Infrared laser catheter system
US6159203A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 15, 1990 |
| Grant date | Dec 12, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 15, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2018/2065
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Laser energy produced by a laser operating in the mid-infrared region (approximately 2 micrometers) is delivered by an optical fiber in a catheter to a surgical site for biological tissue removal and repair. Disclosed laser sources which have an output wavelength in this region include: Holmium-doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Ho:YAG), Holmium-doped Yttrium Lithium Fluoride (Ho:YLF), Erbium-doped YAG, Erbium-doped YLF and Thulium-doped YAG. For tissue removal, the lasers are operated with relatively long pulses at energy levels of approximately 1 joule per pulse. For tissue repair, the lasers are operated in a continuous wave mode at low power. Laser output energy is applied to a silica-based optical fiber which has been specially purified to reduce the hydroxyl-ion concentration to a low level. The catheter may be comprised of a single optical fiber or a plurality of optical fibers arranged to give overlapping output patterns for large area coverage.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.