Abstract: A process of making a diverging-light fiber optics illumination delivery system includes providing a micro-post comprising a glass-ceramic light-scattering element that includes at least one of a ceramic, a glass ceramic, an immiscible glass, a porous glass, opal glass, amorphous glass, an aerated glass, and a nanostructured glass; and fusion-splicing the glass-ceramic micro-post to the optical fiber by pulling an arc between electrodes across a gap formed by the optical fiber and the glass-ceramic micro-post; maintaining the arc for a time sufficiently long to make facing surfaces of the optical fiber and the micro-post one of malleable and molten; and pushing and thereby fusing together the facing surfaces of the optical fiber and the micro-post. Some embodiments can include fusing the glass-ceramic micro-post to the optical fiber by applying a laser beam to heat up at least one of the facing surfaces of the optical fiber and the glass-ceramic micro-post.

Abstract: A process of making a diverging-light fiber optics illumination delivery system includes providing a micro-post comprising a glass-ceramic light-scattering element that includes at least one of a ceramic, a glass ceramic, an immiscible glass, a porous glass, opal glass, amorphous glass, an aerated glass, and a nanostructured glass; and fusion-splicing the glass-ceramic micro-post to the optical fiber by pulling an arc between electrodes across a gap formed by the optical fiber and the glass-ceramic micro-post; maintaining the arc for a time sufficiently long to make facing surfaces of the optical fiber and the micro-post one of malleable and molten; and pushing and thereby fusing together the facing surfaces of the optical fiber and the micro-post. Some embodiments can include fusing the glass-ceramic micro-post to the optical fiber by applying a laser beam to heat up at least one of the facing surfaces of the optical fiber and the glass-ceramic micro-post.

Abstract: A process of making a diverging-light fiber optics illumination delivery system includes providing a micro-post comprising a glass-ceramic light-scattering element that includes at least one of a ceramic, a glass ceramic, an immiscible glass, a porous glass, opal glass, amorphous glass, an aerated glass, and a nanostructured glass; and fusion-splicing the glass-ceramic micro-post to the optical fiber by pulling an arc between electrodes across a gap formed by the optical fiber and the glass-ceramic micro-post; maintaining the arc for a time sufficiently long to make facing surfaces of the optical fiber and the micro-post one of malleable and molten; and pushing and thereby fusing together the facing surfaces of the optical fiber and the micro-post. Some embodiments can include fusing the glass-ceramic micro-post to the optical fiber by applying a laser beam to heat up at least one of the facing surfaces of the optical fiber and the glass-ceramic micro-post.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an illuminated microsurgical instrument system includes a microsurgical instrument having a distally projecting tubular member arranged to perform a medical procedure. The tubular member has a distal tip and an outer surface, the outer surface having a flat surface formed therein. The instrument includes a sheath member surrounding a portion of the tubular member and extending toward the distal tip of the tubular member and an optical fiber extending along a length of the flat surface between the tubular member and the sheath member. The instrument may include an opening such as a slot in the distal end of the sheath member to direct exiting air away from the tip of the optical fiber. The instrument may further include a slack chamber, collar structure, and fiber guard member to support and guide the optical fiber to the distal tip.

Abstract: A method and system assist a physician in performing an ophthalmic surgery. The method includes receiving a quasi-real time image of at least a first portion of the eye. The at least the first portion of the eye includes an operating field for the ophthalmic surgery. A recommended next region and a recommended next procedure are determined based on the quasi-real time image and a computational model of the eye. An expected next result for the recommended next procedure is calculated using the quasi-real time image and the computational model. The recommended next region, the recommended next procedure and the expected result are provided to the physician.

Abstract: In a general aspect, a vitrectomy system is adapted to use photodisruption to rupture eye tissue. In some aspects, a photodisruption-based vitrectomy system includes a laser source configured to generate optical pulses having a pulse energy greater than a threshold energy for causing photodisruption in vitreous humor. The system also includes an optical switching device arranged to receive an output of the laser source, and an optical fiber with multiple cores that is arranged to receive an output of the optical switching device. The optical switching device is configured to select a core of the optical fiber and direct optical pulses received from the laser source into the selected core.

Abstract: Provided herein is an illuminated microsurgical instrument system and an illuminated microsurgical instrument. In one implementation, the system includes a microsurgical instrument having a distally projecting tubular member arranged to perform a medical procedure at an interventional site. The tubular member has a distal tip and an outer surface, the outer surface having a flat surface formed therein. The instrument includes a sheath member surrounding a portion of the tubular member and extending toward the distal tip of the tubular member and an optical fiber extending along a length of the flat surface between the tubular member and the sheath member. The instrument may further include a slack chamber, collar structure, and fiber guard member to support and guide the optical fiber to the distal tip.

Abstract: An illumination fiber optics is provided that includes an optical fiber, configured to receive illumination light at a proximal end from a light source; and a light-scattering element, at a distal end of the optical fiber, configured to receive the illumination light from the optical fiber at a proximal end and to emit the illumination light at a distal end in a wide angle. The illumination fiber optics can be prepared by providing an optical fiber, configured to receive illumination light at a proximal end from a light source; and creating a light-scattering element at a distal end of the optical fiber, configured to receive the illumination light from the optical fiber at a proximal end and to emit the illumination light at a distal end in a wide angle.

Abstract: A method and system assist a physician in performing an ophthalmic surgery. The method includes receiving a quasi-real time image of at least a first portion of the eye. The at least the first portion of the eye includes an operating field for the ophthalmic surgery. A recommended next region and a recommended next procedure are determined based on the quasi-real time image and a computational model of the eye. An expected next result for the recommended next procedure is calculated using the quasi-real time image and the computational model. The recommended next region, the recommended next procedure and the expected result are provided to the physician.

Abstract: A surgical probe system comprising a surgical probe having a probe needle, an optical fiber incorporated onto the probe needle, wherein a proximal end of the optical fiber is connected to a light source and a distal end of the optical fiber projects illumination light from the light source over a tip of the probe needle; and an adjustment mechanism that varies the illumination light between a first beam having a first numerical aperture that facilitates vitreous visualization and a second beam having a second numerical aperture that facilitates background illumination, wherein the second numerical aperture is larger than the first numerical aperture.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods of and for an ophthalmic surgical system are disclosed. An ophthalmic surgical system may include a vitreous probe having a housing sized and shaped for grasping by a user. The vitreous probe may also include a cutter extending from the housing and being sized to penetrate and treat a patient eye. The cutter may include an outer cutting tube coupled to the housing. The outer cutting tube may have an outer port formed at a distal end wall of the outer cutting tube and configured to receive tissue. The cutter may include a rotatable inner cutting member disposed within the outer cutting tube. The inner cutting member may include a first cutting surface that rotates across the outer port to cut the tissue when the inner cutting member is rotated.

Abstract: A method and system provide a surgical infusion device including a cannula and an optical fiber coupled with the cannula. The cannula has a channel therethrough and an outside diameter. The channel has an inside diameter that is smaller than the outside diameter. The optical fiber is coupled with the cannula. At least a portion of the optical fiber coupled with the cannula has a diameter of not more than one half the inside diameter.

Abstract: An illumination fiber optics is provided that includes an optical fiber, configured to receive illumination light at a proximal end from a light source; and a light-scattering element, at a distal end of the optical fiber, configured to receive the illumination light from the optical fiber at a proximal end and to emit the illumination light at a distal end in a wide angle. The illumination fiber optics can be prepared by providing an optical fiber, configured to receive illumination light at a proximal end from a light source; and creating a light-scattering element at a distal end of the optical fiber, configured to receive the illumination light from the optical fiber at a proximal end and to emit the illumination light at a distal end in a wide angle.

Abstract: Improved optical fiber coupling reliability is realized by improving structures and materials used at the fiber joint. When ceramic ferrules are used at the fiber joint, the penetration of a UV-cured optical adhesive between the ceramic ferrules and the fiber ends is avoided or prevented, while an anti-reflective coating, an uncured optical adhesive, or a refractive index matching gel may be applied between the ceramic ferrules. When glass ferrules are used at the fiber joint, the UV-cured optical adhesive may be applied and fully cured between the glass ferrules and the fiber ends.

Abstract: An exemplary illumination system is provided herein for use in performing an ophthalmic surgical procedure. The illumination system may include a body configured to be held by a hand of a user. The body may include an outer surface and an inner surface that defines an inner chamber. The exemplary illumination system may further include an elongate tubular member extending from a distal end of the body, which may have an illumination path within a lumen of the elongate tubular member, and an illumination source coupled to the illumination path through an optical fiber extending between the body and a surgical console. The exemplary illumination system may include a plurality of illumination controls disposed on the outer surface of the body. A first illumination control may permit the user to selectively control an adjustable illumination level between a high intensity state and a low intensity state.

Abstract: A surgical probe system comprising a surgical probe having a probe needle, a first optical fiber incorporated onto the probe needle, wherein a distal end of the first optical fiber projects a first beam of illumination light over a tip of the probe needle when activated; a second optical fiber incorporated onto the probe needle, wherein a distal end of the second optical fiber projects a second beam of illumination light over the tip of the probe needle when activated; and a third optical fiber incorporated onto the probe needle, wherein a distal end of the third optical fiber projects a third beam of light over the tip of the probe needle to perform a distance measurement between the probe needle and a patient's when activated, wherein the distance measurement is displayed or audibly presented to aid a user in probe positional awareness with respect to the patient's retina.

Abstract: An illumination fiber optics is provided that includes an optical fiber, configured to receive illumination light at a proximal end from a light source; and a light-scattering element, at a distal end of the optical fiber, configured to receive the illumination light from the optical fiber at a proximal end and to emit the illumination light at a distal end in a wide angle. The illumination fiber optics can be prepared by providing an optical fiber, configured to receive illumination light at a proximal end from a light source; and creating a light-scattering element at a distal end of the optical fiber, configured to receive the illumination light from the optical fiber at a proximal end and to emit the illumination light at a distal end in a wide angle.

Abstract: A process of making a diverging-light fiber optics illumination delivery system includes providing a micro-post comprising a glass-ceramic light-scattering element that includes at least one of a ceramic, a glass ceramic, an immiscible glass, a porous glass, opal glass, amorphous glass, an aerated glass, and a nanostructured glass; and fusion-splicing the glass-ceramic micro-post to the optical fiber by pulling an arc between electrodes across a gap formed by the optical fiber and the glass-ceramic micro-post; maintaining the arc for a time sufficiently long to make facing surfaces of the optical fiber and the micro-post one of malleable and molten; and pushing and thereby fusing together the facing surfaces of the optical fiber and the micro-post. Some embodiments can include fusing the glass-ceramic micro-post to the optical fiber by applying a laser beam to heat up at least one of the facing surfaces of the optical fiber and the glass-ceramic micro-post.

Abstract: An illuminated microsurgical instrument is provided herein that includes a microsurgical instrument having a tubular member arranged to treat patient tissue at a surgical site, the tubular member having a distal tip, an inner surface, and an outer surface. The inner surface defines a lumen. The outer surface has a notch formed therein. The illuminated microsurgical instrument further includes an optical fiber arranged to deliver light to the surgical site. The optical fiber includes a proximal end arranged to receive a light beam from a light source and also includes a curved distal end arranged to emit light adjacent to the distal tip. A portion of the curved distal end is positioned within the notch and curves away from the tubular member.

Abstract: An illumination fiber optics is provided that includes an optical fiber, configured to receive illumination light at a proximal end from a light source; and a light-scattering element, at a distal end of the optical fiber, configured to receive the illumination light from the optical fiber at a proximal end and to emit the illumination light at a distal end in a wide angle. The illumination fiber optics can be prepared by providing an optical fiber, configured to receive illumination light at a proximal end from a light source; and creating a light-scattering element at a distal end of the optical fiber, configured to receive the illumination light from the optical fiber at a proximal end and to emit the illumination light at a distal end in a wide angle.