Two-pulse, lateral tissue illuminator
First Claim
1. A method of delivering a pulse of optical radiation through a liquid-containing region proximal to a tissue of a patient, and then to the tissue so as to irradiate portions thereof, the method comprising the steps of:
- generating first and second optical pulses, wherein the first optical pulse is of sufficient intensity to form a vapor bubble in the liquid-containing region, and the second optical pulse is of sufficient energy, after passing through the vapor bubble, to irradiate portions of the tissue;
delivering the first optical pulse through a first optical waveguide and into the liquid-containing region so as to form the vapor bubble along a first pathway in the liquid-containing region;
allowing the vapor bubble to expand to displace some of the liquid in the liquid-containing region along the first pathway; and
delivering the second optical pulse (a) through a distal end of a second optical waveguide and along a second pathway substantially orthogonal to the first pathway;
(b) through a portion of the vapor bubble; and
(c) to the tissue of the patient, said delivery along the second pathway reducing attenuation of the second optical pulse by the liquid, thereby increasing the amount of radiation available for irradiating the tissue.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A two-pulse, lateral tissue illuminator in which a first pulse delivered by a first optical waveguide is used to irradiate a liquid-containing region to form a vapor bubble; a second pulse, delivered by a second optical waveguide, is then passed through the vapor bubble and used to incise a tissue of a patient. The illuminating device can be used to effectively deliver radiation to tissue positioned laterally relative to the axis of the delivery fibers, and allows a reduction in the attenuation of the radiation by the surrounding liquid.
63 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of delivering a pulse of optical radiation through a liquid-containing region proximal to a tissue of a patient, and then to the tissue so as to irradiate portions thereof, the method comprising the steps of:
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generating first and second optical pulses, wherein the first optical pulse is of sufficient intensity to form a vapor bubble in the liquid-containing region, and the second optical pulse is of sufficient energy, after passing through the vapor bubble, to irradiate portions of the tissue; delivering the first optical pulse through a first optical waveguide and into the liquid-containing region so as to form the vapor bubble along a first pathway in the liquid-containing region; allowing the vapor bubble to expand to displace some of the liquid in the liquid-containing region along the first pathway; and delivering the second optical pulse (a) through a distal end of a second optical waveguide and along a second pathway substantially orthogonal to the first pathway;
(b) through a portion of the vapor bubble; and
(c) to the tissue of the patient, said delivery along the second pathway reducing attenuation of the second optical pulse by the liquid, thereby increasing the amount of radiation available for irradiating the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification