US5722970A — Laser surgical method using transparent probe

Claim 1

Independent Claim 236 words

A method of performing a surgical procedure, using a laser probe which comprises a member having a longitudinal axis and a reflecting surface, comprising the steps of: grasping the probe with a hand of a user and positioning the probe for surgery; propagating invisible laser light through said probe; outputting invisible laser light from said probe along an output path which extends in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis, the step of outputting comprising reflecting the invisible laser light from said reflecting surface on said member and then passing the reflected laser light through an output surface on said member; surgically altering tissue by contacting the tissue with said invisible light at a point of contact; moving said point of contact relative to said tissue; visualizing the point of contact using a method comprising: propagating visible light from said point of contact to said probe in said transverse direction substantially along said output path; passing at least some of said visible light completely through said probe in said transverse direction to provide a viewing beam which exits said probe along a viewing axis transverse to the longitudinal axis, the step of passing further comprising passing the visible light first through the output surface and then through the reflecting surface; and viewing said visible light that has passed along said viewing axis through said probe to determine the location where said invisible light contacts said tissue.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 236 words

A method of performing a surgical procedure, using a laser probe which comprises a member having a longitudinal axis and a reflecting surface, comprising the steps of: grasping the probe with a hand of a user and positioning the probe for surgery; propagating invisible laser light through said probe; outputting invisible laser light from said probe along an output path which extends in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis, the step of outputting comprising reflecting the invisible laser light from said reflecting surface on said member and then passing the reflected laser light through an output surface on said member; surgically altering tissue by contacting the tissue with said invisible light at a point of contact; moving said point of contact relative to said tissue; visualizing the point of contact using a method comprising: propagating visible light from said point of contact to said probe in said transverse direction substantially along said output path; passing at least some of said visible light completely through said probe in said transverse direction to provide a viewing beam which exits said probe along a viewing axis transverse to the longitudinal axis, the step of passing further comprising passing the visible light first through the output surface and then through the reflecting surface; and viewing said visible light that has passed along said viewing axis through said probe to determine the location where said invisible light contacts said tissue.

Claim 3

Independent Claim 135 words

A method of performing a surgical procedure on an eye, comprising: inserting a laser probe into an anterior chamber of said eye; delivering a laser light beam from a laser to said probe; directing said laser light beam into said probe along a longitudinal axis; redirecting said laser light beam inside said anterior chamber so that said beam exits said probe along an output axis at an angle relative to said longitudinal axis; contacting an anterior lens capsule in said eye with said laser light at a point of contact; moving said point of contact along a capsulotomy margin to cut an opening in the anterior capsule and thereby provide a cut portion of said capsule interior to said margin; and moving the cut portion of the anterior capsule so as to expose the lens.

Claim 4

Independent Claim 135 words

A method of performing a surgical procedure on an eye, comprising: inserting a laser probe into an anterior chamber of said eye; delivering a laser light beam from a laser to said probe; directing said laser light beam into said probe along a longitudinal axis; redirecting said laser light beam inside said anterior chamber so that said beam exits said probe along an output axis at an angle relative to said longitudinal axis; contacting an anterior lens capsule in said eye with said laser light at a point of contact; moving said point of contact along a capsulotomy margin to cut an opening in the anterior capsule and thereby provide a cut portion of said capsule interior to said margin; and moving the cut portion of the anterior capsule so as to expose the lens.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 2, wherein the output axis is generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 2, wherein said laser light beam is of light having a wavelength at an absorbance peak of water.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 1, additionally comprising aspirating fluid in the region of said tissue.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 42 words

The method of claim 2, additionally comprising passing visible light from said point of contact through said probe such that said visible light exits said probe into said anterior chamber along a viewing axis which is generally parallel to said output axis.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 6, wherein the viewing axis is generally collinear with said output axis.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 6, additionally comprising viewing said visible light after passing through the probe.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 5, wherein said viewing step comprises looking through the cornea of the eye.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 7, additionally comprising the step of using the probe to manipulate the cut portion of the anterior capsule.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 9, additionally comprising application to said eye of viscoelastic material.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 2, wherein said light beam has a wavelength in an invisible portion of the optical spectrum.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 11 words

The method of claim 12, wherein said wavelength is 2.94 μm.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 12, wherein the redirecting step comprises reflecting said light beam at a surface of said probe through total internal reflection, said surface being transparent to visible light.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 14, wherein said visible light propagates towards said probe generally along said output axis.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 1, additionally comprising forming a smooth non-serrated capsulotomy margin with said laser light beam.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 16, additionally comprising phacoemulsification or phacoablation of the lens underlying said anterior capsule.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 17, wherein said phacoemulsification or phacoablation is performed using laser light from said probe.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method of claim 2, additionally comprising irrigating said tissue with irrigation fluid.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 19, wherein said irrigation fluid is a balanced salt solution.

Claim 23

Independent Claim 134 words

A method of performing surgery on the eye of a mammal, comprising: inserting a laser probe into an anterior chamber of said eye; directing a laser light beam into said laser probe along a longitudinal axis; redirecting said light beam in said laser probe at a location within said anterior chamber; directing the redirected light beam along an output axis at an angle relative to said longitudinal axis; performing an anterior capsulotomy by forming an incision with a smooth, non-serrated capsulotomy margin on the anterior capsule of said eye using said light beam, without significantly emulsifying the lens beneath the portion of the capsule within the margin; removing the portion of said anterior capsule within said margin to expose the lens therebeneath; and subsequent to the preceding steps, removing the lens of the eye.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 134 words

A method of performing surgery on the eye of a mammal, comprising: inserting a laser probe into an anterior chamber of said eye; directing a laser light beam into said laser probe along a longitudinal axis; redirecting said light beam in said laser probe at a location within said anterior chamber; directing the redirected light beam along an output axis at an angle relative to said longitudinal axis; performing an anterior capsulotomy by forming an incision with a smooth, non-serrated capsulotomy margin on the anterior capsule of said eye using said light beam, without significantly emulsifying the lens beneath the portion of the capsule within the margin; removing the portion of said anterior capsule within said margin to expose the lens therebeneath; and subsequent to the preceding steps, removing the lens of the eye.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 53 words

The method of claim 21, wherein the step of forming an incision comprises forming an incision with a substantially circular capsulotomy margin, and wherein the step of removing the lens comprises emulsifying the lens using laser light at an energy level higher than that used during the step of performing an anterior capsulotomy.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of claim 21, wherein said probe has a surface inclined at an angle to said axis, said method additionally comprising utilizing said surface to manipulate the portion of said anterior capsule within said margin.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 21, additionally comprising using said probe to manipulate the portion of said anterior capsule within said margin.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 21, wherein the redirecting step comprises totally internally reflecting said light beam at a surface of said probe.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 21, additionally comprising viewing said margin during the forming step by looking through a transparent portion of said probe.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method of claim 21, wherein said light beam is of non-ultraviolet wavelength.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 21, wherein said light beam is provided as pulses at a frequency greater than 10 Hz.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 8, wherein said frequency is between 20 Hz and 30 Hz.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 21, wherein said light beam is of light having a wavelength at an absorbance peak of water.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 21, wherein said light beam is produced by an Erbium:YAG laser.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 21, wherein said light beam is produced by a Holmium:YAG laser.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 21, wherein said light beam is provided as pulses at an energy level equal to or less than 30 mJ/pulse.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 33, wherein said energy level is between 5 mJ/pulse and 10 mJ/pulse.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 21, additionally comprising forming an incision in said eye through which said probe is inserted.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 35, wherein said incision is in the sclera of said eye.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 2, wherein the step of moving the point of contact along a capsulotomy margin comprises cutting the lens capsule along a capsulotomy margin that is substantially circular.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2001-03-02	2001-09-01	2002-03-03	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2005-03-02	2005-09-01	2006-03-03	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2009-03-02	2009-09-01	2010-03-03	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Laser surgical method using transparent probe

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