Endoscopic laser instrument
First Claim
1. An endoscopic laser instrument, having a longitudinal axis, for treating a selected area of body tissue comprisingan outer tubular sheath having open proximal and distal ends,endoscopic means mounted in said sheath and having an eyepiece and a viewing lens disposed adjacent to the proximal and distal ends of said sheath, respectively, for providing a visual field having a wide viewing angle of at least 30°
- ,laser light transmitting means mounted in said sheath and terminating at a distal end thereof disposed adjacent to the distal end of said sheath for emitting a laser beam from said instrument,reflecting means, disposed entirely forwardly of and having an area substantially larger than said viewing lens and further disposed adjacent to and in facing relationship relative to the distal end of said laser light transmitting means, for receiving and reflecting said laser beam without changing the character or the divergence thereof after said beam exits said laser light transmitting means and impinges on said selected area of body tissue, said viewing lens disposed longitudinally between the distal end of said laser light transmitting means and said reflecting means to permit said laser beam to intersect said visual field prior to its reflection by said reflecting means, andadjustment means for selectively tilting said reflecting means to direct said reflected laser beam within the range of said visual field.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An endoscopic laser instrument is adapted to treat selected areas of body tissue, such as the treatment and evaporation of tumors occurring on the inner of a bladder. The instrument comprises an outer tubular sheath having an optical fiber extending therethrough to emit a laser beam onto an adjustable mirror that reflects the laser beam exiting the fiber to selected areas of the bladder without changing the character of divergence of the beam once it has emerged from the fiber. A standard endoscope viewing optic is mounted in the sheath to permit a surgeon to visually inspect the bladder through a wide visual field. A gas, such as carbon dioxide, is continuously circulated through the instrument and into the bladder for inflation and purging purposes.
192 Citations
27 Claims
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1. An endoscopic laser instrument, having a longitudinal axis, for treating a selected area of body tissue comprising
an outer tubular sheath having open proximal and distal ends, endoscopic means mounted in said sheath and having an eyepiece and a viewing lens disposed adjacent to the proximal and distal ends of said sheath, respectively, for providing a visual field having a wide viewing angle of at least 30° - ,
laser light transmitting means mounted in said sheath and terminating at a distal end thereof disposed adjacent to the distal end of said sheath for emitting a laser beam from said instrument, reflecting means, disposed entirely forwardly of and having an area substantially larger than said viewing lens and further disposed adjacent to and in facing relationship relative to the distal end of said laser light transmitting means, for receiving and reflecting said laser beam without changing the character or the divergence thereof after said beam exits said laser light transmitting means and impinges on said selected area of body tissue, said viewing lens disposed longitudinally between the distal end of said laser light transmitting means and said reflecting means to permit said laser beam to intersect said visual field prior to its reflection by said reflecting means, and adjustment means for selectively tilting said reflecting means to direct said reflected laser beam within the range of said visual field. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A modular endoscopic laser instrument, having a longitudinal axis, for surgically treating a selected area of body tissue comprising
an outer tubular sheath having open proximal and distal ends, a laser assembly mounted on said instrument comprising laser light transmitting means, including at least one optical fiber terminating at a distal end thereof disposed adjacent to the distal end of said sheath, for emitting a laser beam therefrom, reflecting means, including a mirror disposed adjacent to and in facing relationship relative to the distal end of said optical fiber, for receiving and reflecting said laser beam without changing the character or divergence thereof, after said beam exits said optical fiber, and adjustment means for selectively adjusting said mirror, relative to said axis, to vary the angle of incidence of said laser beam on said mirror, and an interchangeable endoscope assembly, slidably mounted in said sheath, comprising an eyepiece and a viewing lens mounted on opposite ends thereof to dispose them adjacent to the proximal and distal ends of said sheath, respectively, for providing a visual field having a wide viewing angle of at least 30° - , said mirror disposed entirely forwardly of and having an area substantially larger than said viewing lens and said viewing lens disposed longitudinally between the distal end of said optical fiber and said mirror to permit said laser beam to intersect said visual field prior to its reflection by said mirror.
- View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An endoscopic laser instrument, having a longitudinal axis, for treating a selected area of body tissue comprising.
an outer tubular sheath having open proximal and distal ends, and an endoscope assembly slidably mounted in said sheath and comprising a tubular member having an eyepiece and a viewing lens mounted on opposite ends thereof to dispose them adjacent to the proximal and distal ends of said sheath, respectively, for providing a visual field having a wide viewing angle of at least 30° - ,
laser light transmitting means mounted in said sheath and terminating at a distal end thereof disposed adjacent to the distal end of said sheath for emitting a laser beam from said instrument, reflecting means, including a mirror disposed entirely forwardly of and having an area substantially larger than said viewing lens and further disposed externally of said sheath adjacent to and in facing relationship relative to the distal end of said laser transmitting means, for receiving and reflecting said laser beam without changing the character or divergence thereof after said laser beam exits said laser light transmitting means, said viewing lens disposed longitudinally between the distal end of said laser light transmitting means and said mirror to permit said laser beam to intersect said visual field prior to its reflection by said mirror, and adjustment means for selectively tilting said mirror through an angle of at least approximately 60°
to direct said reflected laser beam within the range of said visual field, said reflecting means and said adjustment means forming a separate assembly slidably mounted in said sheath.
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Specification