Apparatus and methods for using a circumferential light-emitting surgical laser probe
First Claim
1. A laser apparatus for placement into a body cavity and for redirecting laser light at a target site, the target site being comprised of body tissue or the like that is circumferentially located about the laser apparatus, the laser apparatus comprising:
- a probe means for insertion and placement comprising;
lightguide means for guiding laser light along a pathway to a distal end of the lightguide means;
tip means, joined to the lightguide means at the distal end thereof, for redirecting the laser light onto the target site but without focusing it such that the redirected laser light contacts the circumferentially located target site about substantially its entire periphery in a substantially continuous and uninterrupted annular pattern of substantially uniform power distribution; and
placement means surrounding the probe means for supporting the probe means and for simultaneously isolating the target site from adjacent body tissue so as to protect the tissue from increased thermal conditions while laser light is directed through the laser probe, and wherein the placement means comprises window mean for allowing the redirected laser light to reach the target site through the placement means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Novel apparatus and methods for a circumferential laser and methods for using a circumferential burning laser are disclosed. The circumferential burning laser comprises a conical surface at the distal end of a probe of the laser which is coated with a highly reflective material such as gold. The conical, reflective surface is designed so as to direct the laser light which is emitted through the interior metal lumen of the laser probe so that the laser light is redirected perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the laser probe. This is in contradistinction to the typical laser probe wherein the laser light is directed longitudinally through the end of the laser probe. The laser light is provided by a carbon dioxide laser which is attached at the proximal end of the laser probe.
The present invention also comprises methods for using a circumferential burning laser. The methods for using a circumferential burning laser involve placing the above-described laser probe in position relative to a target site. In the preferred embodiment, the laser probe is placed in the urethral canal such that a transurethral resection of benign prostatic hypertrophy may be performed.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A laser apparatus for placement into a body cavity and for redirecting laser light at a target site, the target site being comprised of body tissue or the like that is circumferentially located about the laser apparatus, the laser apparatus comprising:
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a probe means for insertion and placement comprising;
lightguide means for guiding laser light along a pathway to a distal end of the lightguide means;tip means, joined to the lightguide means at the distal end thereof, for redirecting the laser light onto the target site but without focusing it such that the redirected laser light contacts the circumferentially located target site about substantially its entire periphery in a substantially continuous and uninterrupted annular pattern of substantially uniform power distribution; and placement means surrounding the probe means for supporting the probe means and for simultaneously isolating the target site from adjacent body tissue so as to protect the tissue from increased thermal conditions while laser light is directed through the laser probe, and wherein the placement means comprises window mean for allowing the redirected laser light to reach the target site through the placement means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A laser apparatus for extending through a generally tubular area and for removing excess tissue from a target site located circumferentially thereabout within the generally tubular area, the laser apparatus comprising:
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a lightguide extending through the generally tubular area to the target site, the lightguide defining a pathway for laser light directed therethrough; an elongated sleeve having a tip attached to one end thereof, the tip comprising a substantially symmetrical reflective conical surface that receives and redirects the laser light, the conical surface being defined by selected angle of incidence relative to the pathway defined by the lightguide so that the laser light striking the reflective conical surface is redirected generally annularly about substantially the entire periphery of the tip onto the target site circumferentially located thereabout to remove the excess tissue; and a placement tube having a proximal end and a distal end, and at least one lumen, at least one area along the exterior of the placement tube being recessed and communicating with the at least one lumen, the placement tube further comprising at least one inflatable cuff residing in the at least one recessed area, the at least one inflatable cuff securing the placement tube adjacent the target site while simultaneously isolating the target site from adjacent tissue when in an inflated condition, the at least one inflatable cuff communicating with the at least one lumen to channel fluid between the at least one lumen and the at least one inflatable cuff to cool and inflate the at least one inflatable cuff, the placement tube having a bore through which the lightguide slidably engages, the bore being accessible to the generally tubular area about the placement tube through at least one window formed in the placement tube, the window providing access about the placement tube so as to allow the laser light to contact the target site as the laser light travels from the reflective conical surface through the at least one window of the placement tube to the target site, and the placement tube further comprising at least one longitudinally placed ridge to align the lightguide to the placement tube when inserted therein, and the lightguide further comprising at least one longitudinally placed recess at its perimeter which communicates with the at least one ridge of the placement tube such that the lightguide is aligned when inserted within the placement tube. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of directing laser light through a laser probe located adjacent a surrounding target site in a body cavity, the method comprising the steps of:
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guiding laser light along a pathway, the pathway being defined by a laser probe; redirecting the laser light onto the target site but without focusing it such that the redirected laser light contacts the surrounding target site about substantially its entire periphery in a substantially continuous and uninterrupted annular pattern of substantially uniform power distribution; and inserting a placement device to support the laser probe and to isolate the target site from adjacent body tissue so as to protect the tissue from increased thermal conditions while laser light is directed through the laser probe, and directing the redirected laser light to the target site through a window in the placement device. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification