Laser thermal conjunctivoplasty

Abstract

Disclosed is a handheld laser probe for laser thermal conjunctivoplasty, the handheld laser comprising: a forceps; and a line focused laser light source coupled to the forceps, wherein the forceps are configured to grasp a conjunctival fold and hold the fold in a light beam of the line focused laser, and wherein the line focused laser beam is configured to uniformly heat the conjunctival fold held in the forceps. Disclosed are systems for laser thermal conjunctivoplasty including the handheld laser. Disclosed are methods of conjunctivoplasty using the handheld laser probe.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A handheld laser probe for laser thermal conjunctivoplasty, comprising:
 a pair of forceps;   a laser delivery fiber to deliver the laser light to the probe; and   a cylindrical lens to focus a laser beam into a line,   wherein the forceps are configured to grasp a conjunctival fold and, and the line-focused laser beam is configured to uniformly heat the conjunctival fold.   
     
     
         2 . The handheld laser probe of  claim 1 , wherein the forceps have angled long tissue platforms. 
     
     
         3 . The handheld laser probe of  claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical lens focuses laser light into a line with a length of about 10 mm and a width of about 1 mm. 
     
     
         4 . A system for laser thermal conjunctivoplasty, comprising:
 a handheld laser probe configured for laser thermal conjunctivoplasty, comprising:   a pair of forceps; and   a line focused laser beam coupled to the forceps, wherein the forceps are configured to grasp a conjunctival fold, and wherein the line focused laser beam is configured to uniformly heat the conjunctival fold held in the forceps;   a laser light source coupled to the handheld laser probe; and   a control system coupled to the laser.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the line focused laser beam comprises a pulse laser beam. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the handheld laser probe is coupled to the laser by a multimode optical fiber. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the control system comprises a foot pedal. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the control system comprises a modulator for converting continuous-wave (CW) laser light from the laser light source into pulses. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the control system comprises an optical switch/shutter coupled to a trigger for actuation of the optical switch/shutter. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the control system comprises an electrical circuit. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the laser light source is selected with a laser wavelength, power, pulse duration, and beam focus width to heat water in conjunctival tissue to shrink its full thickness. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the laser light source has a central wavelength with a water absorption length of 1-100 mm −1 . 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the laser light source has a pulse duration of 5 milliseconds to 500 milliseconds. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the laser light source has a repetition rate of 0.5-20 Hz. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the line focused laser beam has a focal plane and the laser beam in the focal plane has a length of about 10 mm and a width of about 1 mm.