Patent · US Expired

Use of lasers to break down objects

US5071422A · kind A · utility

31Cited by
12References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 18, 1989
Grant dateDec 10, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 18, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB23K2103/50
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Calculi, stones, calcified tissue and other material are broken down for removal from within a body using laser pulses that are delivered via an optical fiber and have a wavelength, intensity, energy per pulse and pulse duration selected to break down the object into smaller particles without delivering energy sufficient to cause damage to other tissue.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.