Patent US7566173B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
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 21:28
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.
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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) | 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 |