Reduction of an arteriosclerotic lesion by selective absorption of electromagnetic energy in a component thereof
First Claim
1. A method for reducing an arteriosclerotic lesion in a blood vessel of a patient which comprises directing sufficient electromagnetic energy at said lesion to reduce it, with essentially all of said electromagnetic energy directed at said lesion being of a wavelength in the ultraviolet region at which energy is selectively absorbed, as compared to absorption by whole blood and non-arteriosclerotic blood vessel tissue, by a lesion component present in said lesion at a greater weight percentage (dry basis) than in the whole blood or surrounding non-arteriosclerotic blood vessel tissue of the patient.
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Abstract
A novel method for reducing an arteriosclerotic lesion is disclosed in which the electromagnetic energy directed at the lesion is selectively absorbed by a lesion component, e.g. cholesterol. The resulting decomposition of said lesion component leads to reduction of the lesion with minimal risk of damage to blood constituents and adjacent healthy blood vessel tissue. Preferably, monochromatic electromagnetic energy is generated by a laser and is conducted to the vicinity of the lesion by at least one optical fiber.
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Citations
10 Claims
- 1. A method for reducing an arteriosclerotic lesion in a blood vessel of a patient which comprises directing sufficient electromagnetic energy at said lesion to reduce it, with essentially all of said electromagnetic energy directed at said lesion being of a wavelength in the ultraviolet region at which energy is selectively absorbed, as compared to absorption by whole blood and non-arteriosclerotic blood vessel tissue, by a lesion component present in said lesion at a greater weight percentage (dry basis) than in the whole blood or surrounding non-arteriosclerotic blood vessel tissue of the patient.
Specification