Surgical tool for use with a contact laser

• US 5,607,420 A
• Filed: 07/07/1993
• Issued: 03/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Surgical Laser Technologies Incorporated (Dalian Jikang Medical Systems Import & Export Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Surgical Laser Technologies Incorporated (Dalian Jikang Medical Systems Import & Export Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Schuman, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Shay, David M.
• Application Number:
  US08/088,247
• Time in Patent Office: 1,336 Days
• Field of Search: 606/28, 606/31, 606/27, 606/2-18, 607/89, 128/4, 128/6, 604/902, 604/118, 604/19, 604/20, 604/119
• US Class Current: 606/15
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/24 with a catheter A61B18/26, A61B18/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2238 with means for selectively laterally deflecting the tip of the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/106 reciprocating

Abstract

The surgical tool is used in conjunction with a direct contact laser that is powered through a small diameter laser power tube. In one embodiment, the tool includes a bendable, rigid tube having a lumen sufficiently larger than the laser power tube such that upon application of an axial, inboard directed force, the laser power tube is axially compressed within the lumen of the bendable tube. The contact laser tip, located at the end of the power tube, is powered by a laser core which is retained within the lumen of the laser power tube. The laser core is flooded by irrigation and cooling fluid flowing through the laser power tube. This fluid is ejected or emitted from the distal end of the laser power tube immediately behind the laser contact tip. In one embodiment, the bendable tube includes a handle and a bendable, rigid nozzle made of plastic. A longitudinally actuated suction control valve is disposed in the handle. The laser power tube extends through the valve seat of this control valve such that upon actuation of the valve, the laser power tube and hence the contact laser tip moves with respect to the rigid tube.

Claims

1. In combination with a thermal surgical laser that is powered through a small diameter combination laser power fiber optic and coolant carrying tube, a surgical tool coupled to a source of suction comprising:

a conduit, having a distal open end, establishing a suction line from a surgical site adjacent to said open end to said source of suction for removal of debris and fluids including irrigation fluid;

an elongated handle, defining a portion of said conduit, and a contiguous bendable, rigid tube defining a distal end portion of said conduit, said handle including a longitudinally actuated operator suction control valve, and

a forward biased, rearwardly depressible heat generating surgical laser tip attached to a distal end of said laser power fiber optic, the surgical laser tip protruding from said distal open end of said conduit and adapted to palpate and contact said surgical site and to heat irrigation fluid for selectively searing or blanching of tissue and other obstructions,

said laser power fiber optic and coolant carrying tube being movably affixed to said longitudinally actuated operator suction control valve such that upon actuation of said valve said surgical laser tip extends or retracts with respect to said distal open end of said bendable, rigid tube.

2. A surgical tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control valve includes a valve seat formed within said elongated handle and a stopper coupled to an operator slide control as said longitudinally actuated valve.

3. A surgical tool as claimed in claim 2 wherein said laser power fiber optic extends through said handle, said valve seat and said stopper.

4. In combination with a thermal surgical laser that is powered through a small diameter combination laser power fiber optic and coolant carrying tube, said tube receiving a laser power fiber optic having a distal end, a combination suction and surgical tool coupled to a source of suction comprising:

a hollow handpiece having a proximal end and a distal end, and including a longitudinally actuated operator suction control valve;

a bendable, rigid tube extending from said distal end of said handpiece, said rigid tube having an open end adapted to be placed adjacent to a surgical site and having a lumen therethrough sufficiently larger than said laser power fiber optic such that when a predetermined length of said laser power fiber optic is disposed in said lumen and a substantially axially aligned, inboard directed force is applied to said laser power fiber optic, said laser power fiber optic is given a degree of warp within said lumen and said fiber optic length is compressed therein;

a heat generating thermal surgical laser tip carried at the distal end of said laser power fiber optic for heating irrigation fluid for selectively searing or blanching of tissue and other obstructions, the degree of warp of said laser power fiber optic being sufficient to establish an axially rearward spring loading for said laser tip when the end of said laser power fiber optic protrudes beyond said open end of said rigid tube for the laser tip to palpate said surgical site; and

,

a coupling tube in communication with said source of suction, said handpiece and said bendable, rigid tube, such that suction is provided through said lumen and at said surgical site for removal of debris and fluids including irrigation fluids;

wherein said laser power fiber optic extends through at least a portion of said coupling tube, through said handpiece and said bendable, rigid tube,

said laser power fiber optic and coolant carrying tube being movably affixed to said longitudinally actuated operator suction control valve such that upon actuation of said valve said surgical laser tip extends or retracts with respect to said distal open end of said bendable, rigid tube.

5. A surgical tool as claimed in claim 4 wherein said laser power fiber optic carries irrigation and cooling fluid and said laser tip includes a discharge port for said irrigation and cooling fluid.

6. A surgical tool as claimed in claim 4 wherein said control valve includes a valve seat formed within said handpiece and a stopper coupled to an operator slide control as said longitudinally actuated valve and said laser power fiber optic extends through said handle, said valve seat and said stopper.