US5836941A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Laser probe
Assignee: Olympus Corp
•
Filing: 1996-05-31
•
Granted: 1998-11-17
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Expires: 2016-05-31
Abstract
Abstract A laser probe including an optical fiber for guiding a laser beam, a holder fixed at an end portion of the optical fiber, and a reflection tip detachably attached to the holder and having a reflection surface for reflecting the laser beam emitted from the optical fiber.
Inventors
- 👤 Masaya Yoshihara
- 👤 Masahiko Iida
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 13:33
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/22; A61B18/24; A61B17/00; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00274; A61B2018/00005; A61B2018/00011; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00547; A61B2018/2255; A61B2018/2272
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
210 words
A laser probe comprising: an optical fiber for guiding a laser beam; a tube in which the optical fiber is inserted; a holder for fixing the optical fiber and an end portion of the tube where the laser beam is emitted; and a reflection tip detachably attached to the holder and having a reflection surface for reflecting the laser beam emitted from the optical fiber, the reflection surface reflecting the laser beam along a laser optical path; and a lens positioned in said reflection tip between said optical fiber and said reflection surface, and in a path of said laser beam as it is emitted from said optical fiber; wherein: said holder includes a slit portion, a cooling fluid passage is defined by a space between the optical fiber and the tube, and the cooling fluid passage extends through the slit portion of said holder, through said space, and opens at an emission end portion of the optical fiber in the vicinity of the reflection surface of the reflection tip, such that cooling fluid flows through said fluid passage to contact said reflection surface, and flows along the laser optical path after contacting the reflection surface, whereby said cooling fluid passage communicates a fluid to outside of the reflection tip.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
210 words
A laser probe comprising: an optical fiber for guiding a laser beam; a tube in which the optical fiber is inserted; a holder for fixing the optical fiber and an end portion of the tube where the laser beam is emitted; and a reflection tip detachably attached to the holder and having a reflection surface for reflecting the laser beam emitted from the optical fiber, the reflection surface reflecting the laser beam along a laser optical path; and a lens positioned in said reflection tip between said optical fiber and said reflection surface, and in a path of said laser beam as it is emitted from said optical fiber; wherein: said holder includes a slit portion, a cooling fluid passage is defined by a space between the optical fiber and the tube, and the cooling fluid passage extends through the slit portion of said holder, through said space, and opens at an emission end portion of the optical fiber in the vicinity of the reflection surface of the reflection tip, such that cooling fluid flows through said fluid passage to contact said reflection surface, and flows along the laser optical path after contacting the reflection surface, whereby said cooling fluid passage communicates a fluid to outside of the reflection tip.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The laser probe according to claim 1, wherein said reflection tip is detachably attached to the holder by means of a screw thread.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The laser probe according to claim 2, wherein said reflection tip is provided with a male screw thread and said holder is provided with a female screw thread.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
108 words
The laser probe according to claim 3, wherein an outer surface of a first end portion of said reflection tip is provided with a male screw thread, an outer surface of a second end portion of said reflection tip is formed in a spherical shape, a space is provided between said first end portion and said second end portion of the reflection tip, a laser beam reflection surface is provided on a side of the space opposite to the side at which the male screw thread is provided, and there is provided an internal cavity communicating between an end portion of said male screw thread and said space.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The laser probe according to claim 1, wherein said reflection tip is provided with a female screw thread and said holder is provided with a male screw thread.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
89 words
The laser probe according to claim 5, wherein an inner surface of a first end portion of said reflection tip is provided with a female screw thread, an outer surface of a second end portion of said reflection tip is formed in a spherical shape, a space is provided between said first end portion and said second end portion of the reflection tip, and a laser beam reflection surface is provided on a side of the space opposite to the side at which the female screw thread is provided.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The laser probe according o claim 1, wherein said reflection surface of the reflection tip comprises a flat surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The laser probe according to claim 7, wherein said reflection surface of the reflection tip is inclined about 30° to 70° with respect to an axis of the reflection tip.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The laser probe according to claim 1, wherein said reflection surface comprises one of a concave curved surface and a convex curved surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The laser probe according to claim 9, wherein a radius of the reflection surface is 1 to 3 mm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The laser probe according to claim 9, wherein the reflection surface of the reflection tip is shaped to reflect the laser beam such that the reflected laser beam is diverged only in one direction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
The laser probe according to claim 1, wherein said reflection surface comprises a substantially concave surface, the laser beam reflected by said reflection surface being most focused at a point located in the vicinity of one of an outer peripheral surface of the reflection tip and inside said outer peripheral surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The laser probe according to claim 1, wherein said reflection surface comprises one of a substantially concave spherical surface and a substantially convex spherical surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The laser probe according to claim 13, wherein a radius of said substantially concave and substantially convex spherical reflection surfaces is 1 to 3 mm.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
The laser probe according to claim 13, wherein the reflection surface of the reflection tip is shaped to reflect the laser beam such that the reflected laser beam has a substantially circular cross section.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
52 words
The laser probe according to claim 1, wherein said reflection surface comprises a substantially concave spherical surface, the laser beam reflected by said reflection surface being most focused at a point located in the vicinity of one of an outer peripheral surface of the reflection tip and inside said outer peripheral surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
The laser probe according to claim 1, wherein a space defined between first and second end portions of the reflection tip is open in a direction lateral to a longitudinal axis of the laser probe and wherein the laser beam is reflected in the lateral direction.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The laser probe according to claim 1, wherein an outside diameter of the laser probe is 3 mm or less.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
The laser probe according to claim 1, wherein said reflection tip comprises a metallic material, and at least said reflection surface is subjected to at least one of buffing and chemical polishing.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
52 words
The laser probe according to claim 1, wherein said reflection tip is made of a metallic material, wherein at least said reflection surface is subjected to at least one of buffing and chemical polishing, and wherein at least said reflection surface is then subjected to plating with one of gold and platinum.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
53 words
The laser probe according to claim 1, wherein the reflection surface of the reflection tip is shaped to reflect the laser beam such that the laser beam has a greater cross-sectional area after the laser beam is reflected by said reflection surface than before the laser beam is reflected by said reflection surface.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
58 words
The laser probe according to claim 1, wherein the reflection surface of the reflection tip is shaped to reflect the laser beam such that a divergence angle of the laser beam emitted from the optical fiber and reflected by the reflecting surface is increased from a range of 5° to 30° to a range of 10° to 100°.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
45 words
The laser probe according to claim 1, wherein the reflection surface of the reflection tip is shaped to reflect the laser beam such that the laser beam is once converged and then diverged at a greater divergence angle than before the laser beam is reflected.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
42 words
The laser probe according to claim 1, wherein the reflection surface of the reflection tip is shaped to reflect the laser beam such that the reflected laser beam has one of a substantially overall cross section and a substantially rectangular cross section.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
The laser probe according to claim 1, wherein the reflection surface reflects the laser beam with a different widening angle in accordance with different reflection directions.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
46 words
The laser probe according to claim 1, wherein the reflection surface of the reflection tip is shaped to reflect the laser beam such that a cross-section of the reflected laser beam has a longitudinal axis which is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the laser probe.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
42 words
The laser probe according to claim 1, wherein the reflection surface of the reflection tip is shaped to reflect the laser beam such that a longitudinal axis of the reflected laser beam is parallel to a transverse axis of the laser probe.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
52 words
The laser probe according to claim 1, wherein the reflection surface of the reflection tip is shaped to reflect the laser beam such that a divergence angle of the laser beam after being reflected reflection is substantially equal to or less than a divergence angle of the laser beam before being reflected.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
23 words
The laser probe according to claim 1, wherein a diameter of the reflection tip is substantially equal to a diameter of the tube.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
The laser probe according to claim 1, wherein said fluid passage is coupled to fluid supply means for supplying the fluid.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
39 words
The laser probe according to claim 1, wherein the fluid passage is arranged to pass the fluid over the reflection surface and discharge the fluid outside of the reflection tip to thereby decrease a temperature of the reflection tip.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
49 words
The laser probe according to claim 1, wherein the fluid passage is arranged to pass the fluid over the reflection surface and discharge the fluid outside of the reflection tip to remove air bubbles from the reflection surface of the reflection tip, thereby preventing burning of the reflection surface.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
58 words
The laser probe according to claim 1, wherein the fluid passage is arranged to pass the fluid over the reflection-surface and discharge the fluid outside of the reflection tip to remove tissue, blood and air bubbles from an emission end of the optical fiber and the reflection surface, to thereby efficiently enable the laser beam to be guided.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
44 words
The laser probe according to claim 1, wherein the fluid passage is arranged to pass the fluid over the reflection surface, discharge the fluid outside of the reflection tip and direct the fluid to a tissue, to thereby cool a surface of the tissue.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
23 words
The laser probe according to claim 1, wherein the fluid passage is arranged to have 5 to 100 cc/minute of water flow therein.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
17 words
A laser probe according to claim 1, wherein said tube is an inner sheath of an endoscope.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
55 words
The laser probe according to claim 36, wherein said endoscope is of a continuous irrigation type wherein a fluid discharge passage for discharging fluid is defined between the inner sheath and an outer sheath of the endoscope, and fluid is continuously supplied and discharged through said cooling fluid passage and said fluid discharge passage simultaneously.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
153 words
A laser probe comprising: an optical fiber for guiding a laser beam; a tube in which the optical fiber is inserted; a holder for fixing the optical fiber and an end portion of the tube where the laser beam is emitted; and a reflection tip detachably attached to the holder and having a reflection surface for reflecting the laser beam emitted from the optical fiber, wherein a fluid passage is defined by a space between the optical fiber and the tube for supplying the reflection surface of the reflection tip with a fluid, and wherein said laser probe includes holding means for holding, in a loop shape, a portion of the tube and the optical fiber inserted therein, wherein said loop-shaped portion of the laser probe is rotated to rotate a distal end portion of the laser probe such that the tube and the optical fiber inserted therein are rotated as one body.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
153 words
A laser probe comprising: an optical fiber for guiding a laser beam; a tube in which the optical fiber is inserted; a holder for fixing the optical fiber and an end portion of the tube where the laser beam is emitted; and a reflection tip detachably attached to the holder and having a reflection surface for reflecting the laser beam emitted from the optical fiber, wherein a fluid passage is defined by a space between the optical fiber and the tube for supplying the reflection surface of the reflection tip with a fluid, and wherein said laser probe includes holding means for holding, in a loop shape, a portion of the tube and the optical fiber inserted therein, wherein said loop-shaped portion of the laser probe is rotated to rotate a distal end portion of the laser probe such that the tube and the optical fiber inserted therein are rotated as one body.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
195 words
A laser probe comprising: an optical fiber for guiding a laser beam; a tube in which the optical fiber is inserted; a holder for fixing the optical fiber and an end portion of the tube where the laser beam is emitted; and a reflection tip detachably attached to the holder and having a reflection surface for reflecting the laser beam emitted from the optical fiber, wherein said holder includes a slit portion, wherein a fluid passage is defined by a space between the optical fiber and the tube, and wherein the fluid passage extends through the slit portion of said holder and opens at an emission end portion of the optical fiber in the vicinity of the reflection surface of the reflection tip, said fluid passage communicating a fluid to outside of the reflection tip, and wherein said laser probe includes holding means for holding, in a loop shape, a portion of the tube and the optical fiber inserted therein, wherein said loop-shaped portion of the laser probe is rotated to rotate a distal end portion of the laser probe such that the tube and the optical fiber inserted therein are rotated as one body.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
195 words
A laser probe comprising: an optical fiber for guiding a laser beam; a tube in which the optical fiber is inserted; a holder for fixing the optical fiber and an end portion of the tube where the laser beam is emitted; and a reflection tip detachably attached to the holder and having a reflection surface for reflecting the laser beam emitted from the optical fiber, wherein said holder includes a slit portion, wherein a fluid passage is defined by a space between the optical fiber and the tube, and wherein the fluid passage extends through the slit portion of said holder and opens at an emission end portion of the optical fiber in the vicinity of the reflection surface of the reflection tip, said fluid passage communicating a fluid to outside of the reflection tip, and wherein said laser probe includes holding means for holding, in a loop shape, a portion of the tube and the optical fiber inserted therein, wherein said loop-shaped portion of the laser probe is rotated to rotate a distal end portion of the laser probe such that the tube and the optical fiber inserted therein are rotated as one body.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-11-16 | 2002-05-18 | 2002-11-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-11-16 | 2006-05-18 | 2006-11-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-11-16 | 2010-05-18 | 2010-11-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |