Probes For Use In Ophthalmic And Vitreoretinal Surgery

Abstract

A probe for endo-ocular photocoagulation procedures provides straight and curved tip configurations. A flexible tubular material, pre-formed with a radius of curvature, allows the tip to be inserted through a trocar cannula and to resume its pre-formed shape for use during a surgical procedure. Alternatively, a tubular material is pre-formed with a radius of curvature, and is stiffened by use of a preferably stainless steel tube. Inside the tubular material is a distal end of at least one optical fiber, inserted such that its tip is coterminous with the tubular material. A tube surrounds the optical fiber and is free to move along the axis of the assembly, acting to straighten the tubular and optical fiber members as it moves forward via a sliding member that is associated with the hand piece. Illumination energy, laser energy, or both may be supplied to the targeted surgical site.

1 . A surgical probe for endo-ocular photocoagulation, the surgical probe comprising:
 a. a hand piece;   b. at least one optical fiber associated with the hand piece for carrying light energy from a light energy source to a distal end of said optical fiber;   c. a flexible, pre-curved tip comprising a straight portion and a proximal portion, said straight and proximal portions associated with the hand piece at a distal end thereof, said pre-curved tip carrying said distal end of said optical fiber, said pre-curved tip comprising a shape memory material, and wherein said flexible, pre-curved tip has an outer diameter of 20 gauge or less;   d. a rigid jacket associated with said proximal portion to support and stabilize said flexible, pre-curved tip;   e. said distal end of said optical fiber being coterminous with a distal end of said pre-curved tip;   f. a rigid straightening member operably associated with said hand piece, said optical fiber, and said pre-curved tip, said straightening member at least partially disposed within said straight portion of said pre-curved tip;   g. said straightening member operable to extend and retract along a longitudinal axis of the surgical probe; and
 wherein, in a first mode of operation, said straightening member is configured to extend from within said straight portion of said pre-curved tip and away from the hand piece, acting to straighten said distal ends of said pre-curved tip and said optical fiber as it extends, and wherein, in a second mode of operation, said straightening member is configured to retract into and within said straight portion of said pre-curved tip and toward the hand piece, said pre-curved tip and said optical fiber resuming a curved form. 
   
     
     
         2 . The surgical probe of  claim 1 , wherein the shape memory material comprises a shape memory polymer. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical probe of  claim 2 , wherein the shape memory polymer comprises at least one of: polyurethane, a block copolymer of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a block copolymer of polyethyleneoxide (PEO), a block copolymers containing polystyrene, a block copolymer containing poly(1,4-butadiene), an ABA triblock copolymer made from poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline), an ABA triblock copolymer made from polytetrahydrofuran, linear amorphphous polynorbornene, or an organic-inorganic hybrid polymer consisting of polynorbornene units that are partially substituted by polyhedral oligosilsesquioxane (POSS). 
     
     
         4 . The surgical probe of  claim 2 , wherein the shape memory polymer comprises at least one of: crosslinked polyurethane or a polyethyleneoxide (PEO)-based crosslinked material. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical probe of  claim 2 , wherein the shape memory polymer comprises a material comprising at least one of: carbon nanotubes, short carbon fibers (SCF), carbon black, metallic nickel powder, surface-modified super-paramagnetic nanoparticles, nickel fibers, or nickel-hybrid fibers. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical probe of  claim 2 , wherein the shape memory polymer comprises at least one of: polyethylene, polypropylene, or nylon. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical probe of  claim 1 , wherein said straightening member is associated with a sliding member that is associated with the hand piece. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical probe of  claim 1 , wherein said straightening member is disposed in association with said optical fiber and within said pre-curved tip. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical probe of  claim 1 , wherein said probe further carries laser energy to a targeted surgical site. 
     
     
         10 . A probe for ophthalmic and vitreoretinal surgery, the probe comprising:
 a. a hand piece;   b. at least one optical fiber associated with the hand piece for carrying laser energy from a laser energy source to a distal end of said optical fiber;   c. a flexible, pre-curved tip comprising a straight portion and a proximal portion, said straight and proximal portions associated with the hand piece at a distal end thereof, said pre-curved tip carrying said distal end of said optical fibers, said pre-curved tip comprising a shape memory material, and wherein said flexible, pre-curved tip has an outer diameter of 20 gauge or less;   d. a rigid jacket associated with said proximal portion to support and stabilize said flexible, pre-curved tip;   e. said distal ends of said optical fibers being coterminous with a distal end of said pre-curved tip;   f. a rigid straightening member operably associated with said hand piece;   g. said straightening member disposed in association with said optical fibers and within said pre-curved tip;   h. said straightening member operable to extend and retract along a longitudinal axis of the probe; and
 wherein, in a first mode of operation, said straightening member is configured to extend from within said straight portion of said pre-curved tip and away from the hand piece, acting to straighten said distal ends of said pre-curved tip and said optical fibers as it extends, and wherein, in a second mode of operation, said straightening member is configured to retract into and within said straight portion of said pre-curved tip and toward the hand piece, said pre-curved tip and said optical fiber resuming a curved form. 
   
     
     
         11 . The probe of  claim 10 , wherein the shape memory material comprises a shape memory polymer. 
     
     
         12 . The probe of  claim 11 , wherein the shape memory polymer comprises at least one of: polyurethane, a block copolymer of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a block copolymer of polyethyleneoxide (PEO), a block copolymers containing polystyrene, a block copolymer containing poly(1,4-butadiene), an ABA triblock copolymer made from poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline), an ABA triblock copolymer made from polytetrahydrofuran, linear amorphphous polynorbornene, or an organic-inorganic hybrid polymer consisting of polynorbornene units that are partially substituted by polyhedral oligosilsesquioxane (POSS). 
     
     
         13 . The probe of  claim 11 , wherein the shape memory polymer comprises at least one of: crosslinked polyurethane or a polyethyleneoxide (PEO)-based crosslinked material. 
     
     
         14 . The probe of  claim 11 , wherein the shape memory polymer comprises a material comprising at least one of: carbon nanotubes, short carbon fibers (SCF), carbon black, metallic nickel powder, surface-modified super-paramagnetic nanoparticles, nickel fibers, or nickel-hybrid fibers. 
     
     
         15 . The probe of  claim 11 , wherein the shape memory polymer comprises at least one of: polyethylene, polypropylene, or nylon. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The surgical probe of  claim 1 , wherein said straightening member is tubular. 
     
     
         25 . The surgical probe of  claim 1 , wherein said straightening member comprises a wire. 
     
     
         26 . The surgical probe of  claim 2 , wherein the shape memory polymer comprises polyether ether ketone (PEEK). 
     
     
         27 . The probe of  claim 10 , wherein said straightening member is tubular. 
     
     
         28 . The probe of  claim 10 , wherein said straightening member comprises a wire. 
     
     
         29 . The probe of  claim 11 , wherein the shape memory polymer comprises polyether ether ketone (PEEK). 
     
     
         30 . The probe of  claim 10 , further comprising at least one optical fiber associated with the hand piece for carrying illumination energy from an illumination energy source to a distal end of said optical fiber. 
     
     
         31 . The probe of  claim 10 , wherein said straightening member is associated with a sliding member that is associated with the hand piece.