Laser system and method for treatment of biological tissues
First Claim
1. A method of treating vascular tissue, the method comprising:
- a. locating a target area of the vascular tissue comprising fibrous vascular tissue on or near retinal tissue;
b. selecting an approach angle; and
c. delivering laser radiation to the target area at the approach angle such that the laser radiation does not significantly penetrate the retinal tissue at the retinal surface, the laser radiation comprising a sequence of laser bursts, wherein each laser burst comprises a plurality of laser pulses having laser fluences sufficient to cut at least a portion of the fibrous vascular tissue away from the retinal tissue while controlling hemorrhaging.
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Abstract
A system for and method of performing laser assisted surgery is disclosed. Laser radiation is preferably delivered to a target area of tissue using a Er:YAG laser source. The laser radiation is delivered to the target area in bursts of laser radiation comprising sets of laser pulses. The bursts of laser radiation are preferably delivered to the target area at a repetition rate in a range of 10 to 40 Hz and with sufficient pulse fluences to cut and/or dissect. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, interchangeable and flexible endo-probes are configured with shield features. The shield features control the emission of laser radiation from the optical fiber while bending the flexible probes allow surgeons to access a range of approach angles for the laser treatment of biological tissue enclosed or within a cavity of a body. The probes can also be configured with mechanical cutters or other structures which allow for the mechanical manipulation of tissue during laser treatment. The system for and method of performing laser assisted surgery is particularly well suited for treating fibrous and/or fibro-vascular membranes (FVMs) on ophthalmic tissue during vitreoretinal surgery.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of treating vascular tissue, the method comprising:
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a. locating a target area of the vascular tissue comprising fibrous vascular tissue on or near retinal tissue;
b. selecting an approach angle; and
c. delivering laser radiation to the target area at the approach angle such that the laser radiation does not significantly penetrate the retinal tissue at the retinal surface, the laser radiation comprising a sequence of laser bursts, wherein each laser burst comprises a plurality of laser pulses having laser fluences sufficient to cut at least a portion of the fibrous vascular tissue away from the retinal tissue while controlling hemorrhaging. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of removing a fibrous membrane from a retinal surface, the method comprising:
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a. locating the fibrous membrane on the retinal surface; and
b. delivering laser radiation to the fibrous membrane, the laser radiation comprising a sequence of laser bursts, wherein each laser burst comprises a plurality of laser pulses having laser fluences sufficient to cut the fibrous membrane from the retinal surface while controlling hemorrhaging. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A method of laser assisted vitroretinal surgery, the method comprising:
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a. selecting a laser pulse sequence; and
b. delivering the laser pulse sequence to a back surface of an eye, the laser pulse sequence comprising a sequence of laser bursts, wherein each laser burst comprises a plurality of laser pulses having laser fluences sufficient to cut fibrous tissue away from the back surface of the eye while controlling hemorrhaging. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification