STEERABLE LASER-ENERGY DELIVERY DEVICE
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- an optical fiber including a fiber core with a substantially constant outer diameter extending to a distal end of the optical fiber of less than or equal to 250 microns, the optical fiber configured to deliver laser energy up to at least 100 watts to a target area within a patient,the optical fiber being sufficiently flexible such that the optical fiber can be moved between a first configuration in which a distal end portion of the optical fiber is substantially linear and defines a longitudinal axis and a second configuration in which the distal end portion of the optical fiber is moved off its longitudinal axis; and
a steering mechanism coupled to the optical fiber, the steering mechanism configured to move the optical fiber between its first configuration and its second configuration.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In one embodiment, an apparatus includes an optical fiber that includes a fiber core with a substantially constant outer diameter of less than or equal to 250 microns extending to a distal end of the optical fiber. The optical fiber is also configured to deliver laser energy up to at least 100 watts to a target area within a patient. The optical fiber is sufficiently flexible such that the optical fiber can be moved between a first configuration in which a distal end portion of the optical fiber is substantially linear and defines a longitudinal axis and a second configuration in which the distal end portion of the optical fiber is moved off its longitudinal axis. The apparatus also includes a steering mechanism coupled to the optical fiber. The steering mechanism is configured to move the optical fiber between its first configuration and its second configuration.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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an optical fiber including a fiber core with a substantially constant outer diameter extending to a distal end of the optical fiber of less than or equal to 250 microns, the optical fiber configured to deliver laser energy up to at least 100 watts to a target area within a patient, the optical fiber being sufficiently flexible such that the optical fiber can be moved between a first configuration in which a distal end portion of the optical fiber is substantially linear and defines a longitudinal axis and a second configuration in which the distal end portion of the optical fiber is moved off its longitudinal axis; and a steering mechanism coupled to the optical fiber, the steering mechanism configured to move the optical fiber between its first configuration and its second configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus, comprising:
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an optical fiber configured to deliver laser energy to a target area within a patient, the optical fiber being sufficiently flexible such that the optical fiber can be moved from a first configuration in which a distal end portion of the optical fiber is substantially linear and defines a longitudinal axis to a second configuration in which the distal end portion of the optical fiber is deflected off its longitudinal axis; and a steerable sheath coupled to the optical fiber, the steerable sheath configured to move the optical fiber between its first configuration and its second configuration, the optical fiber being movably disposed within a lumen of the steerable sheath such that a distal end portion of the optical fiber is extendable beyond a distal end of the steerable sheath. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method, comprising:
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maneuvering a distal end portion of a steerable laser delivery device to a target location within a patient'"'"'s body while the steerable laser delivery device is in a substantially linear configuration, the steerable laser delivery device including at least a portion of a optical fiber movably disposed within a lumen of a steerable sheath; moving the distal end portion of the steerable laser delivery device from a first configuration in which the distal end portion of the optical fiber is substantially linear and defines a longitudinal axis to a second configuration in which the distal end portion of the optical fiber is moved off its longitudinal axis; extending a first distal end portion of the optical fiber outside the lumen of the steerable sheath at a distal end of the steerable sheath; and after the extending, applying laser energy via the optical fiber to the target location within the patient. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification