Multiple-input-coupled illuminated multi-spot laser probe

Abstract

Systems and methods for creating multi-spot laser light beams, multiplexing an illumination light and the multi-spot laser light beams, and delivering the multiplexed light to a surgical handpiece via a multi-core optical fiber cable.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of multiplexing a multi-spot pattern of laser light beams with a illumination light beam comprising:
 directing a laser light beam to an optical element for collimating the laser light beam, the laser light beam having a wavelength contained within at least one of two narrow bands of an electromagnetic spectrum of light;   directing the collimated laser light beam to a diffractive optical element (DOE) configured to create a multi-spot laser pattern of laser light beams;   directing the multi-spot pattern of laser light beams to a beamsplitter;   directing an illumination light beam to the beamsplitter, wherein the beamsplitter is configured to reflect the at least two narrow bands of the electromagnetic spectrum of light and transmit portions of the electromagnetic spectrum of light not contained within the at least two narrow bands of the electromagnetic spectrum, thereby multiplexing the multi-spot pattern of laser light beams and a transmitted illumination beam;   directing the multiplexed multi-spot pattern of laser light beams and transmitted illumination beam to a condensing lens for focusing the multiplexed multi-spot pattern of laser light beams and transmitted illumination beam onto an interface plane of a proximal end of a multi-core optical fiber cable.   
     
     
         2 . The method of multiplexing a multi-spot pattern of laser light beams with a illumination light beam of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-core optical fiber cable comprises:
 a first outer core surrounded by an outer-core cladding; and   a plurality of inner cores arranged within the outer core in a pattern that substantially matches the multi-spot pattern of laser light beams, wherein each inner core in the plurality of inner cores is surrounded by an inner-core cladding.   
     
     
         3 . The method of multiplexing a multi-spot pattern of laser light beams with a illumination light beam of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 selecting, for the multi-core optical fiber cable, a first material for the first outer core, a second material for the outer-core cladding, a third material for the plurality of inner cores, and a fourth material for the inner-core cladding.   
     
     
         4 . The method of multiplexing a multi-spot pattern of laser light beams with a illumination light beam of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 selecting the condensing lens to focus each of the laser beams in the multiplexed multi-spot pattern of laser light beams onto an interface with a respective inner core in the plurality of inner cores, wherein a spot size of each of the focused laser beams, an angular spread of each of the focused laser beams, a refractive index of the inner core, and a refractive index of the outer core causes the laser light beams to spatially fill and propagate the plurality of inner cores for the length of the multi-core optical fiber cable.   
     
     
         5 . The method of multiplexing a multi-spot pattern of laser light beams with a illumination light beam of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 selecting the condensing lens to focus the illumination beam as a light cone with a spot size that falls on the interface plane of a proximal end of a multi-core optical fiber cable, wherein the spot size falls incident on at least a portion of the first outer core, at least a portion of the plurality of inner cores, and at least a portion of the inner-core claddings.   wherein the light cone includes a narrow half-angle portion of the light cone and a wide half-angle portion of the light cone.   
     
     
         6 . The method of multiplexing a multi-spot pattern of laser light beams with a illumination light beam of  claim 4 , wherein a refractive index of the first outer core, a refractive index of the plurality of inner cores, a refractive index of the inner-core cladding, and an angle of the narrow half-angle portion of the light cone causes the illumination beam to spatially fill and propagate the length of the outer core. 
     
     
         7 . The method of multiplexing a multi-spot pattern of laser light beams with a illumination light beam of  claim 4 , wherein a refractive index of the outer core, a refractive index of the plurality of inner cores, a refractive index of the inner-core claddings, and an angle of the wide half-angle portion of the light cone causes the illumination beam to spatially fill and propagate the outer core for the length of the multi-core optical fiber cable. 
     
     
         8 . The method of multiplexing a multi-spot pattern of laser light beams with a illumination light beam of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-core optical fiber cable comprises:
 a first outer core surrounded by an outer-core cladding; and   a plurality of inner cores arranged within the outer core in a pattern that substantially matches the multi-spot pattern of laser light beams.   
     
     
         9 . The method of multiplexing a multi-spot pattern of laser light beams with a illumination light beam of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 selecting the condensing lens to focus each of the laser beams in the multiplexed multi-spot pattern of laser light beams onto an interface with a respective inner core in the plurality of inner cores, wherein a spot size of each of the focused laser beams, an angular spread of each of the focused laser beams, a refractive index of the inner core, and a refractive index of the outer core causes the laser light beams to spatially fill and propagate the plurality of inner cores for the length of the multi-core optical fiber cable.   
     
     
         10 . The method of multiplexing a multi-spot pattern of laser light beams with a illumination light beam of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 selecting the condensing lens to focus the illumination beam as a light cone with a spot size that falls on the interface plane of a proximal end of a multi-core optical fiber cable, wherein the spot size falls incident on at least a portion of the first outer core and at least a portion of the plurality of inner cores, wherein the light cone includes a narrow half-angle portion of the light cone and a wide half-angle portion of the light cone.   
     
     
         11 . The method of multiplexing a multi-spot pattern of laser light beams with a illumination light beam of  claim 8 , wherein a refractive index of the first outer core, a refractive index of the plurality of inner cores, a refractive index of the inner-core cladding, and an angle of the narrow half-angle portion of the light cone causes the illumination beam to spatially fill and propagate the length of the outer core. 
     
     
         12 . The method of multiplexing a multi-spot pattern of laser light beams with a illumination light beam of  claim 8 , wherein a refractive index of the outer core, a refractive index of the plurality of inner cores, a refractive index of the inner-core claddings, and an angle of the wide half-angle portion of the light cone causes the illumination beam to spatially fill and propagate the outer core for the length of the multi-core optical fiber cable. 
     
     
         13 . The method of multiplexing a multi-spot pattern of laser light beams with a illumination light beam of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 directing, at the distal end of the multi-core optical fiber cable, the multiplexed multi-spot pattern of laser light beams and transmitted illumination beam onto a lens in a probe tip, wherein the lens translates a geometry of the multiplexed multi-spot laser pattern of laser light beams and illumination beam from the distal end of the multi-core optical fiber cable onto a target surface.   
     
     
         14 . The method of multiplexing a multi-spot pattern of laser light beams with a illumination light beam of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 adjusting an intensity of the surgical treatment beam and an intensity of the aiming beam are adjusted to produce a clear multiplexed multi-spot laser pattern of laser light beams and illumination beam on the surface.