Medical treatment of deeply seated tissue using optical radiation

Claim 1

A device for laterally directing laser light from an optical fiber onto target tissue deep within a patient, comprising: an elongated catheter body extending along an axis and constructed to be delivered from outside the patient along a narrow pathway to said target tissue inside the patient, said catheter body having high torsional rigidity and including an inner lumen for receiving an optical fiber substantially along its axis in a manner to permit rotation of said catheter body about said fiber, said catheter body further including lumenal space for receiving and directing a flow of fluid along its length, an alignment element fixed near the distal end of said catheter body and rotatable with said catheter body, said alignment element including support surfaces for receiving the distal end of said fiber and maintaining said distal end of said fiber substantially on said catheter body axis in a manner to permit rotation of said catheter body and said alignment element about said fiber, and said alignment element further including fluid flow directing surfaces that are aligned to direct fluid flow distally beyond said alignment element, a light directing optic, fixed near the distal end of said catheter body and rotatable with said catheter body and said alignment element, said light directing optic positioned to receive laser light emitted from said distal end of said fiber and fluid directed by said alignment element, and to direct said laser light and said fluid laterally onto a target arc-segment of tissue adjacent the directing optic that varies in dependence on the rotational orientation of said optic, and a coupler connected to the proximal end of said catheter body remaining outside of said patient, said coupler being constructed to direct fluid into said catheter body and to receive said fiber such that said fiber extends through said coupler and into said catheter body, said coupler further including a locking structure to hold said fiber rotationally and axially stationary and said coupler further including a rotatable attachment to said catheter body so that said catheter body, alignment element, and light directing optic can be rotated together about said fiber to vary the orientation of the optic to direct said laser light and fluid flow onto a desired target arc-segment of tissue.

Claim 2

A device for laterally directing laser light from an optical fiber onto target tissue deep within a patient, comprising: an elongated catheter body extending along an axis and constructed to be delivered from outside the patient along a narrow pathway to said target tissue inside the patient, said catheter body having high torsional rigidity and including an inner lumen for receiving an optical fiber substantially along its axis in a manner to permit rotation of said catheter body about said fiber, said catheter body further including lumenal space for receiving and directing a flow of fluid along its length, an alignment element fixed near the distal end of said catheter body and rotatable with said catheter body, said alignment element including support surfaces for receiving the distal end of said fiber and maintaining said distal end of said fiber substantially on said catheter body axis in a manner to permit rotation of said catheter body and said alignment element about said fiber, and said alignment element further including fluid flow directing surfaces that are aligned to direct fluid flow distally beyond said alignment element, a light directing optic, fixed near the distal end of said catheter body and rotatable with said catheter body and said alignment element, said light directing optic positioned to receive laser light emitted from said distal end of said fiber and fluid directed by said alignment element, and to direct said laser light and said fluid laterally onto a target arc-segment of tissue adjacent the directing optic that varies in dependence on the rotational orientation of said optic, and a coupler connected to the proximal end of said catheter body remaining outside of said patient, said coupler being constructed to direct fluid into said catheter body and to receive said fiber such that said fiber extends through said coupler and into said catheter body, said coupler further including a locking structure to hold said fiber rotationally and axially stationary and said coupler further including a rotatable attachment to said catheter body so that said catheter body, alignment element, and light directing optic can be rotated together about said fiber to vary the orientation of the optic to direct said laser light and fluid flow onto a desired target arc-segment of tissue.

Claim 10

The device of any one of claims 1, 2, 6, 7, or 8 wherein said catheter body and light directing optic are sized to pass through a urethral cystoscope.