Multiple-input-coupled illuminated multi-spot laser probe

1. An illumination and multi-spot laser multiplexing system comprising:

a laser source that emits a collimated laser light beam;

a diffractive optical element (DOE) configured to receive the collimated laser light beam and to create a multi-spot pattern of laser light beams; and

an illumination system that emits an illumination light;

a collimating lens that collimates the illumination light received from the illumination system;

a multi-core optical fiber cable;

a fiber optic cable port configured to couple with the multi-core optical fiber cable;

a condensing lens; and

a beamsplitter configured to reflect the multi-spot pattern of laser light beams towards the condensing lens and to transmit an illumination beam from the collimating lens towards the condensing lens, thereby multiplexing the multi-spot pattern of laser light beams and the illumination beam,

wherein the condensing lens is configured to focus the multiplexed multi-spot pattern of laser light beams and the illumination beam onto an interface with the fiber optic cable port;

wherein the condensing lens is configured to focus the multiplexed multi-spot pattern of laser light beams and the illumination beam onto an interface of a proximal end of the multi-core optical fiber cable such that the illumination beam is propagated down an entire length of an outer core of the multi-core optical fiber cable and such that each laser light beam in the multi-spot pattern of laser light beams propagates down an entire length of one of a plurality of inner cores contained within the outer core.

2. The illumination and multi-spot laser multiplexing system of claim 1 , wherein the DOE is housed within a linear slide configured to alternatively position the DOE in a beam path of the collimated laser light beam.

3. The illumination and multi-spot laser multiplexing system of claim 1 , wherein the laser source, the DOE, the illumination system, the collimating lens, the fiber optic cable port, the beamsplitter, and the condensing lens are integrated within a surgical console configured to perform one or more ophthalmic procedures.

4. The illumination and multi-spot laser multiplexing system of claim 1 , wherein the beamsplitter reflects light in a first narrow band and in a second narrow band, and wherein the beamsplitter transmits the illumination light outside of the first narrow band and the second narrow band.

5. The illumination and multi-spot laser multiplexing system of claim 4 , wherein the laser source comprises a user-selectable laser source configured to alternatively emit laser light beams having a wavelength contained within at least one of two narrow bands of an electromagnetic spectrum of light that correspond to a surgical treatment beam having a wavelength of 532 nm and to a surgical aiming beam having a wavelength of 635 nm.

6. An illumination and multi-spot laser multiplexing system comprising:

a laser source that emits a collimated laser light beam;

an illumination system that emits an illumination light;

a collimating lens that collimates the illumination light received from the illumination system;

a condensing lens;

a beamsplitter configured to reflect the collimated laser light beam towards the condensing lens and to transmit a collimated illumination beam from the collimating lens towards the condensing lens, thereby multiplexing the collimated laser light beam and the collimated illumination beam;

a diffractive optical element (DOE) configured to receive the multiplexed laser light beam and illumination beam and to create a multi-spot pattern of laser light beams within the illumination beam;

a multi-core optical fiber cable; and

a fiber optic cable port configured to couple with the multi-core optical fiber cable;

wherein the condensing lens is configured to focus the multiplexed multi-spot pattern of laser light beams and the illumination beam onto an interface with the fiber optic cable port;

wherein the condensing lens is configured to focus the multiplexed multi-spot pattern of laser light beams and the illumination beam onto an interface of a terminal end of the multi-core optical fiber cable such that the illumination beam is propagated down an entire length of an outer core of the multi-core optical fiber cable and such that each laser light beam in the multi-spot pattern of laser light beams propagates down an entire length of one of a plurality of inner cores contained within the outer core.

7. The illumination and multi-spot laser multiplexing system of claim 6 , wherein the DOE is housed within a linear slide configured to alternatively position the DOE in a beam path of the collimated laser light beam.

8. The illumination and multi-spot laser multiplexing system of claim 6 , wherein the laser source, the DOE, the illumination system, the collimating lens, the fiber optic cable port, the beamsplitter, and the condensing lens are integrated within a surgical console configured to perform one or more ophthalmic procedures.

9. The illumination and multi-spot laser multiplexing system of claim 6 , wherein the beamsplitter reflects light in a first narrow band and in a second narrow band, and wherein the beamsplitter transmits the illumination light outside of the first narrow band and the second narrow band.

10. The illumination and multi-spot laser multiplexing system of claim 9 , wherein the laser source comprises a user-selectable laser source configured to alternatively emit laser light beams having a wavelength contained within at least one of two narrow bands of an electromagnetic spectrum of light that correspond to a surgical treatment beam having a wavelength of 532 nm and to a surgical aiming beam having a wavelength of 635 nm.