EP0363221A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
A diode laser device for achieving transcutaneous laser photocoagulation of the retina
Assignee: Newport Corp USA
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Filing: 1989-10-06
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-10-06
Abstract
Abstract A diode laser device and method of use for achieving transcutaneous laser photocoagulation of the retina is described. A diode (1) laser is used since it is much more efficient than the ion or dye lasers presently used for laser photocoagulation, and therefore will not require forced air or water cooling and can be made more compact. In addition, the diode laser can be used with standard 110v wall sockets, and does not require the high power, three phase sockets required for the ion lasers. The end result is that compared to the ion laser device the diode laser device can be brought directly into the operating room, which makes it ideal for transcutaneous delivery.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert W. Johnson
- 👤 Acle V. Hicks
- 👤 Ralph B. Bettman
- 👤 Michael Yessik
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 14:37
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F9/00; A61F9/007; A61F9/008; A61F9/00821; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B2018/2015; A61B2018/2025; A61F2009/00844; A61F2009/00861; A61F2009/00863
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A diode laser device for transcutaneous laser photocoagulation of the retina comprising: a diode laser for producing a diode laser beam having a wavelength which is absorbed by retinal cells; a visible light source for producing a visible, aiming beam; a fiber optic cable having first and second ends, wherein the second end is coupled to an endoprobe; optical means coupled to the diode laser, the visible light source, and the first end of said fiber optic cable, for: (a) shaping the diode laser beam; (b) merging the shaped diode laser beam with the visible, aiming beam; and (c) coupling the merged beam to the first end of said fiber optic cable.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
A diode laser device for transcutaneous laser photocoagulation of the retina comprising: a diode laser for producing a diode laser beam having a wavelength which is absorbed by retinal cells; a visible light source for producing a visible, aiming beam; a fiber optic cable having first and second ends, wherein the second end is coupled to an endoprobe; optical means coupled to the diode laser, the visible light source, and the first end of said fiber optic cable, for: (a) shaping the diode laser beam; (b) merging the shaped diode laser beam with the visible, aiming beam; and (c) coupling the merged beam to the first end of said fiber optic cable.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
A diode laser device for transcutaneous laser photocoagulation of the retina comprising: a diode laser for producing a diode laser beam having a wavelength within the range of 600-700 nm; and a fiber optic cable having first and second ends, wherein the second end is coupled to an endoprobe, and the first end is directly coupled to said diode laser.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
A diode laser device for transcutaneous laser photocoagulation of the retina comprising: a diode laser for producing a diode laser beam having a wavelength within the range of 600-700 nm; and a fiber optic cable having first and second ends, wherein the second end is coupled to an endoprobe, and the first end is directly coupled to said diode laser.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 2 wherein the diode laser beam has a wavelength of approximately 685 nm or less.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
72 words
A diode laser device for transcutaneous laser photocoagulation of the retina comprising: a diode laser having a chip combination for producing a diode laser beam having a wavelength which is absorbed by retinal cells which is merged with a visible, aiming beam; and a fiber optic cable having first and second ends, wherein the second end is coupled to an endoprobe, and the first end is directly coupled to said chip combination.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
72 words
A diode laser device for transcutaneous laser photocoagulation of the retina comprising: a diode laser having a chip combination for producing a diode laser beam having a wavelength which is absorbed by retinal cells which is merged with a visible, aiming beam; and a fiber optic cable having first and second ends, wherein the second end is coupled to an endoprobe, and the first end is directly coupled to said chip combination.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
151 words
A diode laser device for transcutaneous laser photocoagulation of the retina comprising: a diode laser for producing a diode laser beam having a wavelength which is absorbed by retinal cells; a visible light source for producing a visible, aiming beam; a first fiber optic cable having a particular diameter, and having first and second ends, and an intermediate point between the first and second ends, wherein the second end is coupled to an endoprobe and the first end is directly coupled to said diode laser; and a second fiber optic cable having a diameter which is substantially smaller than the diameter of said first fiber optic cable, and having first and second ends, wherein the first end is directly coupled to said visible light source, and the second end is coupled to said first fiber optic cable at an intermediate point between the first and second ends of said first cable.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
151 words
A diode laser device for transcutaneous laser photocoagulation of the retina comprising: a diode laser for producing a diode laser beam having a wavelength which is absorbed by retinal cells; a visible light source for producing a visible, aiming beam; a first fiber optic cable having a particular diameter, and having first and second ends, and an intermediate point between the first and second ends, wherein the second end is coupled to an endoprobe and the first end is directly coupled to said diode laser; and a second fiber optic cable having a diameter which is substantially smaller than the diameter of said first fiber optic cable, and having first and second ends, wherein the first end is directly coupled to said visible light source, and the second end is coupled to said first fiber optic cable at an intermediate point between the first and second ends of said first cable.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
87 words
A diode laser device for transcutaneous laser photocoagulation of the retina comprising: a diode laser for producing a diode laser beam having a wavelength within the range of 600-700 nm; a fiber optic cable having first and second ends, wherein the second end is coupled to an endoprobe; and optical means coupled to the diode laser and the first end of said fiber optic cable, for (a) shaping the diode laser beam; and (b) coupling said shaped beam to the first end of said fiber optic cable.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
87 words
A diode laser device for transcutaneous laser photocoagulation of the retina comprising: a diode laser for producing a diode laser beam having a wavelength within the range of 600-700 nm; a fiber optic cable having first and second ends, wherein the second end is coupled to an endoprobe; and optical means coupled to the diode laser and the first end of said fiber optic cable, for (a) shaping the diode laser beam; and (b) coupling said shaped beam to the first end of said fiber optic cable.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 6 wherein said wavelength is approximately 685 or less.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
100 words
A diode laser device for transcutaneous laser photocoagulation of the retina comprising: a diode laser having a chip combination for producing a diode laser beam having a wavelength which is absorbed by retinal cells which is merged with a visible, aiming beam; a fiber optic cable having first and second ends, wherein the second end is coupled to an endoprobe: and optical means coupled to the diode laser and the first end of said fiber optic cable, for (a) shaping the merged diode laser beam; and (b) coupling said shaped beam to the first end of said fiber optic cable.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
100 words
A diode laser device for transcutaneous laser photocoagulation of the retina comprising: a diode laser having a chip combination for producing a diode laser beam having a wavelength which is absorbed by retinal cells which is merged with a visible, aiming beam; a fiber optic cable having first and second ends, wherein the second end is coupled to an endoprobe: and optical means coupled to the diode laser and the first end of said fiber optic cable, for (a) shaping the merged diode laser beam; and (b) coupling said shaped beam to the first end of said fiber optic cable.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
87 words
A process for transcutaneous diode laser photocoagulation of a particular area of the retina comprising the steps of: merging a diode laser beam having a wavelength which is absorbed by retinal cells with a visible, aiming beam; coupling the merged beam into transcutaneous delivery means; temporarily blocking the diode laser beam; positioning the delivery means until the visible beam is located at the particular area of the retina to be photocoagulated; and unblocking the diode laser beam to achieve photocoagulation at the particular area of the retina.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
87 words
A process for transcutaneous diode laser photocoagulation of a particular area of the retina comprising the steps of: merging a diode laser beam having a wavelength which is absorbed by retinal cells with a visible, aiming beam; coupling the merged beam into transcutaneous delivery means; temporarily blocking the diode laser beam; positioning the delivery means until the visible beam is located at the particular area of the retina to be photocoagulated; and unblocking the diode laser beam to achieve photocoagulation at the particular area of the retina.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 9 further comprising the step of shaping the diode laser beam before coupling the beam to said delivery means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
89 words
A process for transcutaneous diode laser photocoagulation of a particular area of the retina comprising the steps of: coupling a diode laser beam having a wavelength which is absorbed by retinal cells into transcutaneous delivery means; lowering the power of the beam to a level where photocoagulation is not achieved, and positioning the delivery means until the beam is located at the particular area of the retina to be photocoagulated; and increasing the power of the diode laser beam to achieve photocoagulation at the particular area of the retina.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
89 words
A process for transcutaneous diode laser photocoagulation of a particular area of the retina comprising the steps of: coupling a diode laser beam having a wavelength which is absorbed by retinal cells into transcutaneous delivery means; lowering the power of the beam to a level where photocoagulation is not achieved, and positioning the delivery means until the beam is located at the particular area of the retina to be photocoagulated; and increasing the power of the diode laser beam to achieve photocoagulation at the particular area of the retina.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 11 including the step of shaping the diode laser beam before coupling said beam to said delivery means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 11 wherein said diode laser beam has a wavelength of the range of 600-700 nm.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 13 wherein said diode laser beam has a wavelength in the range of approximately 685 nm or less.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
87 words
A process for transcutaneous laser coagulation of a particular area of the retina comprising the steps of: coupling a diode laser beam having a wavelength which is absorbed by retinal cells into transcutaneous delivery means having a tip for insertion into the eye; blocking the diode laser beam, and positioning the tip of the delivery means until the tip is located at the particular area of the retina to be coagulated; and unblocking the diode laser beam to achieve photocoagulation at the particular area of the retina.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
87 words
A process for transcutaneous laser coagulation of a particular area of the retina comprising the steps of: coupling a diode laser beam having a wavelength which is absorbed by retinal cells into transcutaneous delivery means having a tip for insertion into the eye; blocking the diode laser beam, and positioning the tip of the delivery means until the tip is located at the particular area of the retina to be coagulated; and unblocking the diode laser beam to achieve photocoagulation at the particular area of the retina.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 15 including the step of shaping the diode laser beam before coupling said beam to said delivery means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 9 wherein said diode laser beam has a wavelength in the range of 700-840 nm.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
26 words
The device of any of the claims 1, 4, 5 or 8 wherein said diode laser beam has a wavelength in the range of 700-840 nm.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
EP0131768A2
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EP0281161A2
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EP0194856A2
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EP0248520A1
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FR2599961A1
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