Coaxial illuminated laser endoscopic probe and active numerical aperture control

Abstract

A coaxial illuminated laser endoscopic probe and active numerical aperture control apparatus and method of use, succinctly known as an illumination and laser source, capable of selectively providing illumination light and laser treatment light through a single optical fiber. The apparatus and method is especially useful during ophthalmic surgery. The present art is capable of providing the aforesaid through an optical fiber of such small size that heretofore said fiber was only useable for laser treatment light only. The present art also, with its unique optical system, allows for two illumination light outputs from a single illumination source. The apparatus utilizes a phototoxicity risk card to calibrate the system to prior art or safe illumination levels since the unique optical system provides illumination light of greater intensity than the prior art.

1 . A ferrule connector for use with an illumination or laser source comprising: 
 a ferrule body having an internal bore having an optical fiber; and    a head; and    a threaded portion attached with and following said head; and    an alignment barrel attached with and following said threaded portion; and    a mating end opposite said threaded portion; and    an orifice in said mating end of substantially equivalent or greater diameter than said optical fiber.    
     
     
         2 . The ferrule connector for use with an illumination or laser source as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a recess within said alignment barrel whereby said optical fiber may be distinguished for use with a laser light source, an illumination light source, or both.    
     
     
         3 . The ferrule connector for use with an illumination or laser source as set forth in  claim 1  whereby: 
 said threaded portion is an 8-32 UNC thread.    
     
     
         4 . The ferrule connector for use with an illumination or laser source as set forth in  claim 2  whereby: 
 said threaded portion is an 8-32 UNC thread.    
     
     
         5 . A ferrule connector for use with an illumination or laser source comprising: 
 a connector body having an external end, a mating end, an internal bore which is substantially parallel with a lengthwise axis of the connector body, and an externally stepped form; and    an optical fiber mounted within said bore; and    a head of a first diameter having a first end and a second end, said first end co-located with said external end; and    a threaded portion of a smaller diameter than said head attached with said head; and    an alignment barrel having a circumference, a first end, and a second end, said first end of said alignment barrel attached with said threaded portion and said second end of said alignment barrel substantially co-located with said mating end of said body; and    said second end of said alignment barrel having an orifice of substantially equivalent or slightly greater diameter as said optical fiber mounted within said bore and interconnected with said bore and said optical fiber terminated substantially flush with said second end of said alignment barrel; and    said connector body with said alignment barrel capable of providing a quick and positive connection of said optical fiber to a laser source or an illumination source.    
     
     
         6 . The ferrule connector for use with an illumination or laser source as set forth in  claim 5  further comprising: 
 a lip on said body of a greater diameter than said head and having a first side and a second side with at least a portion of said first side substantially mounted with said second end of said head and said threaded portion substantially attached with and extending from at least a portion of said lip second side.    
     
     
         7 . The ferrule connector for use with an illumination or laser source as set forth in  claim 5  further comprising: 
 a recess within said circumference of said alignment barrel; and    said recess indicating to said source whether said optical fiber is designed, best suited, or desired for an illumination light or a laser transmission light.    
     
     
         8 . The ferrule connector for use with an illumination or laser source as set forth in claim further comprising: 
 a recess within said circumference of said alignment barrel; and    said recess indicating to said source whether said optical fiber is designed, best suited, or desired for an illumination light or a laser transmission light.    
     
     
         9 . The ferrule connector for use with an illumination or laser source as set forth in claim whereby: 
 said alignment barrel has one or more steps within said circumference; and    one or more of said steps indicating to said source whether said optical fiber is designed, best suited, or desired for an illumination light or a laser transmission light.    
     
     
         10 . The ferrule connector for use with an illumination or laser source as set forth in  claim 6  whereby: 
 said alignment barrel has one or more steps within said circumference; and    one or more of said steps indicating to said source whether said optical fiber is designed, best suited, or desired for an illumination light or a laser transmission light.    
     
     
         11 . The ferrule connector for use with an illumination or laser source as set forth in  claim 5  whereby: 
 said threaded portion is an 8-32 UNC thread.    
     
     
         12 . The ferrule connector for use with an illumination or laser source as set forth in  claim 6  whereby: 
 said threaded portion is an 8-32 UNC thread.    
     
     
         13 . The ferrule connector for use with an illumination or laser source as set forth in  claim 7  whereby: 
 said threaded portion is an 8-32 UNC thread.    
     
     
         14 . The ferrule connector for use with an illumination or laser source as set forth in  claim 8  whereby: 
 said threaded portion is an 8-32 UNC thread.    
     
     
         15 . The ferrule connector for use with an illumination or laser source as set forth in  claim 9  whereby: 
 said threaded portion is an 8-32 UNC thread.    
     
     
         16 . The ferrule connector for use with an illumination or laser source as set forth in  claim 10  whereby: 
 said threaded portion is an 8-32 UNC thread.    
     
     
         17 . The ferrule connector for use with an illumination or laser source as set forth in  claim 5  whereby: 
 said internal bore comprises one or more bores of a larger diameter than said orifice; and    a potting or an adhesive compound within one or more of said bores of larger diameter whereby said optical fiber is attached with said internal bore.    
     
     
         18 . The ferrule connector for use with an illumination or laser source as set forth in  claim 7  whereby: 
 said internal bore comprises one or more bores of a larger diameter than said orifice; and    a potting or an adhesive compound within one or more of said bores of larger diameter whereby said optical fiber is attached with said internal bore.    
     
     
         19 . The ferrule connector for use with an illumination or laser source as set forth in  claim 9  whereby: 
 said internal bore comprises one or more bores of a larger diameter than said orifice; and    a potting or an adhesive compound within one or more of said bores of larger diameter whereby said optical fiber is attached with said internal bore.    
     
     
         20 . The ferrule connector for use with an illumination or laser source as set forth in  claim 11  whereby: 
 said internal bore comprises one or more bores of a larger diameter than said orifice; and    a potting or an adhesive compound within one or more of said bores of larger diameter whereby said optical fiber is attached with said internal bore.