Steerable laser probe

Abstract

A steerable laser probe may include a handle having a handle distal end and a handle proximal end, a housing sleeve disposed in an inner bore of the handle configured to project a distance from the handle distal end, an optic fiber disposed in the housing sleeve, a shape memory sleeve disposed over a distal end of the optic fiber, and a light source configured to connect to a proximal end of the optic fiber. The shape memory sleeve may be configured to curve the distal end of the optic fiber at an angle, e.g., 90 degrees, when the shape memory sleeve is not contained within the housing sleeve.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A laser probe comprising:
 a handle having a handle distal end and a handle proximal end;   an actuation structure of the handle;   a plurality of actuation arms of the actuation structure;   a nosecone having a nosecone distal end and a nosecone proximal end;   an actuation mechanism having an actuation mechanism distal end and an actuation mechanism proximal end wherein the actuation mechanism is at least partially disposed in the actuation structure;   a housing sleeve having a housing sleeve distal end and a housing sleeve proximal end wherein the housing sleeve is disposed in the nosecone wherein the housing sleeve distal end extends from the nosecone distal end;   a shape memory sleeve having a shape memory sleeve distal end and a shape memory sleeve proximal end wherein the shape memory sleeve is disposed in the handle and the housing sleeve; and   is 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 shape memory sleeve, and the housing sleeve and wherein a compression of the actuation structure is configured to curve the optic fiber.   
     
     
         2 . The laser probe of  claim 1  wherein the compression of the actuation structure is configured to extend a portion of the actuation mechanism out from the actuation structure. 
     
     
         3 . The laser probe of  claim 1  wherein the compression of the actuation structure is configured to extend the actuation mechanism relative to the handle proximal end. 
     
     
         4 . The laser probe of  claim 1  wherein the compression of the actuation structure is configured to extend the shape memory sleeve relative to the housing sleeve. 
     
     
         5 . The laser probe of  claim 1  wherein the compression of the actuation structure is configured to extend the optic fiber relative to the housing sleeve. 
     
     
         6 . The laser probe of  claim 1  wherein the compression of the actuation structure is configured to extend the shape memory sleeve from the housing sleeve distal end. 
     
     
         7 . The laser probe of  claim 1  wherein the compression of the actuation structure is configured to extend the optic fiber from the housing sleeve distal end. 
     
     
         8 . The laser probe of  claim 1  wherein the compression of the actuation structure is configured to curve the shape memory sleeve. 
     
     
         9 . The laser probe of  claim 1  wherein a decompression of the actuation structure is configured to straighten the optic fiber. 
     
     
         10 . The laser probe of  claim 1  wherein a decompression of the actuation structure is configured to straighten the shape memory sleeve. 
     
     
         11 . A laser probe comprising:
 a handle having a handle distal end and a handle proximal end;   an actuation structure of the handle;   a plurality of actuation arms of the actuation structure;   a nosecone having a nosecone distal end and a nosecone proximal end;   an actuation mechanism having an actuation mechanism distal end and an actuation mechanism proximal end wherein the actuation mechanism is at least partially disposed in the actuation structure;   a housing sleeve having a housing sleeve distal end and a housing sleeve proximal end wherein the housing sleeve is disposed in the nosecone wherein the housing sleeve distal end extends from the nosecone distal end;   a shape memory sleeve having a shape memory sleeve distal end and a shape memory sleeve proximal end wherein the shape memory sleeve is disposed in the handle and the housing sleeve; 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 shape memory sleeve, and the housing sleeve and wherein a decompression of the actuation structure is configured to straighten the optic fiber.   
     
     
         12 . The laser probe of  claim 11  wherein the decompression of the actuation structure is configured to retract a portion of the actuation mechanism into the actuation structure. 
     
     
         13 . The laser probe of  claim 11  wherein the decompression of the actuation structure is configured to retract the actuation mechanism relative to the handle proximal end. 
     
     
         14 . The laser probe of  claim 11  wherein the decompression of the actuation structure is configured to retract the shape memory sleeve relative to the housing sleeve. 
     
     
         15 . The laser probe of  claim 11  wherein the decompression of the actuation structure is configured to retract the optic fiber relative to the housing sleeve. 
     
     
         16 . The laser probe of  claim 11  wherein the decompression of the actuation structure is configured to retract the shape memory sleeve into the housing sleeve distal end. 
     
     
         17 . The laser probe of  claim 11  wherein the decompression of the actuation structure is configured to retract the optic fiber into the housing sleeve distal end. 
     
     
         18 . The laser probe of  claim 11  wherein the decompression of the actuation structure is configured to straighten the shape memory sleeve. 
     
     
         19 . The laser probe of  claim 11  wherein a compression of the actuation structure is configured to curve the optic fiber. 
     
     
         20 . The laser probe of  claim 11  wherein a compression of the actuation structure is configured to curve the shape memory sleeve.