초록 ▼

A laser therapy system having improved effectiveness in surgical use, particularly in laser angioplasty, can be formed by employing a pulsed source of radiation. The pulsed energy source is preferably an excimer laser having a coherent beam of ultraviolet radiation and preferably is employed in conj

A laser therapy system having improved effectiveness in surgical use, particularly in laser angioplasty, can be formed by employing a pulsed source of radiation. The pulsed energy source is preferably an excimer laser having a coherent beam of ultraviolet radiation and preferably is employed in conjunction with a dye laser to produce an output beam which is tunable over a wide portion of the ultraviolet and visible spectrum. The output beam is coupled via a novel coupling device to an optical fiber disposed within a surgical instrument, for example, a percutaneous catheter. The operative components are sealed in a gas-tight, liquid-tight housing. An electronic controller monitors and adjusts the output energy density, duration, and pulse repetition rate. In operation, a pulsed, high energy beam of extremely short duration is available to remove atherosclerotic plague with less damage to the underlying tissue and less chance of perforating the blood vessel wall.

대표청구항 ▼

A laser therapy system for delivering radiation through a fiber optic waveguide of a catheter, the system comprising: an energy source generating high energy pulsed radiation; a tunable laser optically coupled to the energy source to receive the pulsed radiation therefrom, the tunable laser having a

A laser therapy system for delivering radiation through a fiber optic waveguide of a catheter, the system comprising: an energy source generating high energy pulsed radiation; a tunable laser optically coupled to the energy source to receive the pulsed radiation therefrom, the tunable laser having a resonant cavity defined by opposing reflectors, at least one of the reflectors being partially transmissive to yield an output beam capable of removing a target tissue by photodecomposition, and means for tuning said output beam over at least a portion of a spectrum ranging from about 300 to about 1000 nanometers; a housing enclosing the energy source and tunable laser and sealing them from the ambient environment; coupling means, secured to the housing and adapted to receive the fiber optic waveguide of the catheter and to focus the output beam into the waveguide; and control means electrically connected to the source and laser for varying the output of the laser within predefined ranges of energy, wavelength and pulse duration in response to conditions encountered during use of the system.