Patent EP0792664A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0792664A2
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Apparatus using a laser lucent needle
Assignee: Indigo Medical Inc
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Filing: 1992-03-24
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-03-24
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus formed of a laser lucent hollow, transparent needle (10) with an optical fibre (12) disposed within its interior. Means such as a spacer (14) can be used to retain the fibre in position within the needle. The end of the needle adjacent to the energy transmitting end of the fibre is closed and a liquid is disposed within the needle for cooling the fibre. Energy scatterers or diffusers (18) may be provided to alter the characteristics of the transmitted energy.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard L. Conn
- 👤 Thomas Robert Loree
- 👤 Irving Joseph Bigio
- 👤 Karlheinz Strobl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 09:30
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/22; A61N; A61N5/00; A61N5/06; A61N5/0601; A61N5/0613; A61N5/062; A61N5/067; A61B17/00; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22072; A61B2017/22082; A61B2017/22087; A61B2018/00005; A61B2018/00011; A61B2018/2005; A61B2018/2255; A61B2018/2261; A61B2018/2266; A61B2018/2272
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
Apparatus for the transmission of laser radiation to tissue, comprising a source of laser radiation (54); a hollow needle (10) which is transparent to laser radiation and has a shaft and a closed tip (16); and at least one optical fibre (12) within and spaced from the interior surface of the needle, the fibre being adapted to transmit laser radiation from one end (20) and connected to the laser source (54) at the other end, CHARACTERISED IN THAT the needle (10) is tapered at the tip (16) such that it is capable of penetrating tissue upon interstitial insertion therein and is adapted to transmit laser radiation from the portion of the shaft extending from the tip to behind the one end (20) of the fibre (12), and a liquid (38) is disposed within the needle (10).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the laser source (54) is adapted to generate laser radiation of intensity sufficient to induce necrosis in tissue (60) surrounding the needle (10).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus according to Claim 2 wherein the laser source (54) is adapted to generate laser radiation of an intensity sufficient to raise the temperature at the outer surface of the needle (10) to within the range 45 to 52°C.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to any preceding Claim including a spacer (14) to axially support the fibre (12) within the needle (10).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to any preceding Claim wherein the fibre (12) includes a diffusing tip (18) at its one end (20), the tip being adapted to diffuse the radiation transmitted from the fibre (12).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 4 comprising a scatterer (22, 24) positioned adjacent the closed tip (10) of the needle (12), and adapted to diffuse the energy transmitted from the fibre (12).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
Apparatus according to Claim 6 wherein the scatterer (22) is spherical.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus according to Claim 6 wherein the scatterer is a reflector (24).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 4 wherein the diffusing spacer (26) is positioned adjacent to the closed tip (16) of the needle (10) to axially support the fibre (12) therein and is adapted to diffuse the radiation transmitted from the fibre (12).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 4 wherein the closed tip (16) of the needle (10) includes refractive scattering material (32) which is adapted to diffuse the energy transmitted from the fibre (12).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to Claim 10 wherein refractive scattering material (32) is positioned within the side walls of the needle (10).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 4 wherein the lens (34) is positioned at the one end (20) of the fibre (12) to diffuse the radiation transmitted from the fibre (12).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
11 words
Apparatus according to Claim 12 wherein the lens (34) is spherical.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to Claim 12 wherein the lens (34) is a high refractive index negative lens.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to any preceding Claim wherein the radiation density generable at the surface of said portion of the needle shaft is substantially uniform.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
102 words
Apparatus for the transmission of laser energy to tissue, comprising: a hollow, laser light lucent needle having a shaft and a closed tip, and adapted to transmit laser energy at least along a substantial portion of the length of the shaft and the tip; and at least one optical fibre disposed within the needle and extending into a penetrating portion of the needle, the fibre being adapted to transmit laser energy from its end adjacent said penetrating portion; the needle having a configuration such that its interior surface is spaced from the exterior surface of the fibre and a liquid disposed therein.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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