Laser-based method and system for selectively processing target tissue material in a patient and optical catheter assembly for use therein
First Claim
1. A system for selectively processing target tissue material in a patient, the system comprising:
- a laser subsystem for generating an output laser beam, wherein the laser subsystem comprises a plurality of semiconductor lasers multiplexed together into a laser subsystem output fiber; and
a laparoscopic or catheter assembly including an optical fiber having a proximal end coupled to the laser subsystem output fiber for guiding the output laser beam along a propagation path, the beam having optical and temporal properties and a predetermined selected wavelength, the laparoscopic or catheter assembly sized to extend through an opening in a first part of the patient and to a tissue material processing site within the patient, the laparoscopic or catheter assembly further including a beam delivery and focusing subsystem having a focal distance and disposed in the propagation path and that accepts the output laser beam and positions the beam into at least one focused spot on the target tissue material disposed within a second part of the patient at the site based on distance to the target tissue material from a predetermined point on the propagation path at the site for a duration sufficient to allow laser energy to be absorbed by the target tissue material and converted to heat to product a desired physical change in the target tissue material without causing undesirable changes to adjacent non-target material disposed within the second part of the patient wherein the target tissue material comprises adipose, elastin, or hydrocarbon chains and is characterized by an absorptive coefficient, and wherein the laparoscopic or catheter assembly further comprises a camera probe for visualization, and wherein the laparoscopic or catheter assembly further includes a tweezer system for grabbing and holding tissue, and a suction pipe.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for selectively processing target tissue material in a patient include a laser subsystem for generating an output laser beam and a catheter assembly including an optical fiber for guiding the output laser beam. The beam has a predetermined selected wavelength between 900 nm and 2600 nm. The catheter assembly is sized to extend through an opening in a first part of the patient to a tissue material processing site within the patient. A beam delivery and focusing subsystem includes a focal distance, which may be adjustable, that positions the beam into at least one focused spot on the target tissue material disposed within a second part of the patient for a duration sufficient to allow laser energy to be absorbed by the target tissue material and converted to heat to produce a desired physical change in the target tissue material without causing undesirable changes to adjacent non-target material.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for selectively processing target tissue material in a patient, the system comprising:
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a laser subsystem for generating an output laser beam, wherein the laser subsystem comprises a plurality of semiconductor lasers multiplexed together into a laser subsystem output fiber; and a laparoscopic or catheter assembly including an optical fiber having a proximal end coupled to the laser subsystem output fiber for guiding the output laser beam along a propagation path, the beam having optical and temporal properties and a predetermined selected wavelength, the laparoscopic or catheter assembly sized to extend through an opening in a first part of the patient and to a tissue material processing site within the patient, the laparoscopic or catheter assembly further including a beam delivery and focusing subsystem having a focal distance and disposed in the propagation path and that accepts the output laser beam and positions the beam into at least one focused spot on the target tissue material disposed within a second part of the patient at the site based on distance to the target tissue material from a predetermined point on the propagation path at the site for a duration sufficient to allow laser energy to be absorbed by the target tissue material and converted to heat to product a desired physical change in the target tissue material without causing undesirable changes to adjacent non-target material disposed within the second part of the patient wherein the target tissue material comprises adipose, elastin, or hydrocarbon chains and is characterized by an absorptive coefficient, and wherein the laparoscopic or catheter assembly further comprises a camera probe for visualization, and wherein the laparoscopic or catheter assembly further includes a tweezer system for grabbing and holding tissue, and a suction pipe. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A laparoscopic or catheter assembly for use in a system for selectively processing target tissue material in a patient, the assembly comprising:
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a laser subsystem for generating an output laser beam, wherein the laser subsystem comprises a plurality of semiconductor lasers multiplexed together into a laser subsystem output fiber; an elongated flexible housing; an optical fiber disposed in the housing coupled to the laser subsystem output fiber for guiding an output laser beam from the output fiber along a propagation path, the beam having optical and temporal properties and a predetermined selected wavelength, the housing sized to extend through an opening in a first part of the patient and to a tissue material processing site within the patient; and a beam delivery and focusing subsystem having a focal distance disposed in the propagation path and that accepts the output laser beam and positions the beam into at least one focused spot on the target tissue material disposed within a second part of the patient at the site based on distance to the target tissue material from a predetermined point on the propagation path at the site for a duration sufficient to allow laser energy to be absorbed by the target tissue material and converted to heat to produce a desired physical change in the target tissue material without causing undesirable changes to adjacent non-target material disposed within the second part of the patient wherein the target tissue material comprises adipose, elastin, or hydrocarbon chains and is characterized by an absorptive coefficient, the predetermined wavelength being based on the absorptive coefficient of the target tissue material; and wherein the laparoscopic or catheter assembly further comprises a camera probe for visualization, and wherein the laparoscopic or catheter assembly further includes a tweezer system for grabbing and holding tissue, and a suction pipe. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A laparoscopic or catheter assembly for use in a system for selectively processing target tissue material in a patient, the assembly comprising:
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a laser subsystem for generating an output laser beam, wherein the laser subsystem comprises a plurality of semiconductor lasers multiplexed together into a laser subsystem output fiber; an elongated flexible housing; an optical fiber disposed in the housing coupled to the laser subsystem output fiber for guiding an output laser beam form the output fiber along a propagation path, the beam having optical and temporal properties and a predetermined selected wavelength, the housing sized to extend through an opening in a first part of the patient and to a tissue material processing site within the patient; and a beam delivery and focusing subsystem having a focal distance disposed in the propagation path ad that accepts the output laser beam and positions the beam into at least one focused spot on the target tissue material disposed within a second part of the patient at the site based on distance to the target tissue material from a predetermined point on the propagation path at the site for a duration sufficient to allow laser energy to be absorbed by the target tissue material and converted to heat to produce a desired physical change in the target tissue material without causing undesirable changes to adjacent non-target material disposed within the second part of the patient wherein the target tissue material comprises adipose, elastin, or hydrocarbon chains and is characterized by an absorptive coefficient, the predetermined wavelength being based on the absorptive coefficient of the target tissue material; and wherein the laparoscopic or catheter assembly further comprises a camera probe for visualization, and wherein the system further comprises a cooling mechanism disposed at the beam delivery and focusing subsystem. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification