Surgery – Instruments – Light application
Reexamination Certificate
1997-06-30
2001-10-16
Nasser, Robert L. (Department: 3736)
Surgery
Instruments
Light application
C606S015000, C606S016000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302878
ABSTRACT:
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system for irradiating a living body with laser light, and in particular to a system for irradiating a living body with laser light which is excellent in therapeutic effect by enhancing the absorption effect of laser light at a target area in a living tissue,
2. Prior Art
Recently, incision, evaporation, solidification and hyperthermia treatment of a living tissue have been frequently conducted by irradiating the living tissue with laser light.
In this case, a non-contact irradiating method in which laser light is directly emitted toward a living body from an optical fiber positioned remotely from the living body is frequently conducted as well as a contact irradiating method in which laser light is emitted toward a living tissue from a light guiding probe provided in front of an optical fiber which is in contact with the living tissue as is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,736,743, filed by the present inventor.
Means having a layer containing heat absorbing powders which is formed in the tip end of a probe, for converting the energy of the laser light into thermal energy to facilitate the incision and/or solidification of the tissue is disclosed in the foregoing patent.
The contact method is advantageous in that positioning of the probe can be properly carried out with respect to a target position and in that the amount of laser light incident upon the tissue can be precisely controlled.
Although the distribution of the energy of the laser light emitted from a probe can be determined to some extent by selecting the configuration of the probe depending upon application, control in such manner that the laser light is incident upon a predetermined area, but is not incident upon the other area is impossible. Accordingly, unwanted area, other than target areas would be irradiated with the laser light. There is the risk that the tissue at the unwanted areas may be damaged.
If the diseased part to be treated is within the tissue, it is necessary to directly irradiate the diseased part, with the laser light after the tissue has been incised into the vicinity of the diseased part since the normal tissue from the surface to the diseased part would be otherwise damaged. This may be a cause of delay of the recovery or cure of the patient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to reduce damage to the least possible amount of tissue other than the tissue to be treated by causing only the tissue to be treated.
It is another object of the present invention to reduce the damage to the sound tissue even if the diseased part within the tissue is irradiated with the laser light from the surface thereof.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a system for irradiating a living body with laser light, characterized in that it comprises a target means located on the surface or in the inside of a living tissue to be treated including a material which absorbs the laser light to thereby generate heat; and means for irradiating said target with the laser light to cause said heating generate heat.
Said laser light irradiating means preferably comprises a laser light emitting portion responsive to laser light from a laser light generator for emitting laser light; a cooling portion which is provided in at least a laser light emitting direction; and coolant supplying means for conducting coolant through said cooling portion.
The laser light irradiating means irradiates with laser light the target located on the surface or in the inside of a living tissue to be treated, including a material which absorbs the laser light to generate heat be heated thereby so that the material will generate heat while the cooling portion is in contact with the surface of the living tissue.
The laser light may be preferably pulsed laser light.
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McDermott & Will & Emery
Nasser Robert L.
S.L.T. Japan Co., Ltd.
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