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: 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: 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 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: 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: Systems, apparatuses, and methods of and for an ophthalmic surgical system are disclosed. In an exemplary implementation, an ophthalmic surgical system includes a patch sized and shaped to seal a retinal break of an eye by preventing fluid from infiltrating a sub-retinal space when adhered to the retina surrounding the retinal break; and a delivery device including a cannula configured to maintain the patch in a furled state for passage through an incision in the eye, the delivery device actuatable to deploy the patch within a vitreous chamber of the eye. In another exemplary implementation, an ophthalmic surgical method includes damaging tissue around a retinal break; delivering, into the vitreous chamber, a patch sized and shaped to seal the retinal break; positioning the patch on the retina surrounding the retinal break; and affixing the patch to the retina such that the patch prevents fluid from infiltrating a sub-retinal space.

Abstract: A method for applying a photocoagulation procedure includes capturing a baseline image of a first location within a surgical site. The method further includes applying a photocoagulation treatment at the first location within the surgical site, the photocoagulation treatment using a laser tool having a set of operating parameters. The method further includes capturing an operation image of the first location within the surgical site at a point in time after the photocoagulation treatment has started. The method further includes, with a control system, performing a comparison of the operation image and the baseline image to determine whether a treatment objective has been achieved. The method further includes, with the control system, in response to determining that the treatment objective has not been achieved, adjusting the set of operating parameters to create a set of adjusted operating parameters and continuing the photocoagulation treatment with the set of adjusted operating parameters.

Abstract: An ophthalmic endo-illumination system includes a light source producing a light beam, a beam splitter configured to split the light beam into a first beam provided to a fiber port and a second beam coupled to a monitoring fiber, and an alignment system for aligning the monitoring fiber. The alignment system includes a moveable ferrule housing having the monitoring fiber secured therein and a displacement mechanism for displacing housing in a first direction. The displacement mechanism includes a transfer spring coupled to the housing and a screw actuator having a sloped surface contacting a motion transfer ball such that movement of the screw actuator causes the motion transfer ball to move along the sloped surface, the motion transfer ball contacting the transfer spring such that movement of the motion transfer ball along the sloped surface causes a displacement of the transfer spring, thereby displacing the housing in the first direction.

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: An ophthalmic endo-illumination system includes a light source producing a light beam, a beam splitter configured to split the light beam into a first beam provided to a fiber port and a second beam coupled to a monitoring fiber, and an alignment system for aligning the monitoring fiber. The alignment system includes a moveable ferrule housing having the monitoring fiber secured therein and a displacement mechanism for displacing housing in a first direction. The displacement mechanism includes a transfer spring coupled to the housing and a screw actuator having a sloped surface contacting a motion transfer ball such that movement of the screw actuator causes the motion transfer ball to move along the sloped surface, the motion transfer ball contacting the transfer spring such that movement of the motion transfer ball along the sloped surface causes a displacement of the transfer spring, thereby displacing the housing in the first direction.

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: A method of making an optical surgical probe includes providing and heating a substrate; melting a piece of glass on the heated substrate; immersing a ball lens into the molten piece of glass; heating a molding pin having a concave prism end; wetting the concave prism end of the molding pin with a molten glass drop; inserting the molding pin into the molten glass aligned with the ball lens; sliding a cannula along an axis of the molding pin toward the substrate to create a cannula/glass-optical-element/ball lens probe-assembly; cooling the probe-assembly; and extracting the probe-assembly.

Abstract: An ophthalmic illumination apparatus includes a light source operable to generate a light beam and a filtering mirror configured to generate an infrared (IR) filtered light beam by reflecting at least a portion of wavelengths of the light beam in the visible spectrum while filtering out at least a portion of wavelengths of the light beam in the IR spectrum. The ophthalmic illumination apparatus further includes a collimator configured to receive at least a portion of the IR filtered light beam and generate a collimated light beam and a condenser configured to couple at least a portion of the collimated light beam into an optical fiber.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a scanning system comprises optical elements and a movement system. The optical elements comprise an optical fiber and a focusing element. The optical fiber transmits a light ray and has a fiber axis that extends to an imaginary fiber axis. The focusing element refracts the light ray and has a focusing element optical axis that is substantially aligned with the imaginary fiber axis. The movement system rotates the focusing element about the focusing element optical axis to scan the light ray. In other embodiments, a scanning system comprises optical elements and a movement system. The optical elements comprise an optical fiber, a focusing element, and a prism. The prism has a prism optical axis and receives the light ray from the focusing element. The movement system rotates the prism about the prism optical axis to scan the light ray.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of an endoilluminator may include a cannula, an intermediate material, and an optical fiber. The cannula has a substantially cylindrical shape that defines an interior region and has a cylindrical axis. The intermediate material is disposed within the interior region. The optical fiber is disposed within the intermediate material and has a fiber optical axis and a distal end configured to emit light. The emitted light has an illumination pattern with an illumination axis that is not parallel to the cylindrical axis.

Abstract: Disclosed is an exemplary surgical illumination system that includes a first laser configured to emit a first light beam having a first spectral range, and an illumination probe optically connectable to the first laser. The first laser may be configured as a supercontinuum laser. The surgical illumination system may include a second laser configured to emit a second light beam having a second spectral range, and a beam combiner for combing the first and second laser beams to form a third laser beam having a spectral range of the first and second lasers. The illumination probe includes a fiber optic cable for delivering at least a portion of the first light beam to a surgical site. The fiber optic cable includes a fiber optic core having a diameter of 100 microns or less.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of an endoilluminator may include a cannula, an intermediate material, and an optical fiber. The cannula has a substantially cylindrical shape that defines an interior region and has a cylindrical axis. The intermediate material is disposed within the interior region. The optical fiber is disposed within the intermediate material and has a fiber optical axis and a distal end configured to emit light. The emitted light has an illumination pattern with an illumination axis that is not parallel to the cylindrical axis.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a scanning system comprises optical elements and a movement system. The optical elements comprise an optical fiber and a focusing element. The optical fiber transmits a light ray and has a fiber axis that extends to an imaginary fiber axis. The focusing element refracts the light ray and has a focusing element optical axis that is substantially aligned with the imaginary fiber axis. The movement system rotates the focusing element about the focusing element optical axis to scan the light ray. In other embodiments, a scanning system comprises optical elements and a movement system. The optical elements comprise an optical fiber, a focusing element, and a prism. The prism has a prism optical axis and receives the light ray from the focusing element. The movement system rotates the prism about the prism optical axis to scan the light ray.

Abstract: Certain embodiments may include a laser system configured to emit collimated laser light, a beam diverging element configured to diverge the laser light to yield a range of propagation angles with a maximum angle greater than zero, and fiber coupling optics configured to direct the diverged laser light towards a spot of a cross-section of a fiber core of an optical fiber. As another example, certain embodiments may include a laser system configured to emit collimated laser light, a beam shaping element configured to shape the laser light into a beam with an elliptical cross-section, and fiber coupling optics configured to direct the diverged laser light towards a spot of a cross-section of a fiber core of an optical fiber, where the spot's center point is located at a distance from the cross-section's center point.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, determining an endoilluminator output includes calculating an illuminator contribution of an endoilluminator system and a fiber contribution of one or more optical fibers of the endoilluminator system. The endoilluminator output is determined from the illuminator contribution and the fiber contribution. The illuminator contribution may be established using calibrated or empirically determined factors, such as an illuminator leg efficiency, an attenuator factor, an initial lamp performance, and/or a lamp performance degradation factor of the lamp. The fiber contribution may be established using calibrated or empirically determined factors, such as a fiber coupling factor and/or fiber transmission ratio of the optical fibers.