Ophthalmic viewing instrument

Claim 2

An ophthalmic instrument, comprising: a probe extending along a longitudinal probe axis from a proximal end portion of the probe to a distal end portion of the probe, the distal end portion of which probe is dimensioned and arranged to be inserted through an opening in an eye to a selected interior region of the eye; illuminating means, including a first optical fiber extending within the probe to the distal end portion, for use in propagating light obtained from a separate light source through the probe to the selected interior region of the eye for illuminating purposes; and viewing means, including a second optical fiber extending within the probe to the distal end portion, for use in propagating an image from the selected interior region of the eye through the probe toward separate viewing instrumentation for visualization purposes; the second optical fiber having a tip portion that faces along an axis that is angularly offset from the probe axis.

Claim 3

An instrument as recited in Claim 1, wherein the tip portion of the second optical fiber faces generally radially away from the probe.

Claim 4

An instrument as recited in Claims 1 or 2, wherein the viewing means includes: a plurality of second optical fibers extending within the probe to the distal end portion of the probe, each one of which second optical fibers includes a radially facing tip portion to facilitate viewing radially outward from the distal end portion of the probe in a plurality of directions.

Claim 5

An instrument as recited in Claim 3, wherein: the radially facing tip portions of the plurality of second optical fibers face radially in generally equally spaced-apart directions.

Claim 6

An instrument as recited in Claims 3 or 4, wherein: the plurality of second optical fibers includes four optical fibers; and the radially facing tip portions of the four optical fibers face in directions spaced apart approximately ninety degrees.

Claim 7

An instrument as recited in Claim 1, wherein: the second optical fiber extends to a distal end of the probe, the second optical fiber and the distal end generally face a common direction, and the probe has an offset tip portion such that the common direction is angularly offset from the probe axis.

Claim 10

An ophthalmic instrument, comprising: a handpiece extending between proximal and distal end portions of the handpiece; a rigid probe extending along a longitudinal probe axis from a proximal end portion of the probe to a distal end portion of the probe; the proximal end portion of the probe being attached to the distal end portion of the handpiece and the distal end portion of the probe being dimensioned and arranged to be inserted through an opening in an eye to a selected interior region of the eye; the handpiece being adapted to be held in the hand of a user to facilitate probe handling and the placement of the distal end portion of the probe within the eye interior; illuminating means, including a first optical fiber extending within the probe to the distal end portion of the probe, for use in propagating light obtained from a separate light source through the probe to the selected interior region of the eye for illuminating purposes; and viewing means, including a second optical fiber extending within the probe to the distal end portion of the probe, for use in propagating an image from the selected interior region of the eye through the probe toward separate viewing instrumentation for visualization purposes; and the first and second fibers extending generally axially out of the proximal end of the handpiece.

Claim 11

An ophthalmic instrument, comprising: a handpiece extending between proximal and distal end portions of the handpiece; a rigid probe extending along a longitudinal probe axis from a proximal end portion of the probe to a distal end portion of the probe; the proximal end portion of the probe being attached to the distal end portion of the handpiece and the distal end portion of the probe being dimensioned and arranged to be inserted through an opening in an eye to a selected interior region of the eye; the handpiece being adapted to be held in the hand of a user to facilitate probe handling and the placement of the distal end portion of the probe within the eye interior; illuminating means, including a first optical fiber extending within the probe to the distal end portion of the probe, for use in propagating light obtained from a separate light source through the probe to the selected interior region of the eye for illuminating purposes; and viewing means, including a second optical fiber extending within the probe to the distal end portion of the probe, for use in propagating an image from the selected interior region of the eye through the probe toward separate viewing instrumentation for visualization purposes; and the first and second fibers extending generally axially out of the proximal end of the handpiece.

Claim 12

An ophthalmic instrument as recited in Claim 8, further comprising: laser delivery means, including a laser delivery fiber. extending within the probe to the distal end portion of the probe, for use in propagating laser energy obtained from a separate laser source through the probe to the selected interior region of the eye for purposes of subjecting tissue within the eye to laser energy.

Claim 13

An ophthalmic instrument as recited in Claim 8, wherein the viewing optical fiber has: a radially facing tip portion for facilitating viewing within the eye interior generally radially outward from the distal end portion of the probe relative to the probe axis.