WO2023089534A1

WO2023089534A1 - Aiming device for laser treatment beam

Info

Publication number: WO2023089534A1
Application number: PCT/IB2022/061105
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lorenzo Casalino; Daniele VIOLA
Original assignee: BIOS Srl
Current assignee: BIOS Srl
Priority date: 2021-11-17
Filing date: 2022-11-17
Publication date: 2023-05-25
Anticipated expiration: 2024-05-17

Abstract

A device to aim a treatment beam, comprising a treatment input connector for receiving the treatment beam at a proximal side thereof; a treatment optical fiber connected to the treatment input connector at a distal side thereof and configured for carrying the treatment beam; an aiming input connector for receiving a visible aiming beam at a proximal side thereof; an aiming optical fiber bundle comprising a plurality of optical fibers connected to the aiming input connector at a distal side thereof and configured for carrying the aiming beam; and a combining element configured to receive and combine the treatment optical fiber and aiming optical fiber bundle such that the aiming beam defines size and location of the treatment beam.

Description

AIMING DEVICE FOR LASER TREATMENT BEAM

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention is in the medical devices field and relates specifically to an integrated aiming device for a treatment beam.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Typically, lasers, particularly for medical use, employ a device to aim the laser beam to targets. In some instances, the laser cannot be or at least should not be energized without firstly accurately acquiring the target tissue area because of the risk of damage to surrounding areas including tissue. Also, lasers operating outside of visible spectrum cannot be accurately aimed and fired without the assistance of an aiming device. One may also be blocked from seeing the visible spectrum of the treatment laser due to the wearing of protective goggles that may block certain wavelengths.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The presently disclosed subject matter provides a way for defining parameters of a treatment beam, e.g. a treatment laser beam, including the location and size of the treatment laser beam, even when the treatment beam is invisible to the naked eye or otherwise. According to the invention, an aiming beam is spatially attached to the treatment beam in a way that defines the location and size of the treatment beam at the treatment target, for the safe and secure activation of the treatment beam. In specific non-limiting examples shown herein, the aiming beam is a plurality of beams that surround the treatment beam such that the plurality of beams define the shape, boundary, size and/or location of the treatment beam being surrounded by the plurality of the beams of the aiming beam.

Thus, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device to aim a treatment beam, comprising: a treatment input connector for receiving the treatment beam at a proximal side thereof; a treatment optical fiber connected to the treatment input connector at a distal side thereof and configured for carrying the treatment beam; an aiming input connector for receiving a visible aiming beam at a proximal side thereof; an aiming optical fiber bundle comprising a plurality of optical fibers connected to the aiming input connector at a distal side thereof and configured for carrying the aiming beam; and a combining element configured to receive and combine the treatment optical fiber and aiming optical fiber bundle such that the aiming beam defines size and location of the treatment beam.

In some embodiments, the combining element is configured to combine the treatment optical fiber with the plurality of optical fibers of the aiming optical fiber bundle such that the plurality of optical fibers of the aiming optical fiber bundle are circumferentially distributed around the treatment optical fiber, and are substantially parallel to treatment optical fiber.

In some embodiments, the circumstantially distributed aiming optical fiber bundle is configured to project the visible aiming beam in a substantially ring shape surrounding a circular aiming beam.

In some embodiments, the treatment beam is invisible.

In some embodiments, number of the plurality of the optical fibers in the aiming optical fiber bundle is determined by shape and ratio of cross-sectional area of the treatment beam fiber and the individual aiming beam fiber.

In some embodiments, the device comprises an optical element configured to simultaneously focus the aiming beam and treatment beam while maintaining the aspect ratio therebetween.

In some embodiments, the device comprises a spacing member extending distally beyond the optical element and configured to maintain a uniform distance between the treatment laser beam output and the treatment target.

In some embodiments, the treatment input connector and the aiming input connector are SMA connectors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a side view of the device of the present invention according to some embodiments of the current disclosure;

Fig. 2A is a cross sectional view of an INPUT A treatment fiber through axis A’ -A’ shown in Fig. 1, according to some embodiments of the current disclosure;

Fig. 2B is a cross sectional view of an INPUT B aiming beam fiber through the axis A’ -A’, according to some embodiments of the current disclosure;

Fig. 3 A is a cross sectional view of an image of a light beam carried by the INPUT A treatment fiber through the axis A’-A’, according to some embodiments of the current disclosure; FIG. 3B is a cross sectional view of an image of a light beam carried by the INPUT B aiming beam fiber through the axis A’ -A’, according to some embodiments of the current disclosure;

FIG. 3C is a cross sectional view of the image of the output of the combined treatment beam fiber and the aiming beam fiber through the axis B’-B’ shown in Fig. 1, according to some embodiments of the current disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view image showing the distal end of the device projecting an aiming beam and a treatment beam, according to some embodiments of the current disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of an INPUT A of the combined treatment beam fiber and aiming beam fiber through the axis B’-B’, according to some embodiments of the current disclosure;

FIG. 6A is a cross sectional image of the INPUT B through the axis A’ -A’, of light carried by the aiming beam fiber, according to some embodiments of the current disclosure;

FIG. 6B is a cross sectional image of an output through the axis B’-B’, of light carried by the combined treatment beam fiber and the aiming beam fiber, according to some embodiments of the current disclosure; and

Fig. 7. is a perspective view image showing the distal end of the device projecting an aiming beam and a treatment beam, according to some embodiments of the current disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In some embodiments of the current disclosure, an aiming beam and a therapeutic or treatment beam are integrated into one applicator or handpiece. The integration of the treatment beam and aiming beam may avoid the use of mirrors/filters or a fused optic coupler. Mirrors and/or fused optic couplers may introduce discontinuities, losses of transmission in the fiber, as well as limiting the power output.

In some embodiments, the aiming beam is generated by a light source, such as, but not limited to, a laser source, a LED, or a collimated visible light source that is coupled to an optical fiber bundle. The aiming beam is preferably in the visible spectrum. In some embodiments, the aiming beam contains a plurality of optical fibers and the treatment beam may contain a plurality of optical fibers.

In some embodiments, a distal portion of combined aiming and treatment fibers is housed in an applicator or handpiece to allow a user to aim the treatment laser beam at a target. In some embodiments, the distal portion of the combined aiming and treatment fibers further comprise near delivery optics that focus both the aiming beam and the treatment beam. The near delivery optics may maintain the shape and aspect ratio of the combined beams.

Fig. 1 is a side view of the device 100 that illustrates two separate input sources, 110 and 120, leading to connectors 105 that respectively connect the treatment laser source 110 to an optical fiber bundle referred to as the treatment beam fiber, and the aiming beam source 120 to an optical fiber referred to as the aiming beam fiber. Two separate connectors 105, such as a SubMiniature version A (SMA) connectors, may be used to connect the treatment beam source 110 to the treatment beam fiber referred to as INPUT A 130, and the aiming beam source 120 to the aiming beam fiber referred to as INPUT B 140. In some embodiments, the aiming beam fiber 140 is an aiming beam fiber bundle. In some embodiments, the treatment beam fiber 130 is a treatment beam fiber bundle. The aiming beam fiber bundle and the treatment beam fiber bundle are combined by a combining element 150. . The output beam from the distal end of the combined fibers, in some embodiments, may include an optical element/section 160 containing one or more lenses configured to focus the output combined beam on the target. In some embodiments, the optical section 160 allows for the retention of the shape and aspect ratio of both the treatment and aiming beams. In some embodiments, the combined fibers and/or the beams they carry are substantially parallel.

In some embodiments, the aiming beam fiber bundle is combined with the treatment beam fiber by arranging individual fibers of the aiming beam fiber bundle in a generally circumferential pattern around the treatment beam fiber so that the aiming beam fiber bundle and the treatment beam fiber are generally parallel. In this circumferential embodiment, when the aiming beam is energized, a generally circular pattern is produced that illuminates a target area for the treatment laser, such as shown in FIG. 4. By way of example, the aiming beam fiber bundle may be a fifteen (15) fiber bundle or a nine (9) fiber bundle that illuminate boundaries of target areas for the treatment laser.

Fig. 2A is a cross sectional view of the fiber from INPUT A 130 through axis -A’ shown in Fig. 1. In some embodiments, the centrally positioned treatment fiber 210 is surrounded by a cladding and a coating. An SMA connector 220 is shown in this cross sectional view. In some embodiments, a silica fused optical fiber is used. In some embodiments, a fluorine doped cladding and a polyimide coating are used. However, other types of fiber, cladding and coatings may be used without limiting the scope of the optical fiber that may be used. By way of non-limiting example, INPUT A may have a fused silica core of 400pm ±2%, a fluorine doped fused silica cladding of 440pm ±2%, and a polyimide coating that can operate from 190°C to +385°C and is 470pm ±4%. In some embodiments, the operating wavelength is between 400 to 2200nm, and the numerical aperture (NA) is 0.22±0.02.

Fig. 2B is a cross sectional view of INPUT B 140 through the axis A’ -A’, and illustrates an aiming beam fiber bundle 230 centrally positioned. The example shown in Fig. 2B is that of a fiber bundle containing 15 aiming beam fibers, however other types of optical fibers and number of fibers in the bundle may be used. As appreciated, this is dependent on the ratio between the size of the treatment optical fiber and the size of the aiming optical fiber, to ensure that the treatment beam boundary is defined by the surrounding aiming beam. In some embodiments, all of the optical fibers, both the aiming and treatment fibers, from the input to the output are sheathed in a cable sheath. In some embodiments, the aiming beam fiber bundle 230 has a fiber cladding and a fiber coating.

Fig. 3 A is cross sectional image, through the axis A’-A’, of the image 310 of light carried by the treatment fiber from INPUT A 130.

FIG. 3B shows the cross-sectional image 320 of the light carried by the aiming beam fiber bundle from INPUT B 140 through axis A’-A’. This configuration, for example, has fifteen (15) fibers each with 100pm core, designated as 15-100/1. In this exemplary configuration, the center is a fused silica core of 100pm ±2%, the cladding is a fluorine doped fused silica cladding givingllOpm ±2% and there is a Polyimide coating (-190°C to +385°C) giving 125pm ±4%. In some embodiments, the operating wavelength is between 400 to 2200nm and a NA of 0.22±0.02.

Fig. 3C is a cross-sectional image 330, through axis B’-B’, of the combined light beams carried by the combined treatment fiber and aiming beam fiber bundle when combined at the output 150.

Fig. 4 shows an image in a perspective view of the distal end of the device aimed at and illuminating, for example, a target tissue with an aiming beam circular ring 520 surrounding the treatment laser beam. In this illustration, and by way of example, the treatment laser is shown in the figure to be in the visible spectrum. However, often the treatment beam is not visible. The aiming beam is a beam in the visible spectrum so that an operator would then know that the invisible to the naked eye treatment beam is within the circumference of the aiming beam. Of course, other, non-circular shapes of the individual treatment and aiming beam fibers and the circumferential arrangement of the aiming beam fiber bundle may be used, such as, by way of example only, square or rectangular crosssection or oval cross-sectional beams. A spacing member 510 may be mounted on the distal portion of the optical element 160 and may be configured to maintain a uniform distance between the treatment laser beam output and the target. The optical element 160 may include one or more lenses to simultaneously focus the aiming beam and treatment beam while maintaining the aspect ratio therebetween.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of an INPUT B which may be used for some embodiments of the aiming beam fiber bundle through axis A’ -A’. By way of example, Fig. 5 illustrates an aiming beam fiber bundle 610 of nine (9) fibers, a core of fused silica of 200pm ±2%, a fluorine doped fused silica cladding giving 220pm ±2%, and a polyimide coating that may operate between -190°C to +385°C, that gives 245pm ±4%. Further, in this configuration, the operating wavelength may be 400 to 2200nm with a NA of 0.22±0.02.

Fig. 6A shows a cross sectional image 720 through axis A’ -A’ of the light carried by the aiming beam fiber bundle INPUT B 140 illustrated in Fig. 5. By way of example, in this configuration, the image has an aiming beam fiber bundle of nine (9) fibers . This particular bundle configuration is designated 9-200/1.

Fig. 6B is a cross-sectional image 730 through axis B’-B’ of the light carried by the combined output 150 with a nine (9) aiming beam fiber bundle configuration surrounding a treatment beam in the center.

Fig. 7 illustrates a 9/200-1 configuration of the aiming beam fiber bundle surrounding the treatment beam, and shows a perspective view of the device while aimed at and illuminating a target with an aiming circular ring 820 surrounding a generally central treatment beam. In this illustration, the treatment laser is in the visible spectrum, however, often the treatment laser is not in the visible spectrum. The spacing member 510 is configured to maintain a uniform distance between the treatment laser beam output and the target. An optical element 160 is illustrated and the optical element 160 may simultaneously focus the aiming beam and treatment beam while maintaining the aspect ratio therebetween.

The use of the nine (9) and fifteen (15) aiming beam fiber bundles, the specifications for the fiber of the aiming beam fiber bundles and the treatment beam fiber, are illustrative only and other combinations of the number and specification of fibers can be used. Also, the operation of the treatment laser is not limited to the visible spectrum. The aiming beam is critical for accuracy and safety and use of the aiming beam provides assurance that a treatment laser beam will strike the intended target.

While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting. Finally, the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and it may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter. It is therefore intended that the scope of the invention may not be limited by this detailed description. Accordingly, the disclosure of the embodiments of the invention is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention.

Claims

8

CLAIMS A device to aim a treatment beam comprising: a treatment input connector for receiving the treatment beam at a proximal side thereof; a treatment optical fiber connected to the treatment input connector at a distal side thereof and configured for carrying the treatment beam; an aiming input connector for receiving a visible aiming beam at a proximal side thereof; an aiming optical fiber bundle comprising a plurality of optical fibers connected to the aiming input connector at a distal side thereof and configured for carrying the aiming beam; and a combining element configured to receive and combine the treatment optical fiber and aiming optical fiber bundle such that the aiming beam defines a boundary of the treatment beam. The device according to claim 1, wherein the combining element is configured to combine the treatment optical fiber with the plurality of optical fibers of the aiming optical fiber bundle such that the plurality of optical fibers of the aiming optical fiber bundle are circumferentially distributed around the treatment optical fiber, and are substantially parallel to treatment optical fiber. The device according to claim 2, wherein the circumstantially distributed aiming optical fiber bundle is configured to project the visible aiming beam in a substantially ring shape surrounding a circular aiming beam. The device according to claim 1, wherein the treatment beam is invisible. The device according to claim 1, wherein number of the plurality of the optical fibers in the aiming optical fiber bundle is determined by shape and ratio of cross-sectional area of the treatment beam fiber and the individual aiming beam fiber. The device according to claim 1, comprising an optical element configured to simultaneously focus the aiming beam and treatment beam while maintaining the aspect ratio therebetween. 9 The device according to claim 6, comprising a spacing member extending distally beyond the optical element and configured to maintain a uniform distance between the treatment laser beam output and the treatment target. The device of claim 1, wherein the treatment input connector and the aiming input connector are SMA connectors.