Steerable laser probe

Abstract

A steerable laser probe may include a handle, an actuation structure of the handle, a housing tube, an optic fiber, and an optic fiber sleeve. The housing tube may have 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 that the first stiffness. The optic fiber may be disposed within an inner bore of the handle, the optic fiber sleeve, the actuation structure, and the housing tube. The optic fiber sleeve may enclose at least a portion of the optic fiber and the optic fiber sleeve may be disposed within the actuation structure and the housing tube. A compression of the actuation structure may be configured to curve the housing tube and the optic fiber.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ophthalmic laser probe comprising:
 a handle having a handle distal end and a handle proximal end;   a handle base of the handle;   a housing tube having a housing tube distal end and a housing tube proximal end wherein the housing tube proximal end is disposed in a portion of the handle;   a first housing tube portion of the housing tube having a first stiffness;   a plurality of apertures of the first housing tube portion;   a second housing tube portion of the housing tube having a second 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 and the housing tube and wherein an extension of the housing tube proximal end relative to the handle base is configured to apply a force to a portion of the housing tube and gradually curve the housing tube and the optic fiber.   
     
     
         2 . The ophthalmic laser probe of  claim 1  wherein the extension of the housing tube proximal end relative to the handle base is configured to curve the optic fiber less than 45 degrees. 
     
     
         3 . The ophthalmic laser probe of  claim 1  wherein the extension of the housing tube proximal end relative to the handle base is configured to curve the optic fiber at least 45 degrees. 
     
     
         4 . The ophthalmic laser probe of  claim 1  wherein the extension of the housing tube proximal end relative to the handle base is configured to compress the portion of the housing tube. 
     
     
         5 . The ophthalmic laser probe of  claim 1  wherein the extension of the housing tube proximal end relative to the handle base is configured to curve the optic fiber within an eye. 
     
     
         6 . The ophthalmic laser probe of  claim 5  wherein the extension of the housing tube proximal end relative to the handle base is configured to curve the optic fiber within the eye without increasing a length of the ophthalmic laser probe within the eye. 
     
     
         7 . The ophthalmic laser probe of  claim 5  wherein the extension of the housing tube proximal end relative to the handle base is configured to curve the optic fiber within the eye without decreasing a length of the ophthalmic laser probe within the eye. 
     
     
         8 . The ophthalmic laser probe of  claim 1  wherein a retraction of the housing tube proximal end relative to the handle base is configured to straighten the optic fiber. 
     
     
         9 . The ophthalmic laser probe of  claim 1  wherein a retraction of the housing tube proximal end relative to the handle base is configured to straighten the housing tube. 
     
     
         10 . The ophthalmic laser probe of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a light source interface configured to interface with the optic fiber proximal end wherein the light source interface is an SMA connector. 
 
     
     
         11 . An ophthalmic laser probe comprising:
 a handle having a handle distal end and a handle proximal end;   a handle base of the handle;   a housing tube having a housing tube distal end and a housing tube proximal end wherein the housing tube proximal end is disposed in a portion of the handle;   a first housing tube portion of the housing tube having a first stiffness;   a plurality of apertures of the first housing tube portion;   a second housing tube portion of the housing tube having a second 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 and the housing tube and wherein a retraction of the housing tube proximal end relative to the handle base is configured to reduce a force applied to a portion of the housing tube and gradually straighten the housing tube and the optic fiber. 
     
     
         12 . The ophthalmic laser probe of  claim 11  wherein the retraction of the housing tube proximal end relative to the handle base is configured to straighten the optic fiber less than 45 degrees. 
     
     
         13 . The ophthalmic laser probe of  claim 11  wherein the retraction of the housing tube proximal end relative to the handle base is configured to straighten the optic fiber at least 45 degrees. 
     
     
         14 . The ophthalmic laser probe of  claim 11  wherein the retraction of the housing tube proximal end relative to the handle base is configured to decompress the portion of the housing tube. 
     
     
         15 . The ophthalmic laser probe of  claim 11  wherein the retraction of the housing tube proximal end relative to the handle base is configured to straighten the optic fiber within an eye. 
     
     
         16 . The ophthalmic laser probe of  claim 15  wherein the retraction of the housing tube proximal end relative to the handle base is configured to straighten the optic fiber within the eye without increasing a length of the ophthalmic laser probe within the eye. 
     
     
         17 . The ophthalmic laser probe of  claim 15  wherein the retraction of the housing tube proximal end relative to the handle base is configured to straighten the optic fiber within the eye without decreasing a length of the ophthalmic laser probe within the eye. 
     
     
         18 . The ophthalmic laser probe of  claim 11  wherein an extension of the housing tube proximal end relative to the handle base is configured to curve the optic fiber. 
     
     
         19 . The ophthalmic laser probe of  claim 11  wherein an extension of the housing tube proximal end relative to the handle base is configured to curve the housing tube. 
     
     
         20 . The ophthalmic laser probe of  claim 11  further comprising:
 a light source interface configured to interface with the optic fiber proximal end wherein the light source interface is an SMA connector.