Photocoagulating scalpel system
US4126136A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 9, 1976 |
| Grant date | Nov 21, 1978 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 9, 1996 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2018/00589
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A Photocoagulating scalpel system including a scalpel having a sharp, transparent blade for forming an incision, and a laser optically coupled to the blade for coagulating blood adjacent the incision. Laser radiation is transported to the blade through a low-loss fiberoptic waveguide. The radiation propagates through the waveguide and blade by means of multimode optical waveguide propagation wherein each mode has a discrete angle of incidence with respect to the blade surface. As the radiation reaches the beveled cutting edge of the blade, the angle of the blade surface changes causing the radiation to be emitted from the blade because the incident angles of individual modes fall below the critical internal reflection angle of the blade. Radiation leakage is further increased by the presence of blood on the blade surface which increases the critical internal reflection angle of the blade. Higher order modes having angles of incidence less than the critical internal reflection angles of the waveguide and blade are restricted so that radiation does not leak from the waveguide or blade before reaching the cutting edge. The laser radiation is preferably from an argon laser since its ra…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.