Laterally reflecting tip for laser transmitting fiber
First Claim
1. A light reflecting tip apparatus for mounting upon a distal end portion of a flexible elongated laser light transmitting fiber, comprising:
- a metal body having a reflecting mirror surface defined on said body and positioned to laterally reflect at least some light from said fiber; and
means, operably associated with said metal body, for preventing clinically significant heating of said metal body, said means including a flushing passageway defined laterally through said metal body and passing adjacent said reflecting mirror surface, said flushing passageway having first and second laterally opposite flushing passageway ends so that liquid surrounding said tip may pass in one of said first and second flushing passageway ends, then through said flushing passageway, then out the other of said first and second flushing passageway ends, said flushing passageway being free from communication with any source of flushing fluid other than said liquid surrounding said tip.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An operating assembly for use in a liquid operating environment includes a flexible elongated light transmitting fiber having a light reflecting tip mounted thereon for reflecting the light beam laterally. The tip includes a number of features which minimize undesired heating of the tip. The tip is preferably made of solid gold and has a reflecting mirror surface coined on the gold tip. A lateral flushing passageway is disposed through the tip and allows surrounding ambient liquid to flow across the surface of the mirror to aid in cooling the tip and to aid in keeping the mirror clean. The tip is preferably mounted on the fiber by crimping. The tip includes a sufficient volume of material having a sufficient thermal conductivity located between the reflecting mirror and the crimped connection so as to dissipate heat energy which may be generated in the tip and to avoid sufficient heat energy reaching the crimped connection to cause a thermally induced failure of the mechanical attachment of the tip to the fiber at the crimp.
133 Citations
54 Claims
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1. A light reflecting tip apparatus for mounting upon a distal end portion of a flexible elongated laser light transmitting fiber, comprising:
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a metal body having a reflecting mirror surface defined on said body and positioned to laterally reflect at least some light from said fiber; and means, operably associated with said metal body, for preventing clinically significant heating of said metal body, said means including a flushing passageway defined laterally through said metal body and passing adjacent said reflecting mirror surface, said flushing passageway having first and second laterally opposite flushing passageway ends so that liquid surrounding said tip may pass in one of said first and second flushing passageway ends, then through said flushing passageway, then out the other of said first and second flushing passageway ends, said flushing passageway being free from communication with any source of flushing fluid other than said liquid surrounding said tip. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An operating assembly for use in a liquid operating environment, comprising:
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a flexible elongated light transmitting fiber having a distal end portion with a distal fiber end defined thereon; and a light reflecting tip attached to said distal end portion of said fiber, said tip including a reflecting mirror surface adjacent said distal fiber end and so arranged and constructed as to laterally reflect light exiting said distal fiber end, said tip having a flushing passageway defined therein so that surrounding liquid from said liquid operating environment may pass through said flushing passageway to carry away from said tip liquid heated by light passing through said distal fiber end, said flushing passageway being free from communication with any source of flushing fluid other than said surrounding liquid from said liquid operating environment. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A light reflecting tip apparatus for mounting upon a distal end portion of a flexible elongated light transmitting fiber, comprising:
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an elongated cylindrical body having a fiber receiving longitudinal opening means defined therein for receiving said distal end portion of said fiber, and having a lateral passageway defined therethrough and intersecting said longitudinal opening, said lateral passageway having first and second end openings; a reflecting mirror surface means defined on said body for reflecting light from said fiber laterally outward through said lateral passageway; and wherein said lateral passageway provides a flushing means for permitting surrounding fluid to flow in one of said first and second end openings, then adjacent said reflecting mirror surface means and said distal end portion of said fiber, then out the other of said first and second end openings, said flushing means being free from communication with any source of flushing fluid other than said surrounding fluid surrounding said cylindrical body. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An operating assembly for use in a liquid operating environment, comprising:
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a flexible elongated light transmitting fiber having a distal end portion with, a distal fiber end defined thereon, said fiber including a core, a cladding surrounding said core, and an outer protective jacket surrounding said cladding; and a light reflecting tip comprising; a body; a hollow crimping cylinder extending proximally from said body; said body and said crimping cylinder having a body bore defined therein, said distal end portion of said fiber being received in said body bore; at least one crimp in said crimping cylinder, said crimp mechanically attaching said light reflecting tip to said outer protective jacket of said fiber; a reflecting mirror surface means defined on said body for laterally reflecting at least some light from said fiber; and said body having a lateral flushing passageway means defined laterally through said body and in communication with said body bore, for permitting surrounding liquid to flow through said lateral flushing passageway means for cooling said tip. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method of applying laser energy to a site within a patient'"'"'s body to alter, remove or destroy tissue at said site, comprising:
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(a) providing an operating assembly comprising; a flexible elongated light transmitting fiber having a distal end portion with a distal fiber end defined thereon; and a light reflecting tip attached to said distal end portion of said fiber, said tip including a reflecting mirror surface adjacent said distal fiber end, said tip having a flushing passageway defined therein; (b) inserting said operating assembly into a liquid operating environment within said patient'"'"'s body; (c) positioning said tip adjacent said site within said patient'"'"'s body; (d) transmitting laser light along said fiber; (e) reflecting at least some of said laser light off said mirror surface and transmitting the reflected light through a portion of said flushing passageway out of said tip and onto said site within said patient'"'"'s body; and (f) flowing surrounding liquid solely from said liquid operating environment through said flushing passageway without providing any flushing liquid from any source other than said liquid operating environment, and thereby carrying away from said tip liquid heated by light in said distal fiber end. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. An operating assembly for use in a liquid operating environment, comprising:
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a flexible elongated light transmitting fiber having a distal end portion with a distal fiber end defined thereon, said fiber including a core, a cladding surrounding said core, and an outer protective jacket surrounding said cladding; and a light reflecting tip comprising; a body; a hollow crimping cylinder extending proximally from said body; said body and said crimping cylinder having a body bore defined therein, said distal end portion of said fiber being received in said body bore; at least one crimp in said crimping cylinder, said crimp mechanically attaching said light reflecting tip to said outer protective jacket of said fiber; an interior wall surface defined in said body and including a reflecting mirror surface oriented to laterally reflect light from said fiber; and said body having a lateral flushing passageway defined laterally through said body and communicated with said body bore, said passageway being partially bounded by said interior wall surface, so that surrounding liquid may flow through said lateral flushing passageway to aid in cooling said tip. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. An operating assembly for use in a liquid operating environment, comprising:
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a flexible elongated light transmitting fiber having a distal end portion with a distal fiber end defined thereon, said fiber including a core, a cladding surrounding said core, and an outer protective jacket surrounding said cladding; and a light reflecting tip comprising; a body; a hollow crimping cylinder extending proximally from said body; said body and said crimping cylinder having a body bore defined therein, said distal end portion of said fiber being received in said body bore; at least one crimp in said crimping cylinder, said crimp mechanically attaching said light reflecting tip to said outer protective jacket of said fiber; an interior wall defined in said body and having a recessed reflecting mirror surface defined on said wall; and said body having a lateral opening defined therein adjacent said interior wall. - View Dependent Claims (54)
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Specification