FOCUSED NEAR-INFRARED LASERS FOR NON-INVASIVE VARICOSE VEINS AND OTHER THERMAL COAGULATION OR OCCLUSION PROCEDURES

• US 20140188094A1
• Filed: 12/17/2013
• Published: 07/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Omni Medsci, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Omni Medsci, Inc.
• Inventors: Islam, Mohammed N.
• Application Number:
  US14/108,974
• Publication Number:
  US 20140188094A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/7
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/203 applying laser energy to the outside of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00005 Cooling or heating of the probe or tissue immediately surrounding the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00404 Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00589 Coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/20351 Scanning mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/20355 Special scanning path or conditions, e.g. spiral, raster or providing spot overlap
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/207 mixing two wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2211 Plurality of fibres

Abstract

Focused infrared light may be used in a non-invasive varicose vein treatment procedure with infrared light from a plurality of laser diodes that are combined in a multiplexer and coupled to a multi-mode fiber coupled to another fiber or fiber bundle that delivers the light to a lens/mirror assembly for application in the non-invasive procedures. The wavelength of light may be selected near 980 nm, 1210 nm, or 1720 nm to achieve a desired penetration depth and/or for absorption in a particular tissue type or water. Wavelengths near approximately 1100 nm, 1310 nm or 1650 nm may be advantageous for non-invasive procedures through the skin. The light may be focused with lower intensity on the skin or outer tissue to reduce collateral damage and higher intensity at a desired depth to induce thermal coagulation or occlusion at depths of about 1-2 mm or more. Surface cooling techniques, such as cryogenic sprays or contact cooling may be provided.

Claims

1. A therapeutic system comprising:

a light source generating an output optical beam, comprising;

a plurality of semiconductor sources generating an input optical beam;

a multiplexer configured to receive at least a portion of the input optical beam and to form an intermediate optical beam; and

one or more fibers configured to receive at least a portion of the intermediate optical beam and to form the output optical beam, wherein the output optical beam comprises one or more optical wavelengths, and wherein at least a portion of the one of more fibers is a fused silica fiber with a core diameter less than approximately 400 microns;

an interface device configured to receive a received portion of the output optical beam and to deliver a delivered portion of the output optical beam to a sample, wherein the interface device comprises one or more lenses to focus at least a part of the delivered portion of the output optical beam on the sample, and wherein the interface device further comprises a surface cooling apparatus to reduce damage to a top surface of the sample; and

wherein the part of the delivered portion of the output optical beam is at least partially absorbed in the sample to thermally damage at least a part of the sample, wherein a sample temperature in the part of the sample reaches about 65 Celsius or higher, while a cover temperature at the top surface of the sample remains less than about 65 Celsius, and wherein the output optical beam comprises a fluence less than about 250 Joules per centimeter squared.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the damage to at least the part of the sample is a thermal coagulation or occlusion procedure, and the sample comprises a skin.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the output optical beam comprises a pulse width less than several milliseconds, and wherein at least a portion of the one or more optical wavelengths is between approximately 900 to approximately 1150 nanometers, between approximately 1280 to approximately 1340 nanometers, or between approximately 1550 to approximately 1680 nanometers.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein at least some of the part of the delivered portion of the output optical beam penetrates into the sample a depth of 1.5 millimeters or more, and wherein the one or more lenses focus at least the part of the delivered portion of the output optical beam on the sample so that the focused output optical beam overcomes a Beer'"'"'s law attenuation in the sample.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the part of the delivered portion of the output optical beam further comprises a visible tracer beam, and the one or more lenses comprise an adjustable focal length system.

6. A therapeutic system comprising:

a light source generating an output optical beam, comprising;

one or more semiconductor sources generating an input optical beam;

one or more fibers configured to receive at least a portion of the input optical beam and to form an intermediate optical beam; and

a light guide configured to receive at least a portion of the intermediate optical beam and to form the output optical beam, wherein the output optical beam comprises one or more optical wavelengths;

an interface device configured to receive a received portion of the output optical beam and to deliver a delivered portion of the output optical beam to a sample, wherein the interface device comprises one or more lenses to focus at least a part of the delivered portion of the output optical beam on the sample, and wherein the interface device further comprises a surface cooling apparatus to reduce damage to a top surface of the sample; and

wherein at least some of the part of the delivered portion of the output optical beam is at least partially absorbed in the sample to thermally damage at least a part of the sample, and wherein a sample temperature in the part of the sample reaches about 65 Celsius or higher, while a cover temperature at the top surface of the sample remains less than about 65 Celsius.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of semiconductor sources generating the input optical beam, and a multiplexer configured to receive at least a part of the input optical beam and further coupled to the one or more fibers.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the part of the delivered portion of the output optical beam further comprises a visible tracer beam.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein at least a portion of the one or more optical wavelengths is between approximately 900 to approximately 1150 nanometers, between approximately 1280 to approximately 1340 nanometers, or between approximately 1550 to approximately 1680 nanometers.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the one or more lenses focus at least the part of the delivered portion of the output optical beam on the sample so that the focused output optical beam overcomes a Beer'"'"'s law attenuation in the sample.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the one or more lenses comprise an adjustable focal length system.

12. The system of claim 6, wherein the damage to at least the part of the sample is a thermal coagulation or occlusion procedure.

13. The system of claim 6, wherein the sample is selected from the group consisting of a superficial vein, a varicose vein, a fungal infection, a hemorrhoid, a tissue welding site, a finger nail and a toe nail.

14. The system of claim 6, wherein the output optical beam comprises a pulse width less than several milliseconds.

15. The system of claim 6, wherein at least some of the part of the delivered portion of the output optical beam penetrates into the sample a depth of 1.5 millimeters or more.

16. The system of claim 6, wherein the output optical beam comprises a fluence less than about 250 Joules per centimeter squared.

17. A method of therapy comprising:

generating an output optical beam, comprising;

generating an input optical beam from one or more semiconductor sources;

forming an intermediate optical beam after propagating at least a portion of the input optical beam through one or more fibers; and

guiding at least a portion of the intermediate optical beam and forming the output optical beam, wherein the output optical beam comprises one or more optical wavelengths;

receiving a received portion of the output optical beam and delivering a delivered portion of the output optical beam to a sample;

focusing at least a part of the delivered portion of the output optical beam on the sample;

cooling a top surface of the sample;

absorbing at least some of the part of the delivered portion of the output optical beam in the sample; and

damaging thermally at least a part of the sample, and wherein a sample temperature in the part of the sample reaches about 65 Celsius or higher, while a cover temperature at the top surface of the sample remains less than about 65 Celsius.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the output optical beam comprises a fluence less than approximately 250 Joules per squared centimeter, and wherein the sample comprises a skin.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the output optical beam comprises a pulse width less than several milliseconds, and wherein at least a portion of the one or more optical wavelengths is between approximately 900 to approximately 1150 nanometers, between approximately 1280 to approximately 1340 nanometers, or between approximately 1550 to approximately 1680 nanometers.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein at least some of the part of the delivered portion of the output optical beam penetrates into the sample a depth of 1.5 millimeters or more.