Steerable laser probe

Abstract

A steerable laser probe may include a handle, an actuation mechanism of the handle, an optic fiber, and a housing tube. The housing tube may include a first housing tube portion having a first stiffness and a second housing tube portion having a second stiffness. The second stiffness may be greater than the first stiffness. The optic fiber may be disposed within the housing tube and within an inner bore of the handle. A portion of the optic fiber may be fixed to an inner portion of the housing tube.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A laser probe comprising:
 a handle having a handle distal end and a handle proximal end;   an actuation mechanism having an actuation mechanism distal end and an actuation mechanism proximal end wherein the actuation mechanism is disposed in an actuation mechanism guide of the handle;   an actuation channel of the handle having an actuation channel distal end and an actuation channel proximal end;   an actuation control of the actuation mechanism having an actuation control distal end and an actuation control proximal end wherein the actuation control is disposed in the actuation channel;   a housing tube housing of the actuation mechanism;   a single housing tube having a housing tube distal end and a housing tube proximal end wherein the single housing tube is disposed in the housing tube housing and a housing tube guide of the handle and wherein the single housing tube is fixed in the housing tube housing;   a first housing tube portion of the single housing tube having a first stiffness;   a plurality of slits of the first housing tube portion;   a second housing tube portion of the single housing tube having a second stiffness wherein the second stiffness is greater than the first stiffness; and   an optic fiber having an optic fiber distal end and an optic fiber proximal end wherein the optic fiber is disposed in the handle, the housing tube housing, the housing tube guide, and the housing tube and wherein an actuation of the actuation control distal end towards the actuation channel distal end is configured to extend the single housing tube relative to the handle proximal end and curve the single housing tube.   
     
     
         2 . The laser probe of  claim 1  wherein the actuation of the actuation control distal end towards the actuation channel distal end is configured to curve the optic fiber. 
     
     
         3 . The laser probe of  claim 1  wherein the actuation of the actuation control distal end towards the actuation channel distal end is configured to actuate the actuation mechanism distal end towards the handle distal end. 
     
     
         4 . The laser probe of  claim 1  wherein the actuation of the actuation control distal end towards the actuation channel distal end is configured to compress the first housing tube portion. 
     
     
         5 . The laser probe of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a light source interface configured to interface with the optic fiber proximal end. 
 
     
     
         6 . The laser probe of  claim 5  wherein the light source interface is an SMA connector. 
     
     
         7 . The laser probe of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a wire having a wire distal end and a wire proximal end wherein a first portion of the wire is disposed in the housing tube and a second portion of the wire is disposed in the handle. 
 
     
     
         8 . The laser probe of  claim 1  wherein an actuation of actuation control proximal end towards actuation channel proximal end is configured to retract the single housing tube relative to the handle proximal end. 
     
     
         9 . The laser probe of  claim 1  wherein an actuation of actuation control proximal end towards actuation channel proximal end is configured to straighten the single housing tube. 
     
     
         10 . The laser probe of  claim 1  wherein an actuation of actuation control proximal end towards actuation channel proximal end is configured to straighten the optic fiber. 
     
     
         11 . A laser probe comprising:
 a handle having a handle distal end and a handle proximal end;   an actuation mechanism having an actuation mechanism distal end and an actuation mechanism proximal end wherein the actuation mechanism is disposed in an actuation mechanism guide of the handle;   an actuation channel of the handle having an actuation channel distal end and an actuation channel proximal end;   an actuation control of the actuation mechanism having an actuation control distal end and an actuation control proximal end wherein the actuation control is disposed in the actuation channel;   a housing tube housing of the actuation mechanism;   a single housing tube having a housing tube distal end and a housing tube proximal end wherein the single housing tube is disposed in the housing tube housing and a housing tube guide of the handle and wherein the single housing tube is fixed in the housing tube housing;   a first housing tube portion of the single housing tube having a first stiffness;   a plurality of slits of the first housing tube portion;   a second housing tube portion of the single housing tube having a second stiffness wherein the second stiffness is greater than the first stiffness; and   an optic fiber having an optic fiber distal end and an optic fiber proximal end wherein the optic fiber is disposed in the handle, the housing tube housing, the housing tube guide, and the housing tube and wherein an actuation of the actuation control proximal end towards the actuation channel proximal end is configured to retract the single housing tube relative to the handle proximal end and straighten the single housing tube.   
     
     
         12 . The laser probe of  claim 11  wherein the actuation of the actuation control proximal end towards the actuation channel proximal end is configured to straighten the optic fiber. 
     
     
         13 . The laser probe of  claim 11  wherein the actuation of the actuation control proximal end towards the actuation channel proximal end is configured to decompress the first housing tube portion. 
     
     
         14 . The laser probe of  claim 11  wherein the actuation of the actuation control proximal end towards the actuation channel proximal end is configured to actuate the actuation mechanism proximal end towards the handle proximal end. 
     
     
         15 . The laser probe of  claim 11  further comprising:
 a light source interface configured to interface with the optic fiber proximal end. 
 
     
     
         16 . The laser probe of  claim 15  wherein the light source interface is an SMA connector. 
     
     
         17 . The laser probe of  claim 11  further comprising:
 a wire having a wire distal end and a wire proximal end wherein a first portion of the wire is disposed in the housing tube and a second portion of the wire is disposed in the handle. 
 
     
     
         18 . The laser probe of  claim 11  wherein an actuation of the actuation control distal end towards the actuation channel distal end is configured to extend the single housing tube relative to the handle proximal end. 
     
     
         19 . The laser probe of  claim 11  wherein an actuation of the actuation control distal end towards the actuation channel distal end is configured to curve the single housing tube. 
     
     
         20 . The laser probe of  claim 11  wherein an actuation of the actuation control distal end towards the actuation channel distal end is configured to curve the optic fiber.