Patent ID: 8647333
Filing Date: 2014-02-11
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. A waveguide ophthalmic surgical instrument comprising: an optical coupling for receiving a surgical laser energy input from a surgical laser energy source and an illumination energy input from an illumination energy source, said optical coupling comprising a centrally disposed first waveguide, wherein said centrally disposed first waveguide is operable with a waveguide associated with the surgical laser energy source, said optical coupling further comprising at least one second waveguide disposed approximately concentrically about said centrally disposed first waveguide, wherein said at least one second waveguide is operable with a plurality of waveguides associated with the illumination energy source; and a single-fiber waveguide disposed within a probe carried by a handpiece of said waveguide ophthalmic surgical instrument, wherein said single-fiber waveguide is operable with said centrally disposed first waveguide of said optical coupling proximate a cross-sectional center of said single-fiber waveguide, such that surgical laser energy may be transmitted approximately centrally through said single-fiber waveguide; wherein said single-fiber waveguide is further operable with but a portion of said at least one second waveguide of said optical coupling disposed adjacent a peripheral margin of said single-fiber waveguide, such that illumination energy may be transmitted through said single-fiber waveguide in a manner that does not interfere with transmission of surgical laser energy; and wherein the cross-sectional area of said single-fiber waveguide is less than the combined cross-sectional areas of said centrally disposed first waveguide and said at least one second waveguide of said optical coupling, wherein said optical coupling is operable to transmit surgical laser energy from the surgical laser energy source and illumination energy from the illumination energy source within said single-fiber waveguide for combined delivery thereof to a surgical site proximate a distal end of said single-fiber waveguide.