Method and apparatus for treating a body site with laterally directed laser radiation
First Claim
1. A catheter suitable for coupling to a laser source to direct radiant energy laterally to a selected body cavity site, said catheter comprising:
- (a) an elongate, optical fiber adapted for coupling to said laser source and having a distal end region that extends along a longitudinal axis and that terminates in an energy delivery surface for emitting laser radiation transmitted by the fiber;
(b) reflector means exposed to said cavity site and positioned generally axially aligned with said energy delivery surface for reflecting said emitted radiation in a beam radiating substantially transversely of, and substantially around, said axis;
(c) a housing defining a central bore in which said optical fiber is disposed with said fiber energy delivery surface projecting beyond said bore;
said housing including a plurality of struts circumferentially spaced around, and extending beyond, said fiber energy delivery surface;
said housing including a support ring connecting ends of said struts; and
said reflector means including a reflector plug mounted to said ring, said plug defining a conical surface that has an apex on said axis and that faces said fiber energy delivery surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and device are provided for directing laser radiation to a body cavity site. A hollow, elongate, optical fiber is advanced, usually in a containing device, to the vicinity of the site and coupled to a laser source with a distal end region of the fiber extending along a longitudinal axis. The fiber terminates in an energy delivery surface for emitting laser radiation transmitted by the fiber. The radiation is intercepted at a location axially aligned with the energy delivery surface and is reflected in a beam radiating substantially transversely of, and substantially circumferentially around, the axis. A reflector member or block is provided for reflecting the radiation and is mounted in an open end of the catheter at a selected axial position along the axis. A fluid, such as a flushing fluid, can be directed between the end of the fiber, against the reflector member, and to the body site.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A catheter suitable for coupling to a laser source to direct radiant energy laterally to a selected body cavity site, said catheter comprising:
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(a) an elongate, optical fiber adapted for coupling to said laser source and having a distal end region that extends along a longitudinal axis and that terminates in an energy delivery surface for emitting laser radiation transmitted by the fiber; (b) reflector means exposed to said cavity site and positioned generally axially aligned with said energy delivery surface for reflecting said emitted radiation in a beam radiating substantially transversely of, and substantially around, said axis; (c) a housing defining a central bore in which said optical fiber is disposed with said fiber energy delivery surface projecting beyond said bore; said housing including a plurality of struts circumferentially spaced around, and extending beyond, said fiber energy delivery surface; said housing including a support ring connecting ends of said struts; and said reflector means including a reflector plug mounted to said ring, said plug defining a conical surface that has an apex on said axis and that faces said fiber energy delivery surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification