초록 ▼

Laser energy produced by a laser operating In the mid-infrared region (approximately 2 micrometers) Is delivered by an optical fiber in a catheter to a surgical site for biological tissue removal and repair. Disclosed laser sources which have an output wavelength in this region include: Holmium-dope

Laser energy produced by a laser operating In the mid-infrared region (approximately 2 micrometers) Is delivered by an optical fiber in a catheter to a surgical site for biological tissue removal and repair. Disclosed laser sources which have an output wavelength in this region include: Holmium-doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Ho:YAG), Holmium-doped Yttrium Lithium Fluoride (Ho:YLF), Erbium-doped YAG, Erbium-doped YLF and Thulium-doped YAG. For tissue removal, the lasers are operated with relatively long pulses at energy levels of approximately 1 joule per pulse. For tissue repair, the lasers are operated in a continuous wave mode at low power. Laser output energy is applied to a silica-based optical fiber which has been specially purified to reduce the hydroxyl-ion concentration to a low level. The catheter may be comprised of a single optical fiber or a plurality of optical fibers arranged to give overlapping output patterns for large area coverage.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A surgical system comprising: a hollow elongate surgical instrument, having at least one lumen for receiving an optical fiber, and being maneuverable to provide a conduit for transmission of laser energy to a surgical site; and a flexible, elongate fiber for conducting laser energy from a pro

1. A surgical system comprising: a hollow elongate surgical instrument, having at least one lumen for receiving an optical fiber, and being maneuverable to provide a conduit for transmission of laser energy to a surgical site; and a flexible, elongate fiber for conducting laser energy from a proximal end of said fiber to a surgical site at a distal end of said fiber, the proximal end for receiving laser energy, and said fiber being a silica fiber including means for reducing absorption of laser energy at a wavelength of about 1.4-2.2 micrometers. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein said fiber is suitable for coupling with and conducting energy of a Holmium-doped Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet laser. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein said fiber is suitable for coupling with and conducting energy of a Erbium-doped Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet laser. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein said fiber is suitable for coupling with conducting energy from a Thulium-doped Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet laser. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein said fiber is suitable for coupling with and conducting energy from a Holmium-doped Yttrium-Lithium-Fluoride laser. 6. The system of claim 1, wherein said fiber is suitable for coupling with and conducting energy from a Erbium-doped Yttrium-Lithium-Fluoride laser. 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the said fiber is suitable for conducting pulsed laser energy. 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the said fiber is suitable for conducting pulsed wave laser energy sufficient to remove biological tissue by vaporization. 9. The system of claim 1, wherein said fiber is suitable for conducting laser energy with a pulse width of 0.2-5 milliseconds. 10. The system of claim 1, wherein said fiber is suitable for conducting pulsed laser energy at a repetition rate of about 1 to about 10 pulses per second. 11. The system of claim 1, wherein said fiber is suitable for delivery of energy to a surgical site of at least 0.57 millijoules per pulse. 12. The system of claim 1 wherein the hollow elongate instrument is a catheter. 13. The system of claim 1 wherein the fiber is suitable for conducting continuous wave radiation. 14. The system of claim 13 wherein the fiber is suitable for to photocoagulate tissue.