Method and system for photoselective vaporization of the prostate, and other tissue

• US 20050027286A1
• Filed: 06/24/2004
• Published: 02/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Laserscope (Endo International PLC)
• Original Assignee: Laserscope (Endo International PLC)
• Inventors: Davenport, Scott A., Arnold, Ken, Coleman, Tony D., Nahen, Kester, Garlich, Henry, Murray, Steven C.
• Application Number:
  US10/875,366
• Publication Number:
  US 20050027286A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/20 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/22 the beam being directed along or through a flexible conduit, e.g. an optical fibre; Couplings or hand-pieces therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00274 Prostate operation, e.g. prostatectomy, turp, bhp treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00547 Prostate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00625 Vaporization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00982 combined with or comprising means for visual or photographic inspections inside the body, e.g. endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2015 Miscellaneous features
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2272 with reflective or refractive surfaces for deflecting the beam A61B2018/2261, A61B2018/2266 take precedence

Abstract

A method for photoselective vaporization of prostate tissue includes delivering laser radiation to the treatment area on the tissue, via an optical fiber secured using a card key, wherein the laser radiation has a wavelength and irradiance in the treatment area on the surface of the tissue sufficient because vaporization of a substantially greater volume of tissue than a volume of residual coagulated tissue caused by the laser radiation. The laser radiation is generated using a neodymium doped solid-state laser, including optics producing a second or higher harmonic output with greater than 20 watts average output power. The delivered laser radiation has a wavelength for example in a range of about 200 nm to about 650 nm, and has an average irradiance in the treatment area greater than about 10 kilowatts/cm², in a spot size of at least 0.05 mm².

Claims

1. A method for photoselective vaporization of tissue, comprising:

coupling an optical fiber to a laser system;

enabling the laser system using a secure card key interface;

producing laser radiation using the laser system; and

delivering said laser radiation using the optical fiber to a treatment area on a surface of the tissue, the laser radiation having a wavelength in a range from about 200 to about 1000 nm and having average irradiance in the treatment area sufficient for removal of tissue.

2. The method of claim 1, including delivering said laser radiation endoscopically

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the wavelength is about 532 nm.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein oxyhemoglobin is a primary chromophore of said tissue.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said tissue comprises prostate tissue.

6. The method of claim 1, the laser radiation being absorbed substantially completely by the tissue within about 1 mm of the surface, and having average irradiance in the treatment area greater than 10 kiloWatts/cm² in a spot size at least about 0.05 mm².

7. The method of claim 1, the laser radiation being absorbed substantially completely by the tissue within about 1 mm of the surface, and having average irradiance in the treatment area greater than 10 kiloWatts/cm² in a spot size between about 0.1 and 0.8 mm² in the treatment area.

8. The method of claim 1, the laser radiation being absorbed substantially completely by the tissue within about 1 mm of the surface, and having average irradiance in the treatment area greater than 30 kiloWatts/cm² in the treatment area.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the delivered laser radiation has an average irradiance in the treatment area greater than 20 kiloWatts/cm².

10. The method of claim 1, including delivering a flow of irrigant to the treatment area, and wherein the delivered laser radiation passes through some of the irrigant before reaching the surface of the tissue.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said delivering comprises using a endoscope, with an optical fiber directing laser radiation from the fiber to a treatment area on the tissue.

12. The method of claim 1, including applying only local anesthetic during said delivering.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said producing includes generating said laser radiation using a solid state laser with greater than 60 Watts average output power.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said producing includes generating said laser radiation using a solid state laser with greater than 20 Watts average output power.

15. An apparatus for photoselective vaporization of tissue, comprising:

a laser producing laser radiation having a wavelength in a range from about 200 nm to about 1000 nm;

an optical fiber port coupled to the laser, adapted for connection to an optical fiber used to direct laser radiation from the fiber to a treatment area on the tissue;

a secure card key interface adapted to enable said laser; and

wherein the laser and optical fiber are adapted to deliver the laser radiation with an average irradiance in the treatment area sufficient for tissue removal.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the laser comprises a solid state laser with greater than 60 Watts average output power.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the laser comprises a solid state laser with greater than 20 Watts average output power.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the wavelength is about 532 nm.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein oxyhemoglobin is a primary chromophore of said tissue.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said tissue comprises prostate tissue.

21. The apparatus of claim 15, including non-linear optics producing a second or higher harmonic output wherein the non-linear optics comprise at least one of LBO and BBO

22. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the average irradiance is greater than 10 kiloWatts/cm² and the optical fiber is adapted to cause a spot size of at least about 0.05 mm² in the treatment area.

23. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the laser comprises a Neodymium doped solid state laser medium.

24. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the laser and optical fiber are adapted to deliver laser radiation having an average irradiance in the treatment area greater than 20 kiloWatts/cm².

25. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the laser and optical fiber are adapted to deliver laser radiation having an average irradiance in the treatment area greater than 30 kiloWatts/cm².

26. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the laser and optical fiber are adapted to deliver laser radiation having a spot size is less than about 0.8 mm² in the treatment area.

27. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the optical fiber includes a side firing tip, and is further adapted for placement of said side firing tip within about 1 mm, or less, of the treatment area.

28. The apparatus of claim 15, including an endoscope.

29. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the laser includes a Q-switch.