Optical fibre and laser for removal of arterial or vascular obstructions
First Claim
1. An optical fiber and laser apparatus for removal of arterial and vascular obstructions, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a laser light source capable of generating a laser light for the ablation of an arterial or vascular obstruction;
(b) a rotatable optical fiber exiting from said laser light source;
(c) means for rotating said optical fiber;
(d) means for longitudinally stepping said optical fiber, said means for longitudinally stepping including a longitudinal stepper motor; and
(e) a catheter for receiving said optical fiber, said catheter having a protective shield, wherein said optical fiber directs said laser light from said laser light source to an arterial or vascular obstruction while rotating or longitudinally stepping or simultaneously rotating and longitudinally stepping said optical fiber.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method of ablating obstructing vascular or arterial material is provided including a pre-polished optical fiber for providing a specific laser light path focal point inserted within a catheter having a protective shield. The optical fiber may be controlled for axial and rotational movement via an optical rotary coupler and a rotary axial stepper to provide rotation speed of up to 5,000 rpm and incremental axial movement from between 1 micron to 1 millimeter. A laser light source is provided for adjustment of the wavelength of the laser light emitted from the end face of the optical fiber to correspond to the absorption characteristics of the material to be ablated.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An optical fiber and laser apparatus for removal of arterial and vascular obstructions, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a laser light source capable of generating a laser light for the ablation of an arterial or vascular obstruction; (b) a rotatable optical fiber exiting from said laser light source; (c) means for rotating said optical fiber; (d) means for longitudinally stepping said optical fiber, said means for longitudinally stepping including a longitudinal stepper motor; and (e) a catheter for receiving said optical fiber, said catheter having a protective shield, wherein said optical fiber directs said laser light from said laser light source to an arterial or vascular obstruction while rotating or longitudinally stepping or simultaneously rotating and longitudinally stepping said optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of ablating obstructing vascular or arterial material, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) inserting an optical fiber and laser apparatus into an arterial or vascular structure, said apparatus comprising (i) a laser light source capable of generating a laser light for the ablation of an arterial or vascular obstruction, (ii) a rotatable optical fiber exiting from said laser light source, (iii) means for rotating said optical fiber, (iv) means for longitudinally stepping said optical fiber including a longitudinal stepping motor; and
(v) a catheter for receiving said optical fiber;(b) rotating said optical fiber at a predetermined rate or longitudinally stepping said optical fiber using a longitudinal stepping motor at a predetermined increment or simultaneously rotating said optical fiber at a predetermined rate and longitudinally stepping said optical fiber at a predetermined increment; and (c) generating a laser light through said optical fiber with said laser light source while rotating or longitudinally stepping or simultaneously rotating and longitudinally stepping said optical fiber, whereby said optical fiber directs said laser light to an arterial or vascular obstruction for the ablation thereof.
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Specification