EP0198959A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Method and apparatus for laser surgery
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1985-12-17
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-12-17
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for tissue cutting and cauterizing using a YAG laser (10; 35, 36) and an optical fiber (21). YAG laser outputs at wavelengths of 1.06 and 1.3 microns are used for tissue cauterizing and cutting, respectively. In one embodiment, a multimode laser (10) with means for switching the laser output between the two wavelengths is utilized; in another embodiment, individual lasers (35, 36) operating at the respective wavelengths are utilized (Fig. 1).
Inventors
- 👤 Richard M. Dwyer
- 👤 Douglas A. Pinnow
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:52
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/22; B; B23; B23K; B23K26/00; B23K26/02; A61B2018/00571; A61B2018/00595; A61B2018/00601; A61B2018/2065; A61B2018/207
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
In a method of surgery using a YAG laser (10) and an optical fiber (21), the steps of: directing energy from a YAG laser (10; 35) operating at about a 1.06 micron wavelength, through an optical fiber (21) to tissue (27) to be treated for cauterizing the tissue, and directing energy from a YAG laser (10; 36) operating at about a 1.3 micron wavelength, through the optical fiber (21) to tissue (27) for cutting the tissue.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
76 words
In a method of surgery using a YAG laser (10) and an optical fiber (21), the steps of: directing energy from a YAG laser (10; 35) operating at about a 1.06 micron wavelength, through an optical fiber (21) to tissue (27) to be treated for cauterizing the tissue, and directing energy from a YAG laser (10; 36) operating at about a 1.3 micron wavelength, through the optical fiber (21) to tissue (27) for cutting the tissue.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
"he method of claim 1 utilizing a single laser (10) and changing its wavelength between about 1.06 and about 1.3 microns.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 utilizing two lasers (35, 36) and operating each at a single wavelength, and switching the input to the optical fiber from one laser to the other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
76 words
In a laser surgical apparatus for tissue cutting and cauterizing, the combination of: a multiwavelength YAG laser (10; 35, 36) including means (38) for shifting between output wavelengths of about 1.06 and about 1.3 microns, an optical fiber (21), and means (24) for directing energy from said laser (10) to one end (23) to said fiber (21), with the other end (26) of said fiber (21) moveable to be positioned at tissue (27) to be treated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
76 words
In a laser surgical apparatus for tissue cutting and cauterizing, the combination of: a multiwavelength YAG laser (10; 35, 36) including means (38) for shifting between output wavelengths of about 1.06 and about 1.3 microns, an optical fiber (21), and means (24) for directing energy from said laser (10) to one end (23) to said fiber (21), with the other end (26) of said fiber (21) moveable to be positioned at tissue (27) to be treated.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said means (24) for directing energy includes a first focusing lens (24) for focusing the laser output onto said one end (23) of said fiber (21).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 5 including a second focusing lens (30) mounted at said other end (26) of said fiber (21) and means (31, 32) for changing the focus of said second lens (30).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said means (31, 32) for changing the focus comprises means for moving said second lens (30) toward and away from said fiber end (26).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said means (31, 32) for changing the focus comprises means for moving said second lens (30) into and out of the optical path from said second end (26).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 4 including a focusing lens mounted at said other end (26) of said fiber, and means (31, 32) for changing the focus of said second lens (30).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
70 words
In a laser surgical apparatus for tissue cutting and cauterizing, the combination of: YAG laser means (10) for producing outputs at wavelengths of about 1.06 and about 1.3 microns, an optical fiber (21), and selecting means for directing one of said wavelength outputs to one end (23) of said fiber (21), with the other end (26) of said fiber (21) moveable to be positioned at tissue (27) to be treated.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
70 words
In a laser surgical apparatus for tissue cutting and cauterizing, the combination of: YAG laser means (10) for producing outputs at wavelengths of about 1.06 and about 1.3 microns, an optical fiber (21), and selecting means for directing one of said wavelength outputs to one end (23) of said fiber (21), with the other end (26) of said fiber (21) moveable to be positioned at tissue (27) to be treated.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein said laser means (10) is a multiwavelength laser, and said selecting means includes means for switching the lasinc mode between said wavelengths.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein said laser means (10) includes two lasers (35, 36) with outputs of about 1.06 and about 1.3 microns, respectively, and said selecting means (38) includes means for directing the output of one or the other of said lasers (35, 36) to said fiber one end (23).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said selecting (38) includes means for selectively switching one or the other of said lasers (35 or 36) into operation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
60 words
In a method of surgery using a YAG laser, the steps of: directing energy from a YAG laser (10; 35) operating at about a 1.06 micron wavelength, to tissue (27) to be treated for cauterizing the tissue, and directing energy from a YAG laser (10; 36) operating at about a 1.3 micron wavelength, to tissue (27) for cutting the tissue..
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
60 words
In a method of surgery using a YAG laser, the steps of: directing energy from a YAG laser (10; 35) operating at about a 1.06 micron wavelength, to tissue (27) to be treated for cauterizing the tissue, and directing energy from a YAG laser (10; 36) operating at about a 1.3 micron wavelength, to tissue (27) for cutting the tissue..
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 14 utilizing a single laser (10) and changing its wavelength between about 1.06 and about 1.3 microns.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 14 utilizing two lasers (35, 36) and operating each at a single wavelength.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
72 words
In a laser surgical apparatus for tissue cutting and cauterizing, the combination of: a multiwavelength YAG laser (10) including means (38) for shifting between output wavelengths of about 1.06 and about 1.3 microns, a laser output delivery instrument, and means for directing energy from said laser (10) to one end (23) of said delivery instrument, with the other end of said delivery instrument moveable to be positioned at tissue to be treated.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
72 words
In a laser surgical apparatus for tissue cutting and cauterizing, the combination of: a multiwavelength YAG laser (10) including means (38) for shifting between output wavelengths of about 1.06 and about 1.3 microns, a laser output delivery instrument, and means for directing energy from said laser (10) to one end (23) of said delivery instrument, with the other end of said delivery instrument moveable to be positioned at tissue to be treated.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
68 words
In a laser surgical apparatus for tissue cutting and cauterizing, the combination of: YAG laser means (10) for producing outputs at wavelengths of about 1.06 and about 1.3 microns; a laser output delivery device, and selecting means for directing one of said wavelength outputs to one end of said delivery device, with the other end of said delivery device moveable to be positioned at tissue to be treated.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
68 words
In a laser surgical apparatus for tissue cutting and cauterizing, the combination of: YAG laser means (10) for producing outputs at wavelengths of about 1.06 and about 1.3 microns; a laser output delivery device, and selecting means for directing one of said wavelength outputs to one end of said delivery device, with the other end of said delivery device moveable to be positioned at tissue to be treated.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein said laser means (10) is a multiwavelength laser, and said selecting means includes means (38) for switching the lasin g mode between said wavelengths.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein said laser means (35, 36) includes two lasers with outputs of about 1.06 and 1.3 microns, respectively, and said selecting means includes means (38) for directing the output of one or the other of said lasers (35 or 36) to said delivery instrument one end (23).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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