HK1162288A

HK1162288A - Surgical laser tip apparatus with alignment assembly

Info

Publication number: HK1162288A
Application number: HK12103113.2A
Authority: HK
Inventors: A‧B‧迪塞萨; M‧I‧A‧博伊特
Original assignee: 迪斯卡斯牙科有限责任公司
Priority date: 2008-10-24
Filing date: 2009-10-08
Publication date: 2012-08-31

Description

Surgical laser tip apparatus with alignment assembly

Technical Field

The present invention relates to surgical instruments for laser ablation procedures. More particularly, the present invention relates to a tip device having an assembly for properly aligning an optical fiber with a laser diode for such surgical instruments.

Background

In practice, medical laser treatments using hand-held instruments have generally been developed for ophthalmic, dental, orthopedic, and similar surgical procedures where the treatment area is narrow or particularly difficult to reach. Typically, the laser light is transmitted from a laser source through an optical fiber to the treatment site. The optical fiber terminates proximally in a laser source connector for connection to a laser source and terminates distally in a handpiece manipulated by the surgeon.

With known systems, a handpiece used in one procedure is generally not usable for another patient in a later procedure unless some form of sterilization is performed. Types of sterilization techniques range from autoclaves to gas sterilization. Gas sterilization operations are time consuming and costly. The temperature of the autoclave has generally proven to be too severe to be tolerated by laser surgical handpieces. These problems can be overcome using a sterile disposable tip for use with laser surgical equipment. However, the use of disposable tips presents optical alignment issues between the tip and the diode laser source in the surgical instrument.

Disclosure of Invention

It would therefore be useful to provide a sterile disposable tip for use with laser surgical equipment having a quick and easy to use alignment and connection assembly, such as the disposable surgical tip devices disclosed and claimed in pending U.S. non-provisional patent application No.12/115,636[ "' 336 application" ] filed 5.5.2008 by the applicant, which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

It would be further useful if a sterile disposable tip provided a means for precise alignment of the optical fiber in the tip with the laser energy source in the surgical equipment.

Yet another useful advantage is that the sterile disposable tip is releasably attached to the equipment using precision optical, mechanical, magnetic, electromechanical, or electromagnetic locking and alignment assemblies.

For a fuller understanding of the above and other features, advantages and objects of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a disposable tip device 100, the disposable tip device 100 having an alignment assembly adapted for use with a reusable surgical equipment laser housing 500.

FIG. 2 is a cut-away perspective view of a first embodiment of the assembled reusable surgical equipment laser housing 500 of FIG. 1, taken at "2-2", with its applicable disposable tip device 100.

Fig. 3 is a cut-away perspective view of a second embodiment of an assembled reusable surgical equipment laser housing 500 with a disposable tip device 100A, the disposable tip device 100A having its applicable alignment assembly.

Detailed Description

Referring to fig. 1-3, disposable tip devices 100 and 100A for optical alignment with reusable laser surgical equipment are presented. Reference numerals 100 and 100A generally indicate typical equipment for optically aligning a disposable tip with reusable laser surgical equipment.

The disposable surgical tip devices disclosed and claimed in the applicant' 336 application are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

An embodiment of the apparatus 100 for optical alignment of a disposable tip with reusable laser surgical equipment includes the following combination of elements: a disposable tip housing 10 having a first end 12 with a longitudinal axis 14 and adapted to be releasably mounted on a distal end 510 of a surgical equipment laser housing 500; a fiber optic device 30 for delivery of optical energy, axially positioned within the tip housing 10 from within the first end 12, and extending beyond the housing 10; an assembly 16 for releasably locking the first end 12 of the tip housing to the surgical equipment laser housing assembly 500; and an assembly for aligning the fiber optic device 30 within the tip housing 10 with a laser energy source (e.g., a diode laser) for surgical laser treatment within the surgical equipment laser housing assembly 500.

The tip apparatus 100 provides a channel 520 within the surgical equipment laser housing assembly 500, the channel 520 being sized to receive the first end 12 of the tip housing along the longitudinal axis 14 to align the fiber optic device 30 within the tip housing 10 with the surgical equipment laser housing assembly 500. The surgical equipment laser housing assembly 500 is sized and configured to direct the light energy of the diode laser from within the laser housing assembly 500 to the fiber optic device 30 within the tip housing 10 once the first end 12 of the tip housing is fully positioned within the surgical equipment channel 520.

Embodiments of the tip device 100 provide a wire sensor 530 made of gold plated steel and having two ends 532 and 534 within the surgical equipment laser housing assembly 500, the wire sensor 530 being positioned transverse to the tip housing longitudinal axis 14 whereby the wire sensor 530 contacts the first end 12 of the tip housing when fully positioned within the surgical equipment channel 520. Contact between the wire sensor 530 and the first end 12 of the tip housing closes the wire sensor 530 to circuitry (not shown) within the surgical equipment laser housing assembly 500 and allows for use of the tip device 100, as shown in fig. 1 and 2.

Wire sensor 530 is housed within surgical equipment housing assembly 500 by way of an insulating tube 540.

Embodiments of the apparatus 100 provide an assembly 16 for releasably locking the first end portion 12 to the channel 520 of the laser housing, the assembly 16 including at least one component from the group consisting of: means for magnetic coupling, means for mechanical coupling, means for electromechanical coupling and means for electromagnetic coupling.

As shown in fig. 3, the second embodiment 100A includes an emitter element 50 and a detector element 52 that provide an optical sensing assembly to indicate when the tip housing first end 12 is fully positioned within the passageway 520 of the surgical equipment and properly aligned with the laser housing assembly 500. When the tip housing first end 12 is properly positioned within the channel 520 of the surgical equipment and properly aligned with the laser housing assembly 500, the optical sensing assembly closes an electrical circuit (not shown) within the surgical equipment laser housing assembly 500 and allows for use of the tip device 100A.

Embodiments of the tip housing 10 are made up of at least one component from the group consisting of: polyimide, polycarbonate, stainless steel, iron, plastic, and aluminum. Embodiments of the tip device 100 are packaged as a sterile assembly.

It should be understood, of course, that the specific forms of the invention herein illustrated and described are intended to be representative only, as certain changes may be made therein without departing from the clear teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following appended claims in determining the full scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A tip device for optical alignment with reusable laser surgical equipment comprising, in combination:

a) a disposable tip housing having a first end with a longitudinal axis and adapted to be releasably mounted on a distal end of a surgical instrument;

b) a fiber optic device for delivery of optical energy, positioned axially within the tip housing from within the first end, and extending beyond the tip housing;

c) means for releasably locking the first end of the tip housing to the surgical equipment; and

d) means for aligning the fiber optic means within the tip housing with surgical equipment for surgical laser treatment.

2. The tip apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for aligning the fiber optic means within the tip housing with the surgical equipment comprises: a channel within a laser housing of the surgical equipment, the channel sized to receive a first end of the tip housing along a longitudinal axis.

3. The tip device of claim 2, wherein the means for aligning the fiber optic means within the tip device with the surgical equipment comprises: a wire sensor within the surgical equipment laser housing, the wire sensor having two ends and being positioned transverse to the tip housing longitudinal axis, whereby the wire sensor contacts the first end of the tip housing when fully positioned within the surgical equipment laser housing passage.

4. The tip device of claim 3, wherein the lead sensor is housed within the surgical equipment by way of an insulating tube.

2. The tip device of claim 4, wherein contact between the wire sensor and the first end of the tip housing closes the wire sensor into a circuit.

3. The tip device of claim 5, wherein the wire sensor comprises gold plated steel.

4. The tip device of claim 2, wherein the means for aligning the fiber optic means within the tip device with the surgical equipment comprises: an emitter element and a detector element.

5. The tip device of claim 1, wherein the means for releasably locking the first end to the surgical equipment comprises at least one component of the group consisting of: means for magnetic coupling, means for mechanical coupling, means for electromechanical coupling and means for electromagnetic coupling.

6. The tip device according to claim 1, wherein the tip housing is made of at least one component of the group consisting of: polyimide, polycarbonate, stainless steel, iron, plastic, and aluminum.

7. The tip device of claim 1, packaged as a sterile assembly.

8. A tip assembly for a reusable surgical laser treatment apparatus, the tip assembly comprising, in combination:

c) means for releasably locking the first end of the tip housing to a laser housing within a surgical equipment;

d) a channel assembly within the surgical equipment laser housing, the channel assembly dimensioned to receive the first end of the tip housing along the longitudinal axis and means for aligning the fiber optic device within the tip housing with the surgical equipment laser housing for a surgical laser treatment; and

e) a wire sensor assembly within the surgical equipment laser housing, the wire sensor assembly having two ends and being positioned transverse to the tip housing longitudinal axis whereby the wire sensor contacts the first end of the tip housing when fully positioned within the surgical equipment laser housing channel assembly.

11. The tip assembly of claim 10, wherein the tip housing is made of at least one component of the group consisting of: polyimide, polycarbonate, stainless steel, iron, plastic, and aluminum.

12. The tip device according to claim 10, wherein the means for releasably locking the first end means of the tip housing and the means for electromagnetically coupling.

13. The tip assembly of claim 10 wherein the disposable tip housing is packaged as a sterile assembly.

14. The tip assembly of claim 10, wherein the wire sensor comprises gold plated steel.

15. A tip assembly for a reusable surgical laser treatment apparatus, the tip assembly comprising, in combination:

c) means for releasably locking the first end of the tip housing to a laser housing within a surgical instrument;

e) an emitter element and a detector element, whereby the emitter and detector elements are configured to indicate when the first end of the tip housing is fully positioned within the channel assembly of the surgical equipment laser housing.

16. The tip assembly of claim 15, wherein the disposable tip housing is packaged as a sterile assembly.