GB2171913A
Expired / Lapsed
GB
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Laser surgery
Assignee: CR Bard Inc
•
Filing: 1986-02-28
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2006-02-28
Abstract
Abstract A catheter is used to controllably apply radiant energy in a patient's body, such as in a blood vessel to drill through vascular obstructions. The catheter emits the radiant energy from its distal end in a pattern which defines a relatively small working region in which the energy density level is sufficiently high to remove the biological material but beyond the working region, the energy density of the beam decays sharply so that biological material beyond the working region is not removed and the beam will not have sufficient energy density to puncture the blood vessel wall. The catheter is a of elongate flexible tubular construction having a fiber optic wave guide which terminates within the catheter and is secured in alignment with an optical system at the distal end of the catheter. The catheter includes openings adjacent the distal end which communicate with the lumen and enable delivery of fluid to the blood vessel or withdrawal of material from the blood vessel.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen Jack Herman
- 👤 Laurence Andrew Roth
- 👤 Edward Lawrence Sinofsky
- 👤 Carl Richard Turnquist
- 👤 Jacob Yauman Wong
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
GB
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 05:22
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/22; A61B18/24; A61B18/245; G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/42; G02B6/4296; A61B90/00; A61B90/39
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 54
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for removing successive layers of a
biological material so as to form a hole through said material by application of radiant energy comprising:
providing a beam of said radiant energy propagat
ing along a beam axis, said beam having a working
region around said axis in which the dehsity of said energy is sufficientto cause said removal,
controlling the energy density so thatthe portion of the beam which propagates distally beyond the working region will have insufficient energy density to cause said removal;
applying the working region of the beam to the biological material; and
advancing said beam into said biological material to form said hole.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for removing successive layers of a
biological material so as to form a hole through said material by application of radiant energy comprising:
providing a beam of said radiant energy propagat
ing along a beam axis, said beam having a working
region around said axis in which the dehsity of said energy is sufficientto cause said removal,
controlling the energy density so thatthe portion of the beam which propagates distally beyond the working region will have insufficient energy density to cause said removal;
applying the working region of the beam to the biological material; and
advancing said beam into said biological material to form said hole.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as defined in claim 1 further comprising:
providing said beam so that it has a pattern wherein the radiation diverges from said axis as it propagates along said axis beyond said working region.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
20 words
A method as defined in claim2furthercomprising:
providing said beam so that it has substantially uniform energy distribution around said axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said step of providing said beam of radiant energy comprises causing said beam to be emitted from an emission aperture, said method further comprising:
providing said beam so that said working region extends directly from said emission aperture a prescribed distance distally ofthe emission aperture.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
18 words
A method as defined in each of claims 1 to 4 wherein said radiant energy comprises laser energy.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the properties of said energy are selected with respect to energy absorption properties of said biological material to provide that substantially all the energy in said working portion is consumed in causing said removal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 6 wherein the frequency range of said energy is selected with respect to the predominant molecular constitution of said biological material so as to form said holeby ablative photo-decomposition of said biological material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1 in which said energyforms said hole bythermal vaporization of said biological material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 1 in which the radiation is supplied to said biological material via an optical conductor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 9 in which said radiation is supplied via a net-negative optical system.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 2 in which said radiant energy is applied to said working region through a net-negative optical system.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 1 in which said working region extends up to approximately 1.5 mm. along said axis.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of providing said beam of radiant energy comprises causing said beam to be emitted from an emission aperture in which said working region has a diameter at least as great as that of said emission aperture.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 2 in which said beam diverges to about 20' from said axis when said beam is propagated in a saline solution.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 9 for application to forming a hole through plaque in a vascular obstruction wherein said optical conductor is guided to said obstruction in a catheter having said optical system fixed atthe distal end thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1 including the step of pulsing said radiant energy and adjusting the pulse parametersforforming said hole.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
209 words
A method of removing a biological obstruction by radiant energy comprising:
providing waveguide means or guiding said radiant energy from a source thereof, said waveguide means having a distally located emission aperture for emission of said radiant energy in a beam propagating along a beam axis;
forming said beam into a geometrically expanding
pattern in which the energy distribution around said
beam axis is substantially uniform whereby the
energy density of said beam along said beam axis
when applied to said obstruction decreases both
exponentially and geometrically in a distally extend
ing direction;;
the energy density in a working region of the beam
within a first isothermal zone being sufficient to effect
removal of the material forming the obstruction when
said material is located in said region, the portion of
the beam extending distally of said working region
having insufficient energy desityto effect said
removal;
whereby when said beam of energy is applied to
the biological material said radiant energy will be
effective to remove said material to a depth no greaterthan abouttheaxial depth of said working
region, thereby limiting said removal to a layer
approximating the axial depth of said working region,
and minimizing perforation oftissue located distal or
radial to the isothermal boundary of said working
region.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
209 words
A method of removing a biological obstruction by radiant energy comprising:
providing waveguide means or guiding said radiant energy from a source thereof, said waveguide means having a distally located emission aperture for emission of said radiant energy in a beam propagating along a beam axis;
forming said beam into a geometrically expanding
pattern in which the energy distribution around said
beam axis is substantially uniform whereby the
energy density of said beam along said beam axis
when applied to said obstruction decreases both
exponentially and geometrically in a distally extend
ing direction;;
the energy density in a working region of the beam
within a first isothermal zone being sufficient to effect
removal of the material forming the obstruction when
said material is located in said region, the portion of
the beam extending distally of said working region
having insufficient energy desityto effect said
removal;
whereby when said beam of energy is applied to
the biological material said radiant energy will be
effective to remove said material to a depth no greaterthan abouttheaxial depth of said working
region, thereby limiting said removal to a layer
approximating the axial depth of said working region,
and minimizing perforation oftissue located distal or
radial to the isothermal boundary of said working
region.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as defined in claim 17 wherein the
properties of said energy are selected with respect to
properties of said obstruction to provide that sub stantially all the energy in said working portion is
consumed in causing said removal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as defined in claim 18 wherein said
step offorming said radiant energy into said beam
pattern comprises:
providing net-negative optical lensing means at the
distal end ofthe waveguide means to shape the
beam.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as definded in claim 19 wherein
said step of providing lens means for shaping the
beam comprises:
passing the beam from the exit surface of an optical
fiberconductorthrough an exit lens having a concave
output surface.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
124 words
A catheterforselectively removing, by radiant
energy, sequential layers of biological material form
ing an obstruction comprising:
an elongate catheter body containing a flexible
optical conductor;
the proximal end of the catheter having means to
enable said radiant energy to enter the flexible optical
conductor;
the distal end of the catheter having an emission
aperture from which a beam of said radiant energy
may be emitted; and
means for shaping the radiant energy beam
emitted from the emission aperture to define a
working region ofthe beam inwhich the density of
energy is sufficient to cause said removal, said means
being further constructed and arranged so that the portion of the beam extending distal to the working
region has insufficient energy densityto cause said I removal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
124 words
A catheterforselectively removing, by radiant
energy, sequential layers of biological material form
ing an obstruction comprising:
an elongate catheter body containing a flexible
optical conductor;
the proximal end of the catheter having means to
enable said radiant energy to enter the flexible optical
conductor;
the distal end of the catheter having an emission
aperture from which a beam of said radiant energy
may be emitted; and
means for shaping the radiant energy beam
emitted from the emission aperture to define a
working region ofthe beam inwhich the density of
energy is sufficient to cause said removal, said means
being further constructed and arranged so that the portion of the beam extending distal to the working
region has insufficient energy densityto cause said I removal.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
Acatheterasdefined in claim 21 wherein said meansforshaping the beamfurthercomprises net-negative optical means at the distal end of the
catheter.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
A catheter as defined in claim 22 wherein said optical means encloses and isolatesthe exit end of the optical conductorto preclude contactofthe exit end ofthe optical conductorwith the biological material.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
Acatheterasdefined in claim22wherein said optical means is constructed and arranged so that the beam emitted from the emission aperture will have substantially uniform energy distribution in a plane transversetothe direction of propagation of said energy.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
Acatheteras defined in claim 24further comprising:
means for holding said exit end of the optical conductor and said lens means in a prescribed spatial relationship.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
31 words
An optical system as defined in claim 25 in which the optical means includes an exit lens and in which a concave surface of said exit lens confronts said transverse plane.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
A catheter as defined in claim 22 in further combination with a laser source of said radiant energy.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
38 words
An optical systen as defined in claim 25 further comprising:
the optical means including an exit lens means having net negative optical power; and
a spherical object lens between said exit end of said optical conductorandtheexit lens means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
15 words
An optical system as defined in claim 28 in which said exit lens is bi-concave.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
15 words
An optical system as defined in claim 28 in which said exit lens is plano-concave.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
24 words
An optical system as defined in claim 25
including a tubular housing for holding said end and said lens means in said spatial relationship.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
15 words
An optical system as defined in claim 31
including a radiopaquetubular spacer within said
housing.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
27 words
- An optical system as defined in claim 31 in which the aperture of said exit lens means is substantially equal to the outer diameterofsaid tubular housing.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
50 words
An optical system as defined in claim 28 including a plano-concave lens between said object
lens and said exit lens, a firsttubular spacer within said housing between said object lens and said plano-concave lens, and a second tubular spacer within said housing between said plano-concave lens and said exit lens.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
26 words
An optical system as defined in claim 31 in which said exit lens means and said housing are made of glass capable of being fused together.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
17 words
An optical system as defined in claim 35 in which said glass is a predominantly borosilicate glass.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical system as defined in claim 25 in which said holding means includes a partwhich is
radiopaque.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
37 words
An optical system as defined in claim 26 in which said holding means includes a rigid holderfor said exit end of said optical conductorand spacer means forfixing the distance between said holder and said exit lens means.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
26 words
An optical system as defined in claim 38 including a tubular housing enclosing said exit le#ns means, said spacer means and a part of said receiver.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
19 words
An optical system as defined in claim 31 in which said housing is radio-transparentand includes a partwhich is radiopaque.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
20 words
An optical system as defined in claim 40 in which said part is a tubularspacerforan optical component of said system.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
47 words
An optical system as defined in claim 25 including a tubular housing made of a glass that is fusible to said exit lens means, in which the edge of said housing atthe peripheryof said lens means is rounded to form a smooth boundary with said lens means.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
23 words
A catheter as defined in claim 21 wherein the diameterofthe beam in saidworking region is no smallerthan the diameterofthe distal end ofthe catheter.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
48 words
A catheter as defined in claim 21 wherein the catheter body has a lumen extending therethrough from its proximal to its distal#portions,the catheter body having aperture means at its distal portion in communication with the lumen and means atthe proximal end ofthe catheterfor making a fluid connectiontothe lumen.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
10 words
A catheter as defined in claim 44wherein the opticalconductorextendsthroughthe lumen.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
143 words
Acatheteras defined in claim 23 further comprising meansfor holding the exitend ofthe optical conductor and lens means in prescribed spatial relation, said holding means comprising:
a rigid tubular holder having a proximal end and distal end, the holder having a bore extending therethrough to receive the distal end ofthe optical conductor, said optical conductor being secured rigidly within the bore ofthe holder, the exit end of the optical conductor being flush with the distal end ofthe holder; atubularhousing for receiving atleastaportionof the holder and the proximal end ofthe housing and for receiving the lens means atthe more distal regions ofthe housing; ;
spacer means within the tubular housing and in engagement with the lens means and the distal end ofthe holderto space precisely the holder and conductor carried thereby with respect to the lens means; and
means for securing holderto the tubular housing.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
35 words
A catheter as defined in claim 46 further comprising:
the holder having a shouldered portion between its ends; said tubular holder being formed to engagethe shoulder to secure the holding means to the tubular holder.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
49 words
Acatheterasdefined in claim 47further comprising:
the proximal end ofthe holding means being received in the lumen atthe distal end of the catheter body, the juncture region between the distal end of the catheter body and the proximal end ofthetubular housing beingfilledto presentasmooth and continuous outer surface along said catheter.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
70 words
In a miniature optical system for propagating light from the exitend of a fiber optics conductor with substantially uniform energy distribution in a prescribed region around the axis of propagation of said light, a net-negative exit lens forforming said energy with said uniform distribution, and means for enclosing said exit end of the conductor and for spacing said exit lens a prescribed distance from said exit end of the conductor.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
70 words
In a miniature optical system for propagating light from the exitend of a fiber optics conductor with substantially uniform energy distribution in a prescribed region around the axis of propagation of said light, a net-negative exit lens forforming said energy with said uniform distribution, and means for enclosing said exit end of the conductor and for spacing said exit lens a prescribed distance from said exit end of the conductor.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
19 words
Amethod as defined in claim 9further comprising:
fluoroscopically locating and positioning the optical conductorwith respect to the biological material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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