Portable pattern-generating ophthalmic probe

1. A pattern-generating intraocular probe, comprising:

a cannula including a diffractive optical element (DOE), the DOE being patterned such that an on-axis illumination of the DOE produces an emitted beam forming a linear pattern; and

a handpiece connected to a proximal end of the cannula;

wherein the handpiece includes a laser for providing the on-axis illumination of the DOE.

2. The intraocular probe of claim 1 , wherein the laser is a laser diode source.

3. The intraocular probe of claim 1 , wherein the handpiece includes collimating optics driven by the laser to produce a collimated laser beam for providing the on-axis illumination of the DOE.

4. The intraocular probe of claim 1 , wherein the proximal end of the cannula removably connects to the handpiece through a connector.

5. The intraocular probe of claim 1 , wherein the DOE pattern is a holographic pattern.

6. The intraocular probe of claim 1 , wherein the DOE pattern is a computer-generated pattern.

7. The intraocular probe of claim 1 , wherein the handpiece further includes a battery for powering the laser.

8. The intraocular probe of claim 1 , wherein the DOE is positioned to hermetically seal a distal end of the cannula.

9. The pattern-generating intraocular probe of claim 1 , wherein the DOE is illuminated directly by the laser without use of an intervening optical fiber.

10. A method, comprising:

inserting a cannula into an eye, wherein the cannula includes a diffractive optical element (DOE) patterned such that an on-axis illumination of the DOE produces an emitted beam forming a linear pattern; and

illuminating the DOE through a lumen of the cannula so as to produce the on-axis illumination such that the emitted beam forms the linear pattern on a retinal fundus;

wherein inserting the cannula into the eve comprises holding a handpiece, with a laser to provide the on-axis illumination of the DOE, connected to the cannula.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising rotating the cannula so as to rotate the linear pattern formed on the retinal fundus.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the linear pattern is a grid pattern.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the linear pattern is a plurality of parallel lines.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

imaging the linear pattern on the retinal fundus; and

analyzing the image to determine a topography for the retinal fundus.

15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

manipulating the cannula through manual operation of the connected handpiece.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising removing the cannula from the eye and removing the cannula from the handpiece.

17. An intraocular probe, comprising:

a handpiece;

a needle having a proximal end connected to the handpiece; and

a diffractive optical element (DOE) sealing a distal end of the needle, the DOE being patterned to project a plurality of parallel lines onto a retina;

wherein the handpiece include a laser for providing on-axis illumination of the DOE.

18. The intraocular probe of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of parallel lines comprises two pluralities arranged to form a grid pattern.

19. The intraocular probe of claim 17 , further comprising a connector for removably connecting the proximal end of the needle to the handpiece.

20. The intraocular probe of claim 17 , wherein the DOE is illuminated directly by the laser without use of an intervening optical fiber.