultraviolet variety, characterized by beam output in the range 150nm to 400nm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
112 words
A portable tool adapted for laser excitation via a flexible optical-fiber cable, comprising a body having a cavity bore open at one end, said body including means for supporting and positioning the downstream end of an optical-fiber cable on the axis of the bore for conically divergent laser-output discharge in the direction of the open end of the bore, optical-element means in said bore and within said divergent discharge for establishing a collimated beam of laser radiation in the direction of the open end of the bore, and a lens mount removably attached to the open end of said body, said lens mount including a lens element positioned in the collimated beam.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
112 words
A portable tool adapted for laser excitation via a flexible optical-fiber cable, comprising a body having a cavity bore open at one end, said body including means for supporting and positioning the downstream end of an optical-fiber cable on the axis of the bore for conically divergent laser-output discharge in the direction of the open end of the bore, optical-element means in said bore and within said divergent discharge for establishing a collimated beam of laser radiation in the direction of the open end of the bore, and a lens mount removably attached to the open end of said body, said lens mount including a lens element positioned in the collimated beam.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The tool of claim 9, in which said lens mount is one of a plurality of mounts selectively mountable to said body, said mounts being equipped with lenses having different optical properties.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
The tool of claim 10, in which said lenses having different optical properties include at least two selected from the group comprising (a) a spherical lens component, (b) a cylindrical lens component, (c) two spherical-lens components having different focal lengths, and (d) a spherical-lens component and a cylindrical-lens component.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
177 words
The method of surgically non-invasively removing a cataracted natural lens from an afflicted eye, which comprises selecting an excimer laser from among the ultraviolet group which includes xenon-chloride lasers, krypton-fluoride lasers, argon-fluoride lasers, and fluorine lasers, optically treating the beam output of the selected laser such that beam output is translated into a conically convergent ray bundle to a focal spot of relatively great power density, orienting the convergent bundle to focus on the cataracted natural lens via transmission through the cornea of the afflicted eye, whereby relatively great power density is focused at the cataracted lens and relatively diffused and only greatly reduced power density characterizes energy exposure levels at the cornea and/or the retina of the eye, exciting the laser to induce photodecomposition via said relatively great power density but at a level such that the diffused power-density level does not induce photodecomposition of body cells and/or tissue other than at the cataracted lens, and manipulating the direction and local position of the focal spot within the cataracted lens until its photodecomposition is substantially complete.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
177 words
The method of surgically non-invasively removing a cataracted natural lens from an afflicted eye, which comprises selecting an excimer laser from among the ultraviolet group which includes xenon-chloride lasers, krypton-fluoride lasers, argon-fluoride lasers, and fluorine lasers, optically treating the beam output of the selected laser such that beam output is translated into a conically convergent ray bundle to a focal spot of relatively great power density, orienting the convergent bundle to focus on the cataracted natural lens via transmission through the cornea of the afflicted eye, whereby relatively great power density is focused at the cataracted lens and relatively diffused and only greatly reduced power density characterizes energy exposure levels at the cornea and/or the retina of the eye, exciting the laser to induce photodecomposition via said relatively great power density but at a level such that the diffused power-density level does not induce photodecomposition of body cells and/or tissue other than at the cataracted lens, and manipulating the direction and local position of the focal spot within the cataracted lens until its photodecomposition is substantially complete.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
178 words
The method of surgically non-invasively removing a cataracted natural lens from an afflicted eye, which comprises selecting a laser which emits a beam of radiation at an ultraviolet wavelength in the range 150 nm to 400 nm, optically treating the beam output of the selected laser such that beam output is translated into a conically convergent ray bundle to a focal spot of relatively great power density, orienting the convergent bundle to focus on the cataracted natural lens via transmission through the cornea of the afflicted eye, whereby relatively great power density is focused at the cataracted lens and relatively diffused and only greatly reduced power density characterizes energy exposure levels at the cornea and/or the retina of the eye, exciting the laser to induce photodecomposition via said relatively great power density but at a level such that the diffused power-density level does not induce photodecomposition of body cells and/or tissue other than at the cataracted lens, and manipulating the direction and local position of the focal spot within the cataracted lens until its photodecomposition is substantially complete.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
178 words
The method of surgically non-invasively removing a cataracted natural lens from an afflicted eye, which comprises selecting a laser which emits a beam of radiation at an ultraviolet wavelength in the range 150 nm to 400 nm, optically treating the beam output of the selected laser such that beam output is translated into a conically convergent ray bundle to a focal spot of relatively great power density, orienting the convergent bundle to focus on the cataracted natural lens via transmission through the cornea of the afflicted eye, whereby relatively great power density is focused at the cataracted lens and relatively diffused and only greatly reduced power density characterizes energy exposure levels at the cornea and/or the retina of the eye, exciting the laser to induce photodecomposition via said relatively great power density but at a level such that the diffused power-density level does not induce photodecomposition of body cells and/or tissue other than at the cataracted lens, and manipulating the direction and local position of the focal spot within the cataracted lens until its photodecomposition is substantially complete.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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