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 ophthalmic illumination apparatus can include a movable support. The apparatus can also include an optical array coupled to the movable support and positioned to interact with a light beam from a light source. The optical array can include first and second optical elements. The first optical element can be configured to reflect and transmit first associated amounts of the light beam. The second optical element can be configured to reflect and transmit second associated amounts of the light beam different than the first optical element. The apparatus can further include a drive mechanism coupled to the movable support. The drive mechanism can be configured to cause the movable support to selectively move the optical array such that the light beam is selectively incident upon one of the first optical element or the second optical element. Associated devices, systems, and methods are also provided.

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: 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: A method and system provide an endoilluminator including a hand piece, a needle coupled with the hand piece and an optical fiber coupled with the needle. The needle has a channel therethrough and an outside diameter. The channel has an inside diameter that is smaller than the outside diameter. At least a portion of the optical fiber coupled with the needle has a diameter of not more than one half the inside diameter.

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 ophthalmic illumination apparatus can include a body sized and shaped for grasping by a user. The apparatus can also include a cannula coupled to the body and configured to be positioned within an eye of a patient. The apparatus can further include a first optical fiber disposed within the cannula. The first optical fiber can be configured to transmit light having a first angular profile. The apparatus can also include a second optical fiber disposed within the cannula. The second optical fiber is configured to transmit light having a second angular profile. A method of surgical illumination can include illuminating an eye of a patient with light having a first angular profile. The method can also include illuminating the eye of the patient with light having a second angular profile. The different angular profiles can be transmitted by different optical fibers disposed within a cannula positioned within the eye.

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: 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: 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: 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: 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 illuminated microsurgical surgical instrument that allows for illumination of the interior of a body cavity during a surgical procedure is provided herein. The surgical instrument may include an elongate tubular member having a distal end for insertion through tissue, the elongate tubular member having an inner diameter, an outer diameter, and a wall thickness. A longitudinal slot extending from the distal end of the elongate tubular member is formed in the elongate tubular member. The surgical instrument further may include an optical fiber extending within the longitudinal slot toward the distal end of the elongate tubular member. The optical fiber may be affixed within the longitudinal slot by an adhesive. The optical fiber may be positioned such that a distal tip thereof is protected from damage by a distal edge of the elongate tubular member during insertion of the instrument into the body cavity.

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: 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 epiretinal membrane (ERM) visualization system includes an OCT system operable to generate an OCT image of a region of a patient's eye, the region of the patient's eye including an ERM. The ERM visualization system further includes an image processing unit operable to process the OCT image to identify the ERM by differentiating the ERM from other structures within the region of the patient's eye and generate an ERM map depicting one or more characteristics (including at least a location of a portion of the ERM within the region of the patient's eye) of the identified ERM. The ERM visualization system further includes a display operable to display the ERM map.

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: An ophthalmic surgical system includes an imaging device configured to acquire a first image of a fundus of an eye and a hemorrhage detecting unit. The hemorrhage detecting unit includes a processor configured to receive the first fundus image from the imaging device, analyze the first fundus image to detect a hemorrhage in the eye, and in response to detecting the hemorrhage, send a signal to an intraocular pressure controller. The ophthalmic surgical system further includes the intraocular pressure controller, which includes a processor configured to receive the signal from the hemorrhage detecting unit, in response to the received signal, determine if a current intraoperative pressure of the eye is below a predetermined threshold, and in response to determining the current intraoperative pressure of the eye is below the predetermined threshold, generate a signal to increase the intraoperative pressure of the eye.

Abstract: An ophthalmic surgical system includes an imaging device configured to acquire a first image of a fundus of an eye and a hemorrhage detecting unit. The hemorrhage detecting unit includes a processor configured to receive the first fundus image from the imaging device, analyze the first fundus image to detect a hemorrhage in the eye, and in response to detecting the hemorrhage, send a signal to an intraocular pressure controller. The ophthalmic surgical system further includes the intraocular pressure controller, which includes a processor configured to receive the signal from the hemorrhage detecting unit, in response to the received signal, determine if a current intraoperative pressure of the eye is below a predetermined threshold, and in response to determining the current intraoperative pressure of the eye is below the predetermined threshold, generate a signal to increase the intraoperative pressure of the eye.

Abstract: An illuminated microsurgical surgical instrument that allows for illumination of the interior of a body cavity during a surgical procedure is provided herein. The surgical instrument may include an elongate tubular member having a distal end for insertion through tissue, the elongate tubular member having an inner diameter, an outer diameter, and a wall thickness. A longitudinal slot extending from the distal end of the elongate tubular member is formed in the elongate tubular member. The surgical instrument further may include an optical fiber extending within the longitudinal slot toward the distal end of the elongate tubular member. The optical fiber may be affixed within the longitudinal slot by an adhesive. The optical fiber may be positioned such that a distal tip thereof is protected from damage by a distal edge of the elongate tubular member during insertion of the instrument into the body cavity.