LASER PLASMA MODULATOR SYSTEM FOR ENDOSCOPY AND ENDOCAVITARY SURGERY

• US 20130310819A1
• Filed: 11/09/2012
• Published: 11/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biolitec Unternehmensbeteiligungs II AG
• Original Assignee: Biolitec Pharma Marketing Ltd.
• Inventors: Neuberger, Wolfgang, Cecchetti, Walter, Cecchetti, Leonardo, Zattoni, Filiberto
• Granted Patent: US 8,926,601 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/042 using additional gas becoming plasma
• 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 2018/207 mixing two wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/263 the conversion of laser energy into mechanical shockwaves taking place in a liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/44 Applying ionised fluids ion generators H01J37/00

Abstract

An improved system for safe and efficient generation of plasmas and vapors bubbles with continuous wave radiations and low levels of power densities, sufficient to treat medical pathologies and to avoid the creation damage to healthy tissue is provided. Transmission means in different configurations are used to achieve a high absorption in water, which is able to initiate plasma with low levels of power density. Once plasma and vapor bubbles are formed, they absorb other wavelengths in addition to the one that initiated it. Other wavelengths, more efficiently generated by diodes or diode pumped lasers, are added into the beam to improve treatment efficiency. This modulated plasma produces fast tissue ablation and good hemostasis effect with minimal overheating of remaining tissue. After plasma and high-energy vapors are generated, only laser radiation that passes through the plasma bubble directly interacts with soft tissues.

Claims

1. A plasma modulator laser system for endoscopy and endocavitary treatment comprising:

at least two laser sources; and

at least one waveguide optically coupled to said laser system;

wherein at least one of said laser sources operates in continuous mode and emits a continuous wave laser wavelength highly absorbed by the medium present at a treatment site; and

,

wherein a second of said at least one laser sources delivers a laser wavelength that modulates at least one of the laser wavelengths delivered by said laser system.

2. The laser system according to claim 1, where said continuous wave laser radiation produces plasma bubbles at said treatment site.

3. The laser system according to claim 1, wherein said continuous wave laser wavelength and said second laser wavelength are combined in any ratio for forming a plasma bubble and modifying its shape, dimensions, lifetime and/or extent.

4. The laser system according to claim 3, wherein said continuous wave laser wavelength is of 1470±

50 nm for generating plasma bubbles and said second laser wavelength for modulating the continuous wave laser wavelength if of 980±

30 nm.

5. The laser system according to claim 4, wherein part of said laser wavelength of 980±

30 nm amplifies the laser wavelength of 1470±

50 nm and is converted into plasma, and the remaining percentage of said laser wavelength of 980±

30 nm reaches the tissue at said treatment site to achieve hemostatic effect.

6. The laser system according to claim 1, wherein said continuous wave laser wavelength is highly absorbed by water, and wherein its source is a low power laser source.

7. The laser system according to claim 1, wherein said laser source of said second laser wavelength that modulates other laser wavelengths is a low cost and efficient diode laser source.

8. The laser system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said laser sources operates in pulsed mode, in continuous mode or in a combination of these modes.

9. The laser system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said laser sources is a diode laser source operating at a laser wavelength selected from 980±

60 nm, 1470±

60 nm, and 1940±

60 nm.

10. The laser system according to claim 1, wherein said laser system delivers simultaneous laser wavelengths wherein each one has different power densities.

11. The laser system according to claim 10, wherein said laser wavelengths are selected from the group of 980 nm and 1470 nm;

980 nm and 1940 nm; and

1470 nm, 1940 nm and 980 nm.

12. The laser system according to claim 1, wherein said waveguide has diverse irradiation geometries and dimensions, wherein said geometry and dimension changes the plasma bubble dimension, the plasma bubble temperature, and/or the laser power density on said treatment site.

13. The laser system according to claim 12, wherein at least one of said waveguides is an optical fiber.

14. The laser system according to claim 13, wherein said optical fiber has a fiber tip selected from the group of thin tips, conical tips and asymmetric off-axis emitting tips.

15. The laser system according to claim 14, wherein said optical fiber is a 1000 μ

m diameter conical fiber.

16. The laser system, according to claim 13, wherein said optical fiber has a concentric core structure, wherein one laser wavelength travels in an inner core and a second wavelength is transmitted in an outer core.

17. The laser system according to claim 1, wherein one laser is a fiber laser and a second laser is a pump laser for said fiber laser, and wherein beams from both lasers are transmitted by said at least one waveguide.

18. The laser system according to claim 17, wherein said fiber laser emits at about 1550 nm, and said pump laser emits at either about 915-980 nm or at about 1480 nm.

20. The medical laser treatment according to claim 18, wherein the size, shape, lifetime and extent of the plasma and/or high energy vapor bubbles is controlled by modulating the laser wavelengths delivered by the Plasma Modulator Laser and/or by the geometry and dimension of the waveguide that delivers the laser radiation to the treatment site.

19. A medical laser treatment utilizing a plasma modulator system for controlling the degree of hemostatic and thereto-ablative effects by generating plasma and/or high energy vapor bubbles;

controlling the size, shape, lifetime and extent of the plasma and/or high energy vapor bubbles; and

determining the quality and extent of the thermo spray effect of the vapor and the hot water generated around the plasma bubbles, and the quality and extent of the ablative effect of the plasma bubbles.

21. The medical laser treatment according to claim 19, for use in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Treatments wherein a laser wavelength of 1470±

50 nm and a laser wavelength of 980±

30 nm are delivered simultaneously with different power densities to control the degree of hemostatic and thermo-ablative effects in prostatic tissue.