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EP0454312A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method and apparatus for laser lithotripsy

Assignee: AURORA LASER Inc
•
Filing: 1991-04-05
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-04-05
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Abstract

Abstract A laser lithotriptor includes a laser (1) adapted to emit pulsed light which is absorbed by water in the vicinity of a human stone or concrement (7) to cause rapid erosion of the stone. A light transmitting device such as a fibreoptic cable (3) is employed inside of an endoscope to direct the laser pulses to the vicinity of the stones. An irrigation apparatus also ensures that the tip of the light transmitting device and the stone are continuously immersed in water and also serves to remove the powder-like debris of the disintegrated stone from the body. Preferably, a NdYAG laser operating at 1.44 µm which emits 27 pulses per second is coupled to the body stone through an anhydrous quartz fibreoptic cable passing through the interior of an endoscope.

Inventors

  • 👤 John Tulip

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 20:06
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/22; A61B18/26; A61B17/00; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22082; A61B2017/22085; A61B2018/00964; A61B2018/0097

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 104 words
A method of destroying a concrement in the human body, characterised in supplying a liquid to the vicinity of a concrement located in a human body, the liquid being capable of absorbing laser light having a chosen frequency; placing one tip end of a light transmission means closely adjacent and directed towards the concrement, whereby a gap is left between the tip end of the light transmission means and the concrement, the liquid filling the gap; and applying to the light transmission means laser light pulses having the chosen frequency to create micro-explosions in the liquid, whereby the concrement is eroded and produces debris.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 1 characterised in removing the liquid and the debris from the vicinity of the stone.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 24 words
The method of claim 2 characterised in that the tip end of the light transmission means is placed within 2 mm of the concrement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 23 words
The method of claim 2 characterised in that the liquid contains water, and the frequency is a frequency that is absorbable by water.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 4 characterised in that the laser light is generated by a 1.44 µm NdYAG laser.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 122 words
A laser lithotriptor for destroying a human concrement characterised in light transmission means having a tip end locatable adjacent a concrement located in a human body; a liquid capable of absorbing a chosen frequency of a pulsed laser light; a source of pulsed laser light having a chosen frequency that matches the absorption capacity of said liquid disposed to provide pulsed laser light to the light transmission means, whereby the pulsed laser light exits the light transmission means at the tip end of the light transmission means and is absorbed by said liquid to create micro-explosions in the liquid adjacent the concrement; and means for supplying the liquid to the vicinity of the concrement and for removing the liquid from the body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 13 words
The laser lithotriptor of claim 6 characterised in that the liquid is water.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 21 words
The laser lithotriptor of claim 7 characterised in that the source of pulsed laser light is a 1.44 µm NdYAG laser.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 17 words
The laser lithotriptor of claim 6 characterised in that the light transmission means is an optic fiber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 18 words
The laser lithotriptor of claim 16 characterised in that the light transmission means is a hollow light guide.

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