Infrared laser catheter system

Details Infrared laser catheter system Infrared laser catheter system

1988-03-10

1990-04-17

Howell, Kyle L.

Surgery

Instruments

Light application

128398, 606 15, 606 16, 606 18, A61N 506

Patent

active

049170848

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), Holmium-doped Yttrium-Scandium-Gadolinium=Garnet (HO:YSGG), Erbium-doped YAG, Erbium-doped YLF and Thulium-doped YAG. 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. In a preferred application for the removal of atheroscleotic plaque, a Holmium-doped laser operating in the wavelength range of from about 1.9 to about 2.1 micrometers is preferred. For removal of such plaque by a Holmium-doped laser, it has been found that the threshold energy density should be greater than about 0.6 joules/mm.sup.2 per pulse, and that the pulse width should be substantially less than about 83 milliseconds, and that the repetition rate should be in the range of from about 1 to about 10 Hertz.

REFERENCES:
patent: 4141362 (1979-02-01), Wurster
patent: 4321559 (1982-03-01), Esterowitz
patent: 4469098 (1984-09-01), Davi
patent: 4556057 (1985-12-01), Hiruma et al.
patent: 4559942 (1985-12-01), Eisenberg
patent: 4566765 (1986-01-01), Miyauchi et al.
patent: 4572189 (1986-02-01), Smith et al.
patent: 4750486 (1988-06-01), Butler et al.
patent: 4775361 (1988-10-01), Jacques et al.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Infrared laser catheter system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Infrared laser catheter system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Infrared laser catheter system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1045483