US4732448A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Delivery system for high-energy pulsed ultraviolet laser light
Assignee: Spectranetics LLC
•
Filing: 1985-09-25
•
Granted: 1988-03-22
•
Expires: 2005-09-25
Abstract
Abstract The density of the energy that is conducted within a fiber-optic waveguide is increased by means of an energy coupler at the input end of the optical fiber. This energy coupler comprises a fused or ground lens at the input end of a silica-based fiber. A second lens, preferably a plano-convex lens, focusses a large collimated laser beam to a point source. The lens at the end of the fiber is located at a distance greater than the focal length of the second lens, so as to receive light from the point source and couple it into the fiber.
Inventors
- 👤 Tsvi Goldenberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:09
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/36; G02B6/3616; G02B6/3624; A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/22; A61B18/24; A61B18/245; G02B23/00; G02B23/24; G02B23/26; G02B6/04; G02B6/06; G02B6/26; G02B6/262; G02B6/42; G02B6/4201; G02B6/4204; G02B6/4206; G02B6/4296; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00137; A61B2017/00154; A61B2018/2244
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
A system for the delivery of high energy pulsed laser light utilizing an optical waveguide, wherein said waveguide comprises an optical fiber having an energy-conducting core made of substantially pure synthetic silica; and an energy coupler at one end of said fiber for enabling energy pulses to be coupled into said fiber while maintaining their energy level without damage to said fiber, said energy coupler comprising a surface which is substantially free of scratches at said one end of said fiber, and a lens which focusses a laser beam to a focal point, said focussing lens being located at a distance from said one end of said fiber that is greater than the focal length of said focussing lens so that laser light impinging on said fiber appears to be emanating from a point source.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
135 words
A system for the delivery of high energy pulsed laser light utilizing an optical waveguide, wherein said waveguide comprises an optical fiber having an energy-conducting core made of substantially pure synthetic silica; and an energy coupler at one end of said fiber for enabling energy pulses to be coupled into said fiber while maintaining their energy level without damage to said fiber, said energy coupler comprising a surface which is substantially free of scratches at said one end of said fiber, and a lens which focusses a laser beam to a focal point, said focussing lens being located at a distance from said one end of said fiber that is greater than the focal length of said focussing lens so that laser light impinging on said fiber appears to be emanating from a point source.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The delivery system of claim 1 further including a lens at the other end of said fiber for concentrating the energy emerging from said end into a convergent beam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The delivery system of claim 1 wherein said one end of said fiber and said focussing lens are housed in an evacuated chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The delivery system of claim 1 wherein said one end of said fiber and said focussing lens are housed in a liquid-filled chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The delivery system of claim 1 wherein said one end of said fiber comprises a spherical lens.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The delivery system of claim 1 wherein said waveguide comprises a bundle of close-packed synthetic silica fibers to provide flexibility while enabling a relatively large cross-sectional beam to be delivered to a desired site.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The delivery system of claim 6 wherein said waveguide is housed in a jacket made from a material that is not degraded by ultraviolet light.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The delivery system of claim 7 wherein said material is UV-cured epoxy.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
The delivery system of claim 7 wherein said material is Teflon®.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
92 words
A system for the delivery of high energy pulsed laser light comprising a silica-based optical fiber and an energy coupler for introducing laser energy into said fiber, said coupler including a spherical lens disposed on one end of said fiber, and a lens which focusses a laser beam to a focal point, said focussing lens being located at a distance from said fiber lens that is greater than the focal length of said focussing lens so that laser light impinging on said fiber lens appears to be emanating from a point source.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
92 words
A system for the delivery of high energy pulsed laser light comprising a silica-based optical fiber and an energy coupler for introducing laser energy into said fiber, said coupler including a spherical lens disposed on one end of said fiber, and a lens which focusses a laser beam to a focal point, said focussing lens being located at a distance from said fiber lens that is greater than the focal length of said focussing lens so that laser light impinging on said fiber lens appears to be emanating from a point source.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The delivery system of claim 10 wherein said one end of said fiber and said focussing lens are housed in an evacuated chamber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The delivery system of claim 10 wherein said one end of said fiber and said focussing lens are housed in a liquid-filled chamber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The delivery system of claim 10 wherein said fiber has a hollow core surrounded by substantially pure quartz cladding.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The delivery system of claim 10 wherein said fiber is made of substantially pure synthetic silica.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
120 words
An angioplasty system, comprising: a source of visible light; a source of laser light energy; a first fiber-optic waveguide which receives at least the laser light at one end thereof and conducts it to the distal end thereof; a lens on said distal end of said first waveguide for producing a pattern of light in which at least a majority of the light energy is focussed upon a focal point; a second fiber-optic waveguide disposed alongside said first waveguide for receiving and conducting the image of an area in which said laser energy is focussed; means for conducting a saline solution to said distal end of said first waveguide; and means for viewing an image conducted by said second waveguide.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
120 words
An angioplasty system, comprising: a source of visible light; a source of laser light energy; a first fiber-optic waveguide which receives at least the laser light at one end thereof and conducts it to the distal end thereof; a lens on said distal end of said first waveguide for producing a pattern of light in which at least a majority of the light energy is focussed upon a focal point; a second fiber-optic waveguide disposed alongside said first waveguide for receiving and conducting the image of an area in which said laser energy is focussed; means for conducting a saline solution to said distal end of said first waveguide; and means for viewing an image conducted by said second waveguide.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
47 words
The angioplasty system of claim 15 wherein said source of laser light energy is a pulsed laser, and further including an energy coupler at said one end of said first waveguide for coupling laser pulses having a predetermined energy level into said first waveguide without damage thereto.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
The angioplasty system of claim 15 further including a jacket surrounding all of said waveguides, said jacket being composed of a material that is not degraded by ultraviolet light losses from bends in the waveguides.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
176 words
A system for viewing internal cavities that provides a reference to assist in determining at least one of the relative location, shape and size of a viewed object, comprising: a first fiber-optic waveguide having an objective lens at the distal end thereof, said lens having a predetermined numerical aperture defining a field of view; a plurality of second fiber-optic waveguides disposed around the periphery of said first waveguide, said second waveguides each having a numerical aperture such that light emerging from the distal ends of said second waveguides is spread over an area of illumination which is greater than said field of view; at least one third fiber-optic waveguide disposed adjacent said second waveguides and producing a divergent beam of light from one end thereof which lies at least partially inside said field of view; means for projecting visible light into the other ends of said second waveguides; means for projecting visible light having a discernible color into the other end of said third waveguide; and means for viewing an image conducted in said first waveguide.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
176 words
A system for viewing internal cavities that provides a reference to assist in determining at least one of the relative location, shape and size of a viewed object, comprising: a first fiber-optic waveguide having an objective lens at the distal end thereof, said lens having a predetermined numerical aperture defining a field of view; a plurality of second fiber-optic waveguides disposed around the periphery of said first waveguide, said second waveguides each having a numerical aperture such that light emerging from the distal ends of said second waveguides is spread over an area of illumination which is greater than said field of view; at least one third fiber-optic waveguide disposed adjacent said second waveguides and producing a divergent beam of light from one end thereof which lies at least partially inside said field of view; means for projecting visible light into the other ends of said second waveguides; means for projecting visible light having a discernible color into the other end of said third waveguide; and means for viewing an image conducted in said first waveguide.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
72 words
A system for the delivery of high energy, pulsed ultraviolet laser light having a wavelength in the range of from about 193 nm to about 351 nm utilizing an optical waveguide, wherein said waveguide comprises an optical fiber having a hollow core filled with air and a cladding made of pure quartz, and a lens at an output end of said waveguide that is made of the same material as the cladding.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
72 words
A system for the delivery of high energy, pulsed ultraviolet laser light having a wavelength in the range of from about 193 nm to about 351 nm utilizing an optical waveguide, wherein said waveguide comprises an optical fiber having a hollow core filled with air and a cladding made of pure quartz, and a lens at an output end of said waveguide that is made of the same material as the cladding.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
100 words
A system for providing radiant energy to a remote site at a level sufficient to ablate biological tissue, comprising: a source of pulsed laser energy wherein each pulse of energy has a duration substantially greater than 10 nsec; a fiber-optic waveguide having an energy conducting core made of synthetic silica that is substantially free of metallic impurities, for conducting said pulsed energy from said source to said remote site; and an energy coupler at one end of said waveguide for enabling said energy pulses to be coupled into said waveguide while maintaining their energy level without damage to said waveguide.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
100 words
A system for providing radiant energy to a remote site at a level sufficient to ablate biological tissue, comprising: a source of pulsed laser energy wherein each pulse of energy has a duration substantially greater than 10 nsec; a fiber-optic waveguide having an energy conducting core made of synthetic silica that is substantially free of metallic impurities, for conducting said pulsed energy from said source to said remote site; and an energy coupler at one end of said waveguide for enabling said energy pulses to be coupled into said waveguide while maintaining their energy level without damage to said waveguide.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 20 wherein said pulses each have a duration of 100-125 nsec.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 20 wherein said waveguide comprises a bundle of close-packed synthetic silica fibers.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 20 wherein said pulsed laser energy is in the ultraviolet wavelength range.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3920980A
Cited
US4045119A
Cited
DE2517019A1
Cited
US4011403A
Cited
US4173393A
Cited
US4398790A
Cited
US4207874A
Cited
US4305640A
Cited
US4266548A
Cited
US4248213A
Cited
US4521070A
Cited
US4418688A
Cited
US4583539A
Cited
US4504114A
Cited
US4576435A
Cited
US4565197A
Cited
US4681396A
Cited
US4641912A
Cited
US4657014A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-03-22 | 1991-09-21 | 1992-03-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-03-22 | 1995-09-21 | 1996-03-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-03-22 | 1999-09-21 | 2000-03-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |