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US5520681A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Light energy emitting probe with inclusions distributed within and throughout probe's tip portion

Assignee: Surgical Laser Tech Inc
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Filing: 1994-01-26
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Granted: 1996-05-28
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Expires: 2014-01-26
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Abstract

Abstract A probe for medical use includes a tip portion having a light energy input region for receiving light energy from a light source and a predetermined light energy output region whereby tissue subtended by the region may be irradiated by the light energy. The tip portion consists essentially of light propagating material having inclusions distributed therein and generally throughout the tip portion between the light energy input region and the light energy output region for interacting with the light energy to produce a predetermined light energy output pattern. The light propagating material is a light propagating inorganic compound.

Inventors

  • 👤 Terry A. Fuller
  • 👤 Arthur Lompado
  • 👤 Mark A. DeStefano

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 13:28
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/22; A61B2018/2255; A61B2018/2261

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 111 words
A probe for medical use, said probe comprising a tip portion having a light energy input region for receiving light energy from a light source and a predetermined light energy output region whereby tissue subtended by said region may be irradiated by said light energy, said tip portion consisting essentially of light propagating material having inclusions distributed therein and generally throughout said tip portion between said light energy input region and said light energy output region for interacting with said light energy to produce a predetermined light energy output pattern, said light propagating material being a light propagating polycrystalline structure, and said inclusions comprise crystal grain boundaries within said polycrystalline structure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 111 words
A probe for medical use, said probe comprising a tip portion having a light energy input region for receiving light energy from a light source and a predetermined light energy output region whereby tissue subtended by said region may be irradiated by said light energy, said tip portion consisting essentially of light propagating material having inclusions distributed therein and generally throughout said tip portion between said light energy input region and said light energy output region for interacting with said light energy to produce a predetermined light energy output pattern, said light propagating material being a light propagating polycrystalline structure, and said inclusions comprise crystal grain boundaries within said polycrystalline structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 16 words
A probe as in claim 1, wherein the light propagating polycrystalline structure is an aluminum oxide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 16 words
A probe as in claim 1, wherein the light propagating polycrystalline structure is a fused silica.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 105 words
A probe for medical use, said probe comprising a tip portion having a light energy input region for receiving light energy from a light source and a predetermined light energy output region whereby tissue subtended by said region may be irradiated by said light energy, said tip portion consisting essentially of light propagating material having inclusions distributed therein and generally throughout said tip portion between said light energy input region and said light energy output region for interacting with said light energy to produce a predetermined energy output pattern, said light propagating material being a light propagating inorganic compound and the inclusions comprising grain boundaries.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 105 words
A probe for medical use, said probe comprising a tip portion having a light energy input region for receiving light energy from a light source and a predetermined light energy output region whereby tissue subtended by said region may be irradiated by said light energy, said tip portion consisting essentially of light propagating material having inclusions distributed therein and generally throughout said tip portion between said light energy input region and said light energy output region for interacting with said light energy to produce a predetermined energy output pattern, said light propagating material being a light propagating inorganic compound and the inclusions comprising grain boundaries.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 104 words
A probe for medical use, said probe comprising a tip portion having a light energy input region for receiving light energy from a light source and a predetermined light energy output region whereby tissue subtended by said region may be irradiated by said light energy, said tip portion consisting essentially of light propagating material having inclusions distributed therein and generally throughout said tip portion between said light energy input region and said light energy output region for interacting with said light energy to produce a predetermined energy output pattern, said light propagating material being a light propagating oxide and the inclusions comprising grain boundaries.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 104 words
A probe for medical use, said probe comprising a tip portion having a light energy input region for receiving light energy from a light source and a predetermined light energy output region whereby tissue subtended by said region may be irradiated by said light energy, said tip portion consisting essentially of light propagating material having inclusions distributed therein and generally throughout said tip portion between said light energy input region and said light energy output region for interacting with said light energy to produce a predetermined energy output pattern, said light propagating material being a light propagating oxide and the inclusions comprising grain boundaries.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 116 words
A probe for medical use, said probe comprising a tip portion having a light energy input region for receiving light energy from a light source and a predetermined light energy output region whereby tissue subtended by said region may be irradiated by said light energy, said tip portion consisting essentially of light propagating material having inclusions distributed therein and generally throughout said tip portion between said light energy input region and said light energy output region for interacting with said light energy to produce a predetermined energy output pattern, said light propagating material being an aluminum oxide wherein the aluminum oxide comprises a polycrystalline structure, and said inclusions comprise crystal grain boundaries within said polycrystalline structure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 116 words
A probe for medical use, said probe comprising a tip portion having a light energy input region for receiving light energy from a light source and a predetermined light energy output region whereby tissue subtended by said region may be irradiated by said light energy, said tip portion consisting essentially of light propagating material having inclusions distributed therein and generally throughout said tip portion between said light energy input region and said light energy output region for interacting with said light energy to produce a predetermined energy output pattern, said light propagating material being an aluminum oxide wherein the aluminum oxide comprises a polycrystalline structure, and said inclusions comprise crystal grain boundaries within said polycrystalline structure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 111 words
A probe for medical use, said probe comprising a tip portion having a light energy input region for receiving light energy from a light source and a predetermined light energy output region whereby tissue subtended by said region may be irradiated by said light energy, said tip portion consisting essentially of light propagating material having inclusions distributed therein and generally throughout said tip portion between said light energy input region and said light energy output region for interacting with said light energy to produce a predetermined light energy output pattern, said light propagating material being a polycrystalline structure of aluminum oxide, said inclusions comprising crystal grain boundaries within said polycrystalline structure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 111 words
A probe for medical use, said probe comprising a tip portion having a light energy input region for receiving light energy from a light source and a predetermined light energy output region whereby tissue subtended by said region may be irradiated by said light energy, said tip portion consisting essentially of light propagating material having inclusions distributed therein and generally throughout said tip portion between said light energy input region and said light energy output region for interacting with said light energy to produce a predetermined light energy output pattern, said light propagating material being a polycrystalline structure of aluminum oxide, said inclusions comprising crystal grain boundaries within said polycrystalline structure.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1999-05-28 1999-11-27 2000-05-28 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2003-05-28 2003-11-27 2004-05-28 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2007-05-28 2007-11-27 2008-05-28 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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