US7566173B2
Active / In Force
US
⏱️ 0.7 years remaining
Multi-spot ophthalmic laser probe
Assignee: Alcon Inc
•
Filing: 2007-07-09
•
Granted: 2009-07-28
•
Expires: 2027-07-09
Abstract
Abstract A laser probe includes an emitting optical fiber, optics, and two or more receiving optical fibers. The emitting optical fiber emits a beam of laser light. The optics diffract the beam of light emitted by the emitting optical fiber. The receiving optical fibers each receive a beam of light diffracted by the optics.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack R. Auld
- 👤 Ronald T. Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 16:58
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/22; A61F; A61F9/00; A61F9/007; A61F9/008; A61F9/00821; G; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/10; G02B27/106; G02B27/1086; G02B27/1093; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/264; G02B6/32; A61B2018/208; A61B2018/2205; A61B2018/2211; A61B2018/2255; A61B2018/2294; A61B90/00; A61B90/30; A61B2090/306; A61F2009/00861; A61F2009/00863; A61N; A61N5/00; A61N5/06; A61N5/0601; A61N5/0603; G02B5/00; G02B5/18; G02B5/1814
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
A laser probe comprising: an emitting optical fiber for emitting a beam of light; optics located on the emitting side of the emitting optical fiber, the optics comprising a diffractive surface for diffracting the beam of light emitted by the emitting optical fiber such that the beam of light emitted by the emitting optical fiber is diffracted into two or more diffracted beams of light, each of the two or more diffracted beams of light focused in a plane generally parallel to the diffractive surface; and two or more receiving optical fibers, each of the two or more receiving optical fibers located opposite the emitting optical fiber, receiving ends of each of the two or more receiving optical fibers located in the plane generally parallel to the diffractive surface, each of the two or more receiving optical fibers for receiving a beam of light diffracted by the optics.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
148 words
A laser probe comprising: an emitting optical fiber for emitting a beam of light; optics located on the emitting side of the emitting optical fiber, the optics comprising a diffractive surface for diffracting the beam of light emitted by the emitting optical fiber such that the beam of light emitted by the emitting optical fiber is diffracted into two or more diffracted beams of light, each of the two or more diffracted beams of light focused in a plane generally parallel to the diffractive surface; and two or more receiving optical fibers, each of the two or more receiving optical fibers located opposite the emitting optical fiber, receiving ends of each of the two or more receiving optical fibers located in the plane generally parallel to the diffractive surface, each of the two or more receiving optical fibers for receiving a beam of light diffracted by the optics.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The laser probe of claim 1 wherein the optics further comprise: a first lens; and a second lens located opposite the first lens, the second lens comprising a diffractive surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The laser probe of claim 2 wherein the first lens is an aspheric lens and the second lens is an aspheric lens with a diffractive surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The laser probe of claim 1 wherein the optics diffract the beam of light emitted by the emitting optical fiber into a two dimensional array of beam spots.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The laser probe of claim 1 wherein the optics comprise a diffractive grating.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The laser probe of claim 1 wherein the optics comprise a hybrid surface grating/volume hologram multiplex grating assembly.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
70 words
The laser probe of claim 6 wherein the grating assembly further comprises: a generally circular surface grating section located in a center of the grating assembly, the surface grating section for diffracting an incident beam at a lower bend angle; and a generally ring-like volume hologram section located around a periphery of the surface grating section, the volume hologram section for diffracting an incident beam at a higher bend angle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The laser probe of claim 1 in which at least one of the two or more receiving optical fibers has a bent distal end.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The laser probe of claim 1 wherein the two or more receiving optical fibers are located such that each of the two or more receiving optical fibers is coupled to a single light beam diffracted by the optics.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The laser probe of claim 1 further comprising: a housing at least partially enclosing the two or more receiving optical fibers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
86 words
A coupling for a laser probe comprising: a housing; optics located in the housing, the optics comprising a diffractive surface for diffracting a beam of incident light such that the beam of incident light is diffracted into two or more diffracted beams of light, each of the two or more diffracted beams of light focused in a plane generally parallel to the diffractive surface; a first connector located on one side of the optics; and a second connector located on the other side of the optics.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
86 words
A coupling for a laser probe comprising: a housing; optics located in the housing, the optics comprising a diffractive surface for diffracting a beam of incident light such that the beam of incident light is diffracted into two or more diffracted beams of light, each of the two or more diffracted beams of light focused in a plane generally parallel to the diffractive surface; a first connector located on one side of the optics; and a second connector located on the other side of the optics.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The coupling of claim 11 wherein the optics further comprise: a first lens; and a second lens located opposite the first lens, the second lens comprising a diffractive surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The coupling of claim 12 wherein the first lens is an aspheric lens and the second lens is an aspheric lens with a diffractive surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The coupling of claim 11 wherein the optics diffract the beam of light emitted by the emitting optical fiber into a two dimensional array of beam spots.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The coupling of claim 11 wherein the optics comprise a diffractive grating.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The coupling of claim 11 wherein the optics comprise a hybrid surface grating/volume hologram multiplex grating assembly.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
69 words
The coupling of claim 16 wherein the grating assembly further comprises: a generally circular surface grating section located in a center of the grating assembly, the surface grating section for diffracting an incident beam at a lower bend angle; and a generally ring-like volume hologram section located around a periphery of the surface grating section, the volume hologram section for diffracting an incident beam at a higher bend angle.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The coupling of claim 11 wherein the first and second connectors are SMA connectors.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The coupling of claim 11 wherein at least one of the first and second connectors comprises a mechanism for aligning optical fibers.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
97 words
An ophthalmic laser probe comprising: an emitting optical fiber for emitting a beam of light; and optics located on the emitting side of the emitting optical fiber, the optics comprising a diffractive surface for at least diffracting the beam of light emitted by the emitting optical fiber into two or more diffracted beams of light such that the beam of light emitted by the emitting optical fiber is diffracted into two or more diffracted beams of light, each of the two or more diffracted beams of light focused in a plane generally parallel to the diffractive surface.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
97 words
An ophthalmic laser probe comprising: an emitting optical fiber for emitting a beam of light; and optics located on the emitting side of the emitting optical fiber, the optics comprising a diffractive surface for at least diffracting the beam of light emitted by the emitting optical fiber into two or more diffracted beams of light such that the beam of light emitted by the emitting optical fiber is diffracted into two or more diffracted beams of light, each of the two or more diffracted beams of light focused in a plane generally parallel to the diffractive surface.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The laser probe of claim 20 wherein the optics comprise a diffractive grating.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The laser probe of claim 20 wherein the optics comprise a hybrid surface grating/volume hologram multiplex grating assembly.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
70 words
The laser probe of claim 22 wherein the grating assembly further comprises: a generally circular surface grating section located in a center of the grating assembly, the surface grating section for diffracting an incident beam at a lower bend angle; and a generally ring-like volume hologram section located around a periphery of the surface grating section, the volume hologram section for diffracting an incident beam at a higher bend angle.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The laser probe of claim 20 wherein the optics comprise a diffractive grating with a collimating capability.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The laser probe of claim 20 further comprising: a housing at least partially enclosing the emitting optical fiber.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
The laser probe of claim 20 further comprising: a cannula at least partially enclosing the emitting optical fiber.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
The laser probe of claim 20 further comprising: a centering cylinder located in the cannula, the centering cylinder for centering the emitting optical fiber in the cannula.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4062043A
Cited
US4111524A
Cited
US4274706A
Cited
US4679901A
Cited
US5125922A
Cited
US4865029A
Cited
US4986262A
Cited
US5090400A
Cited
US5150254A
Cited
US5261904A
Cited
US5499137A
Cited
US5715089A
Cited
US5275593A
Cited
US5356407A
Cited
US5373526A
Cited
US5659642A
Cited
US5555129A
Cited
US5396571A
Cited
US5630809A
Cited
US6080143A
Cited
US20050197655A1
Cited
US6520956B1
Cited
US5921981A
Cited
US6066128A
Cited
US6096028A
Cited
US5973779A
Cited
US5841912A
Cited
US6421179B1
Cited
US20040012856A1
Cited
US6071748A
Cited
WO1999008612A1
Cited
US6097025A
Cited
US5980454A
Cited
US6441934B1
Cited
US6370422B1
Cited
US6241721B1
Cited
US20040109164A1
Cited
US6687010B1
Cited
US6539132B2
Cited
US20020054725A1
Cited
US20020013572A1
Cited
US20010055462A1
Cited
US6975898B2
Cited
US6563982B1
Cited
EP1191359A1
Cited
US7231243B2
Cited
US20080013960A1
Cited
US20060106370A1
Cited
US20020111608A1
Cited
US20030020922A1
Cited
US20040195511A1
Cited
US20030081220A1
Cited
US20060013533A1
Cited
US7071460B2
Cited
US20050240168A1
Cited
US20040116909A1
Cited
US20050154379A1
Cited
US20050075704A1
Cited
US20050143719A1
Cited
US20050245916A1
Cited
US20060100613A1
Cited
US20070299430A1
Cited
US7252662B2
Cited
US20060114473A1
Cited
US20060195076A1
Cited
US20080308730A1
Cited
WO2006116141A1
Cited
US20070057211A1
Cited
US20070121069A1
Cited
US20070179430A1
Cited
US20070238955A1
Cited
US20070265602A1
Cited
US20080097225A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2012-07-27 | 2013-01-26 | 2013-07-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2016-07-27 | 2017-01-26 | 2017-07-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2020-07-27 | 2021-01-26 | 2021-07-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |