Photocoagulating scalpel system

Details Photocoagulating scalpel system Photocoagulating scalpel system

1976-02-09

1978-11-21

Michell, Robert W.

Surgery

Truss

Pad

128305, 219121L, 331DIG1, A61B 1736

Patent

active

041261364

ABSTRACT:
A Photocoagulating scalpel system including a scalpel having a sharp, transparent blade for forming an incision, and a laser optically coupled to the blade for coagulating blood adjacent the incision. Laser radiation is transported to the blade through a low-loss fiberoptic waveguide. The radiation propagates through the waveguide and blade by means of multimode optical waveguide propagation wherein each mode has a discrete angle of incidence with respect to the blade surface. As the radiation reaches the beveled cutting edge of the blade, the angle of the blade surface changes causing the radiation to be emitted from the blade because the incident angles of individual modes fall below the critical internal reflection angle of the blade. Radiation leakage is further increased by the presence of blood on the blade surface which increases the critical internal reflection angle of the blade. Higher order modes having angles of incidence less than the critical internal reflection angles of the waveguide and blade are restricted so that radiation does not leak from the waveguide or blade before reaching the cutting edge. The laser radiation is preferably from an argon laser since its radiation is at a wavelength which is readily absorbed by red hemoglobin while being reflected by white tissue so that the radiation coagulates blood without causing extensive necrosis of the incised tissue. A power control on the handle of the scalpel allows the surgeon to adjust the intensity of the radiation as required depending upon the quantity of blood to be coagulated.

REFERENCES:
patent: 3283124 (1966-11-01), Kawecki
patent: 3467098 (1969-09-01), Ayres
patent: 3538919 (1967-04-01), Meyer
patent: 3769963 (1973-11-01), Goldman et al.
patent: 3826263 (1974-07-01), Cage et al.

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