Surgery – Instruments – Light application
Patent
1994-12-05
2000-03-21
Dvorak, Linda C. M.
Surgery
Instruments
Light application
606 17, 607 88, A61B 1736
Patent
active
060397284
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a working shaft for photo-thermal therapy as well as a device for executing the method of photo-thermal therapy.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known from to transmit optical rays via optical fibers and catheter systems into the interior of a body, wherein the optical fibers are each provided with suitable scatter bodies.
Furthermore, a working shaft is known from DE-C-35 12 018, wherein a fluid is used for cooling and as the waveguide.
However, a number of grave problems arise when it is attempted to also use such systems in connection with endoscopic surgery or interventionally. In particular, impermissible heating occurs in the immediate vicinity of the distal end of the working shaft, which can constitute impermissible impairments.
Furthermore, the direction of the beam cannot be controlled and thus the effect cannot be visually observed simultaneously nor generally modified.
It is the object of the invention to provide the opportunity in connection with a working shaft of the type mentioned at the outset to apply a light beam to the interior of a body in a particularly simple manner in such a way that heating in the immediate area does not exceed impermissible values.
It should be possible in particular to affect the intensity and direction of thermal treatments over a wide range from outside of the body.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This object is attained by a working shaft system which includes a working shaft for insertion into a working tube of at least one of an endoscope and a catheter. The working shaft has a distal end defining a distal area in a vicinity thereof, and further includes: a device for radiating optical beams through the distal end; and a fluid for scattering the beams at least in the distal area. The fluid is operatively associated with the device for radiating such that, at least in the distal area, a path of the beams extends inside the fluid, the fluid further being effective as a coolant for removing waste heat generated by a scattering of the beams in the distal area.
The invention is based on the realization that the possibilities of use of photo-chemical and photo-thermal reactions, which can be triggered and controlled in the interior of the body in a simple manner by means of endoscopy and catheter systems which are today common in the market place, can be considerably improved if a fluid is provided between the area of emergence of the beam and, from an optical waveguide and a dome. The fluid is transparent to the beam, at the distal end of the working shaft, on the one hand, takes up the function of scattering the beam in the sense of evening the beam out in order to prevent too great a beam concentration in the impact area, and, on the other hand, makes possible local heat dissipation in the immediate vicinity of the distal end.
In the course of the above, it was further noted that at increasing distances, because of the non-linear removal of the heat generated by the beam, the removal of excess heat, which can lead to so-called "hot spots" and local carbonization of the tissue, by heat conduction alone was not sufficient in the immediate area of the distal end of the working shaft. Relief can only be obtained here by the possibility of improving the heat transport by circulating the cooling medium. The cooling effect is possibly further increased by means of a fluid which can be vaporized.
Normally the dimensions of the cross section of the working shaft are limited for reasons of insertability, so that therefore the center of the beam must also be concentrated in a relatively small area. However, with another advantageous further development of the invention the end area of the shaft is expandable, so that an increase in the surface of the area of emergence accessible to cooling can also be achieved.
In this way it is possible to remove the generated heat essentially directly in the area where it is created. Thus a non-directional diffuse illumination which, however, is homogenized, is present at the place of ap
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Berlien Hans-Peter
Beuthan Jurgen
Muller Gerhard
Philipp Carsten
Ceram Optec GmbH
Dvorak Linda C. M.
Harris-Ogugua Sonya
Huttinger Medizintechnik GmbH
Skutnik Bolesh J.
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