Medical and veterinary imaging and diagnostic procedures utilizing optical probe systems

Abstract

An imaging method includes providing a handpiece having a probe tip insertable into human or animal tissue disposed at an end thereof, and, an optical coherence tomography (OCT) probe connected to the handpiece such that a functionality of the OCT probe is provided at the probe tip. The probe tip is disposed adjacent to or into human or animal tissue. Imaging of the tissue, measuring at least one of a feature size or a quantifiable characteristic of a structure in the tissue for biometry analysis, and/or performing a diagnostic procedure on the tissue or a device implanted in the tissue is performed with the OCT probe.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . An imaging method, the method comprising:
 providing a handpiece having (a) a probe tip insertable into human or animal tissue and disposed at an end thereof, and connected thereto, (b) an optical coherence tomography (OCT) probe and (c) a second probe, such that a functionality of the OCT probe and a second functionality associated with the second probe are provided at the probe tip;   disposing the probe tip adjacent to or into articular cartilage tissue or ocular tissue;   measuring, with the OCT probe, at least one of a feature size or a quantifiable characteristic of a structure in the tissue for biometry analysis; and   performing the second functionality on the tissue,   wherein the functionality of the OCT probe is provided by a first one of a plurality of distinct parallel waveguides provided within a single optical fiber disposed within the probe tip and the second functionality is provided by a second one of the plurality of distinct parallel waveguides within the single optical fiber.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the probe tip is disposed into the tissue via a cannulated incision. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the probe tip is disposed into the tissue via an open incision or an orifice. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the second probe being selected from the group consisting of: an endoillumination probe, a laser therapy probe, an ultrasound imaging probe, an electrocautery probe, an RF ablation probe, a cryosurgical probe, an irrigator, and a mechanical probe. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of a feature size or a quantifiable characteristic of a lens capsule is measured with the OCT probe. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of a feature size or a quantifiable characteristic of a retina is measured with the OCT probe. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein measuring a feature size or quantifiable characteristic comprises quantifying quality of a treatment burn on a retina. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein measuring a feature size or quantifiable characteristic comprises quantifying a grade of chondromalacia in articular cartilage tissue. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the feature size or quantifiable characteristic comprises at least one of a corneal angle or a corneal thickness. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the feature size or quantifiable characteristic comprises at least one of a thickness, an integrity, or an anatomical variation of a capsular bag. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 16 , the feature size or quantifiable characteristic comprises a thickness of a retina. 
     
     
         27 . An imaging method, the method comprising:
 providing a handpiece having (a) a probe tip insertable into human or animal tissue and disposed at an end thereof, and connected thereto, (b) an optical coherence tomography (OCT) probe and (c) a second probe, such that a functionality of the OCT probe and a second functionality associated with the second probe are provided at the probe tip;   disposing the probe tip adjacent to or into ocular tissue or articular cartilage tissue;   measuring, with the OCT probe, at least one of a feature size or a quantifiable characteristic of a structure in the tissue for biometry analysis; and   performing the second functionality on the tissue,   wherein the functionality of the OCT probe is provided by a first one of a plurality of distinct parallel waveguides provided within a single optical fiber disposed within the probe tip and the second functionality is provided by a second one of the plurality of distinct parallel waveguides within the single optical fiber.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein measuring a feature size or quantifiable characteristic comprises measuring a volume of an intra-ocular fluid. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the intra-ocular fluid comprises subretinal fluid. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the feature size or quantifiable characteristic comprises at least one of a thickness or a density of articular cartilage tissue.