Abstract:
An optic fiber surgical instrument is removably connectable to a surgical light source. The instrument is provided with an optic fiber connector and a separate auxiliary or electric identification connector. The optic fiber connector is removably connectable to a laser light output of a laser light source to convey the laser light through the optic fiber of the instrument, whereby manipulation of the instrument by a user can direct the laser light to a surgical site. The auxiliary connector is connectable to a ground connection of the surgical light source to establish an electric circuit through the instrument and the surgical light source, whereby an electrical identification device on the instrument identifies the instrument for the surgical light source.

Description:
[0001]    This patent application claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 60/791,171, filed on Apr. 11, 2006, and provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/858,053, filed on Nov. 10, 2006. 
     
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention pertains to an optic fiber surgical instrument that is removably connectable to a surgical light source. In particular, the instrument is provided with an optic fiber connector and a separate auxiliary or electric identification connector. The optic fiber connector is removably connectable to a laser light output of a laser light source to convey the laser light through the optic fiber of the instrument, whereby manipulation of the instrument by a user can direct the laser light to a surgical site. The auxiliary connector is connectable to a ground connection of the surgical light source to establish an electric circuit through the instrument and the surgical light source, whereby an electrical identification device on the instrument identifies the instrument for the surgical light source. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    In ophthalmic surgery, various different types of instruments are available for use by the surgeon to deliver light to a surgical site in the interior of the eye. These instruments deliver light for illumination of the surgical site, and also deliver laser light for performing a surgical procedure at the surgical site. A basic instrument of this type is comprised of a handle with a projecting tubular tip and a length of optic fiber that extends through the handle and the tip to a distal end of the optic fiber positioned at the tip distal end. The opposite, proximal end of the optic fiber is provided with a connector for connecting the optic fiber to a light source, either an illumination light source or a laser light source. By connecting the optic fiber connector to the light output of the surgical light source, the light from the surgical light source is conveyed through the fiber to the fiber distal end where the light is emitted from the fiber and directed to the surgical site. 
         [0006]    Examples of optic fiber surgical instruments similar to that described above are disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,085,492 of Kelsoe et al. and the U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,357,932 and 6,634,799 of Auld, the U.S. Pat. No. 6,572,608 of Lee et al., and the U.S. Pat. No. 6,984,230 of Scheller et al. Each of these patents is incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0007]    Prior art optic fiber surgical instruments of the type disclosed in the above-referenced U.S. patents include surgical laser light sources. These light sources have female connectors that are designed to attach to the male connectors of a set of optic fiber surgical instruments. The prior art includes a laser light source that is specifically designed to operate only if the light source recognizes an electronic identifier on the surgical instrument connected to the light source. The light source will not operate if a male connector of a microsurgical instrument is connected to the female connector of the light source where the surgical instrument does not have the electronic identifier. This is accomplished by encoding the male connectors of the surgical instruments with an electronic device that is recognized by the light source when the male connector is attached to the female connector of the light source. An example of such a male connector and light source is disclosed in the prior referenced U.S. Pat. No. 5,085,492 of Kelsoe et al. 
         [0008]    The above-described prior art laser light source that can only be used with a set of microsurgical instruments that is recognized by the light source has been found to be inconvenient when it is desirable to use other types of surgical instruments with the particular laser light source. This inconvenience could be overcome by an optic fiber surgical instrument that can be attached to the female connector of a laser light source of the type that operates only with associated electronically encoded surgical instruments, where the optic fiber surgical instrument also has an auxiliary connector that can be connected to the laser light source to create a circuit between the optic fiber instrument connector and the laser light source that includes an electronic encoded device that is recognized by the laser light source. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention overcomes the inconveniences associated with the prior art laser light source described above by providing an optic fiber surgical instrument that includes an optic fiber connector that can be connected to the female connector of the laser light source, and also includes a separate auxiliary connector that can be grounded to the housing of the laser light source to create an electronic circuit between the female connector of the laser light source and the housing of the laser light source that includes an electronic device recognized by the controls of the laser light source. In addition, the auxiliary connector is provided with circuitry that enables the optic fiber surgical instrument to be used with the laser light source that only recognizes encoded surgical instruments where the laser light source has been wired incorrectly during manufacturing. 
         [0010]    The optic fiber surgical instrument of the invention, in the preferred embodiments, has a handpiece that can be manually manipulated by a user of the instrument, and a rigid tubular tip projecting from the handpiece. A length of optic fiber having opposite proximal and distal ends extends through the handpiece and the tip with the optic fiber distal end being positioned adjacent the tip distal end. The optic fiber can be secured stationary relative to the handpiece and tip, or can be movable relative to the handpiece and tip. A majority of the optic fiber length extends from the handpiece to the optic fiber proximal end. 
         [0011]    An optic fiber connector is provided on the optic fiber proximal end. The optic fiber connector includes a center ferrule and an internally threaded nut that is designed to be threaded to a threaded bushing at the laser light output of the surgical laser light source. The proximal end of the optic fiber is secured inside the ferrule. The ferrule is inserted into the center of the laser light source bushing, and the threaded nut on the optic fiber connector is screw threaded onto the bushing to positively position the proximal end of the optic fiber relative to a beam of laser light delivered by the surgical laser light source. 
         [0012]    An electrical conductor extends from the optic fiber connector. The electrical conductor has a length with opposite proximal and distal ends, and the distal end of the electrical conductor is operatively electrically connected to the ferrule of the optic fiber connector. By being operatively electrically connected to the ferrule, what is meant is that the wire distal end is connected as part of an electric circuit with the ferrule of the optic fiber connector. The wire can either be directly, physically connected to the ferrule, or the wire can be in electrical communication with the ferrule through the intermediary of other electrical conductors between the wire and the ferrule. The opposite proximal end of the electrical conductor is operatively electrically connected to an auxiliary connector or an electrical identification connector. 
         [0013]    The auxiliary connector is designed to provide an electrical connection to a ground of the surgical light source, typically the housing of the surgical light source. This ground connection can be provided by a simple mechanical connection between the wire proximal end and the light source housing. In the preferred embodiment, the auxiliary connector is a conventional RCA jack that is connected to an existing RCA plug on the light source. For example, the RCA jack can be connected to an existing head lamp connector typically provided on the prior art laser light source. The RCA jack is pressed onto the head lamp RCA plug connector of the laser light source to establish an electric circuit from the bushing of the laser light source, through the optical fiber connector, through the electrical conductor, through the auxiliary connector, to the head lamp connector on the laser light source housing. 
         [0014]    An electrical identification device is operatively electrically connected along the conductor that connects the optical fiber connector with the auxiliary connector. In one embodiment, the electrical identification device is a resistor that is connected in series between two portions of a length of wire of the electrical conductor. The resistor, connected in the electrical circuit from the light source bushing to the light source ground, is recognized by the light source and enables the optic fiber surgical instrument to be used with the light source when the optical fiber connector is connected to the bushing and the auxiliary connector is connected to the light source housing ground connection, i.e., the head lamp connector. In other embodiments, the electrical identification device could be some other type of identification device. For example, the electrical identification device could be some type of capacitor, some type of inductor, or some type of diode. In addition, the electrical identification device could be a memory chip. It is also possible for the electrical identification device to be a serial data device that communicates by rapidly changing the current flow through the electrical identification device to represent 1s and 0s. Such a device could be powered by the voltage present on the ferrule receptacle of the laser light source and would only require the connection of the instrument ferrule to the receptacle and the ground connection provided by the RCA connector. Still further, a zener diode could be used as the electrical identification device. Such a diode would break down at a pre-determined reverse voltage and appear as a specific sized resistor to the identification control system circuit in the laser light source. 
         [0015]    In an alternate embodiment of the optic fiber surgical instrument, the electrical identification device is connected between the proximal end of the electrical conductor and the sleeve of the RCA auxiliary connector. 
         [0016]    In a further alternate embodiment of the invention, the electrical identification device is operatively electrically connected to the electrical conductor proximal end, and is operatively electrically connected to the sleeve of the RCA auxiliary connector through a first diode, and is operatively electrically connected to the center post of the RCA auxiliary connector through a second diode. With this wiring arrangement, regardless of how the auxiliary connector plug or head lamp connector plug on the surgical light source is wired and grounded, a grounding connection to the housing of the surgical light source is provided by connecting the RCA auxiliary connector jack to the head lamp connector plug of the light source. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    Further features of the invention are set forth in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention and in the drawing figures. 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  is a partially sectioned view of a first embodiment of the optic fiber surgical instrument of the invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a partially sectioned view of a second embodiment of the optic fiber surgical instrument of the invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a partially sectioned view of a third embodiment of the optic fiber surgical instrument of the invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a schematic representation of the electronic encoded circuit of  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0022]    One embodiment of the optic fiber surgical instrument  10  of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1 . This instrument can generally be described as a laser probe assembly  12  with a light source connector  14  and an electronic identification connector  16 . Although the instrument  10  shown in  FIG. 1  includes a laser probe  12 , it should be understood that the concept of the invention can be used in any type of surgical instrument that employs a length of optic fiber that communicates illumination light or laser light to a surgical site from a surgical light source. In  FIG. 1  the surgical light source  18  is represented schematically. The light source  18  is similar to that disclosed in the previously referenced U.S. Pat. No. 5,085,492 of Kelsoe et al. A prior art light source of this type typically includes an externally threaded bushing that functions as the light source connector  20 , and a RCA plug  22  that functions as an auxiliary connection, typically for a power connection for a separate headlamp used by the surgeon during surgical procedures. The RCA plug  22  connects to a typical RCA jack, with the jack having a hot connection and a ground connection. Thus, the RCA plug  22  functions as a ground connection to the housing of the surgical light source  18 . 
         [0023]    In the embodiment of the instrument shown in  FIG. 1 , the instrument has a handpiece  26  that can be manually manipulated by a user of the instrument. A ridged tubular tip  28  projects from the handpiece. A length of optic fiber  30  having opposite distal  32  and proximal  34  ends extends through the handpiece  26  and through the tip  28  to the optic fiber distal end  32  positioned adjacent the tip distal end. Ophthalmic instruments of this type are known in the art. As in prior art instruments, the optic fiber  30  can be secured stationary relative to the handpiece  26  and the tip  28 . Alternatively, a mechanism can be provided on the handpiece  26  for selectively moving the optic fiber  30  through the handpiece  26  and the tip  28 . As is also known in the prior art, the optic fiber  30  could be held stationary relative to the handpiece  26 , and a mechanism could be provided on the handpiece for selectively moving the tip  28  relative to the handpiece  26  and the optic fiber distal end  32 . Although the optic fiber length  30  is shown fragmented in  FIG. 1 , a majority of the optic fiber length extends from the handpiece  26  to the optic fiber proximal end  34 . This elongated length of the optic fiber  30  enables the user of the instrument to freely manipulate the handpiece  26  independently of the optic fiber proximal end  34 . 
         [0024]    The light source connector or optic fiber connector  14  is provided on the optic fiber adjacent the optic fiber proximal end  34 . The optic fiber connector  14  shown in  FIG. 1  is only one example of an optic fiber connector that may be used with the instrument of the invention. Because the optic fiber connector  14  can have different constructions other than that shown, the construction shown is described only generally herein. Basically, the optic fiber connector  14  includes a center ferrule  38  and an internally threaded nut  40  mounted on the ferrule. The ferrule  38  is constructed of electrically conductive materials. The internally threaded nut  40  is constructed of plastic and has internal screw threads that are complementary to the external screw threads of the laser light connector bushing  20  of the laser light source with which the instrument  10  is to be used. The ferrule  38  has a center hole at an end of the ferrule that receives the proximal end  34  of the optic fiber  30 . A bushing  42  is provided in the interior of the ferrule  38  that securely holds the optic fiber  30  in the ferrule and centers the optic fiber relative to the interior of the ferrule. A retainer  44  is mounted on the ferrule  38  adjacent the nut  40 . The retainer  44  limits the axial movement of the nut  40  on the ferrule  38 , and allows the nut  40  to rotate on the ferrule  38 . A resilient, strain relief boot  46  is secured around the retainer  44 . A cylindrical sleeve  48  is secured to the nut  40  and functions as an extension of the nut. The opposite end of the boot  46  from the nut  40  has a tapered configuration  50 . The length of optic fiber  30  enters the optic fiber connector  14  through the tapered end  50  of the boot. 
         [0025]    An electrical conductor  54  is connected to the optic fiber connector  14 . The electrical conductor  54  comprises a single length of electrically conductive wire  56  having opposite distal  58  and proximal  60  ends. In alternative embodiments, multiple electrical conductive wires could be employed instead of the single wire  56 . The wire distal end  58  is operatively, electrically connected to the optic fiber ferrule  38 . The electrical connection is provided by the wire distal end  58  being secured both physically and electrically to the optic fiber connector ferrule  38 . The wire exits the optic fiber connector  14  through the tapered end  50  of the boot  46 . The portion of the wire  56  outside of the optic fiber connector  14  is protected by an exterior insulating layer  62 . 
         [0026]    In the embodiment of the instrument shown on  FIG. 1 , the electrical conductor  54  includes an electrical identification device  64  that is secured in series between two portions of the length of the conductor wire  56 . In this embodiment the electrical identification device  64  is a resistor. However, it should be understood that other types of electrical identification devices could be used. In other embodiments, the electrical identification device could be some other type of identification device. For example, the electrical identification device could be some type of capacitor, some type of inductor, or some type of diode. In addition, the electrical identification device could be a memory chip. It is also possible for the electrical identification device to be a serial data device that communicates by rapidly changing the current flow through the electrical identification device to represent 1s and 0s. Such a device could be powered by the voltage present on the ferrule receptacle of the laser light source and would only require the connection of the instrument ferrule to the receptacle and the ground connection provided by the RCA connector. Still further, a zener diode could be used as the electrical identification device. Such a diode would break down at a pre-determined reverse voltage and appear as a specific sized resistor to the identification control system circuit in the laser light source. The resistor  64  is chosen as the electrical identification device that is recognized by the particular surgical light source  18  with which the instrument is to be used. 
         [0027]    The electrical conductor proximal end  60  is secured to the auxiliary connector  16 . The length of the electrical conductor  54  allows the auxiliary connector  16  to be freely manually moved relative to the optic fiber connector  14 . In the embodiment shown on  FIG. 1 , the auxiliary connector  16  is a standard RCA type connector. As is typical of this type of connector, the auxiliary connector  16  has an electrically conductive center post  66 , and electrically conductive cylindrical sleeve  68  surrounding the center post. A ring  70  of electrically insulating material surrounds the center post  66  and secures the sleeve  68  around the center post. The wire  56  at the electrical conductor proximal end  60  is operatively electrically connected to the sleeve  68  of the auxiliary connector  16 . An electrically insulating strain relief boot  72  is secured around the exterior of the sleeve  68  and extends around the electrical conductor proximal end  60 . The opposite end  74  of the strain relief boot  72  from the connector sleeve  68  is provided with a small hole through which the electrical conductor  54  passes. 
         [0028]    In use of the instrument  10  of  FIG. 1  with the laser light source  18 , the ferrule  38  of the optic fiber connector  14  is inserted into the center of the laser light source bushing  20  and the threaded nut  40  is screw threaded on the exterior screw threading of the bushing. This positively positions the optic fiber proximal end  34  relative to a beam of laser light delivered by the surgical light source  18 . 
         [0029]    With the optic fiber connector  14  secured to the surgical light source  18 , the length of the electrical conductor  54  enables the free movement of the auxiliary connector  16  to position the auxiliary connector  16  on the auxiliary connection  22  of the laser light source. The RCA jack of the auxiliary connector  16  is press fit on the RCA plug  22  of the laser light source  18 . This establishes a grounding connection of the wire  56  at the electrical conductor proximal end  60  to the laser light source  18 . With the optic fiber connector  14  and the auxiliary connector  16  connected to the laser light source  18  in this matter, an electrical circuit is established from the laser light source bushing  20 , through the optic fiber connector ferrule  38 , the wire  56  of the electrical conductor which includes the electrical identification device  64 , the sleeve  68  of the auxiliary connector  16 , and the RCA plug  22  of the surgical light source  18  which is typically connected to an electrical ground of the light source. The electric circuit is completed through a control system of the laser light source  18  which provides for electrical communication of the laser light source bushing  20  to the auxiliary connection  22 . This electric circuit enables the electrical identification device  64  to be recognized by the control system of the laser light source  18 , and enables the use of the instrument  10  with the laser light source. 
         [0030]      FIG. 2  shows a second embodiment of the instrument of the invention. In the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the laser probe  82  is slightly different than the laser probe  12  of  FIG. 1 . The laser probe  82  of  FIG. 2  is of a type described earlier, where the instrument tip  84  can be selectively moved relative to the optic fiber distal end  86 . This enables the optic fiber distal end  86  to be moved through a gradual bend, and enables the directing of the laser light emitted from the optic fiber distal end. Instruments of this type are known in the art. 
         [0031]    The primary difference between the embodiment of  FIG. 2  and the embodiment of  FIG. 1  is the repositioning of the electrical identification device  90  to the proximal end  92  of the electrical conductor wire. The electrical identification device  90  is connected between the wire proximal end  92  and the RCA connector sleeve  94  of the auxiliary connector  96 . As in the first described embodiment, the electrical identification device  90  is operatively electrically connected between the electrical conductor wire proximal end  92  and the auxiliary connector sleeve  94 . Thus, the electrical identification device  90  operates in the same manner as the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 3  shows the third embodiment of the instrument that is similar to that of  FIG. 1 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the electrical identification device  100  is moved from the length of the electrical conductor  102  into the interior of the auxiliary connector  104 . As in the previously described embodiment, the electrical identification device  100  is operatively electrically connected to the wire proximal end  106  of the electrical conductor  102 . However, the embodiment of  FIG. 3  differs from that of  FIGS. 1 and 2  in that the electrical identification device  100  is also operatively electrically connected to the center post  108  of the RCA auxiliary connector  104 , and to the sleeve  110  of the RCA auxiliary connector. The electrical identification device  100  is operatively electrically connected through a first diode  112  to the auxiliary connector center post  108 , and is operatively electrically connected through a second diode  114  to the auxiliary connector sleeve  110 .  FIG. 4  shows a schematic representation of the portion of the circuit defined by the electrical identification device  100  and the first  112  and second  114  diodes. The embodiment of the instrument shown in  FIG. 3 , and in particular the auxiliary connector  104  was developed for use with a laser light source such as that of  FIG. 1  that has an alternative wiring of the RCA connector  22  of the light source. 
         [0033]    In the typical laser light source such as that shown in  FIG. 1 , the light source is provided with a headlamp power output receptacle in the form of an RCA plug. The outer conductive sleeve of the RCA plug is connected to a ground of the laser light source. The center terminal of the RCA plug is at low voltage potential to operate a headlamp when an RCA jack of the headlamp is inserted into the RCA plug. 
         [0034]    It has been discovered that a significant number of laser light sources have been wired in reverse, i.e., with the center terminal of the RCA plug being an electrical ground and with the outer sleeve of the RCA plug at a low voltage potential. As a result, as to those reversed wired electric light sources, the laser instrument of  FIGS. 1 and 2  would not operate because the auxiliary connectors  16 ,  96  would not be provided with the necessary electrical ground. To address this problem, the modified auxiliary connector  104  of  FIG. 3  was designed. This connector  104  connects the electrical identification device  100  to both the center post  108  and the sleeve  110  through the first  112  and second  114  diodes, respectively. In this way, the one side of the electrical identification device  100  is connected to an electrical ground upon connecting the auxiliary connector  104  to the headlamp power output RCA plug  22  of the laser light source, no matter which of the center post  108  or sleeve  110  is electrically grounded. The diode  112 ,  114  in the other branch of the circuit shown in  FIG. 4  blocks current from the RCA post  108  or sleeve  110  connected to the RCA plug  22  that is at voltage potential. Thus, regardless of whether the RCA plug  22  has been incorrectly wired, an electric circuit is established from the laser light source bushing, through the optic fiber connector, the electrical conductor  102 , the electrical identification device  100 , and one of the two diodes  112 ,  114  to the electrical ground of the RCA plug  22 . 
         [0035]    Thus, the laser probe assembly with the laser light source connector and the electronic identification connector of the invention provides an alternative optic fiber surgical instrument that can be used with a laser light source that requires an electronic identification of the instrument used with the laser light source. 
         [0036]    Although the laser probe assembly of the invention has been described above by reference to specific embodiments, it should be understood that the modifications and variations to the probe assembly could be arrived at without departing from the intended scope of the following claims.