Laser ablation process and apparatus
US4785806A · kind A · utility
272Cited by
6References
9Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 8, 1987 |
| Grant date | Nov 22, 1988 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 8, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2018/00636
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A process and apparatus for ablating atherosclerotic or tumorous tissues is disclosed. Optical fibers direct low power light energy at a section of tissue to be ablated to cause the section to fluoresce. The fluorescence pattern is analyzed to determine whether the fluorescence frequency spectrum is representative of normal or abnormal tissue. A source of high power ultraviolet laser energy directed through an optical fiber at the section of tissue is fired only when the fluorometric analysis indicates that it is directed at abnormal tissue.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.