US5840075A
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US
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Dual laser device for transmyocardial revascularization procedures
Assignee: Eclipse Surgical Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1996-08-23
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Granted: 1998-11-24
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Expires: 2016-08-23
Abstract
Abstract A method of and apparatus for performing a transmyocardial revascularization procedure is disclosed which utilizes two laser power sources. A first laser source provides a coagulating or blanching effect on tissue and a second laser source capable of tissue ablation are supplied to a combined optical fiber bundle comprising a plurality of fibers which can be moved axially or rotatively by the operating physician. As the distal end of the fiber bundle is moved forward, bursts of laser energy therefrom may be programmed to first penetrate the epicardium with minimal bleeding and thereafter provide channels or pockets in the myocardium for causing or stimulating angiogenesis.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard L. Mueller
- 👤 Stuart D. Harman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 12:31
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/22; A61B18/24; A61B17/00; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00243; A61B2017/00247; A61B2017/00973; A61B17/30; A61B2017/306; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00273; A61B2018/00291; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00345; A61B2018/00351; A61B2018/00392; A61B2018/2065; A61B2018/207
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
A method for revascularizing a patient's heart comprising the steps of: providing access to a ventricle chamber sidewall of the patient's heart for an optical fiber means connected at its proximal end to laser source means and having a distal end for emitting laser energy at selected intervals; manipulating and placing the fiber means' distal end near a surface of the ventricle location; activating the laser source means during a first time period to provide an initial laser emission at a first power level at a target area on the surface of the ventricle; activating the laser source means during a second time period following the first time period to provide a second laser emission at a second power level that creates an opening in the ventricle at the target area without causing substantial bleeding at the opening; moving the optical fiber means axially forward through the opening; and reactivating the laser source means at the second power level to form a revascularizing channel or an ablated pocket within myocardium.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
170 words
A method for revascularizing a patient's heart comprising the steps of: providing access to a ventricle chamber sidewall of the patient's heart for an optical fiber means connected at its proximal end to laser source means and having a distal end for emitting laser energy at selected intervals; manipulating and placing the fiber means' distal end near a surface of the ventricle location; activating the laser source means during a first time period to provide an initial laser emission at a first power level at a target area on the surface of the ventricle; activating the laser source means during a second time period following the first time period to provide a second laser emission at a second power level that creates an opening in the ventricle at the target area without causing substantial bleeding at the opening; moving the optical fiber means axially forward through the opening; and reactivating the laser source means at the second power level to form a revascularizing channel or an ablated pocket within myocardium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein in the step of providing a laser source means, the laser source means includes at least two different laser sources of different wavelengths.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the laser source means are energized at different power levels as the fiber means is moved axially to create stimulation pockets connected by temporary channels in the myocardium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 2 wherein in the step of providing a laser source means, the laser source means includes a central fiber means connected to the first laser means and an outer fiber means surrounding the central fiber means connected to the second laser means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 4 wherein in the step of providing a laser source means, the central fiber means includes a plurality of bundled optical fibers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 4 wherein in the step of providing a laser source means, the first laser means is an argon laser and the second laser means is a Holmium (Ho:YAG) laser.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 4 wherein in the step of providing a laser source means, the first laser means is a Nd:YAG laser and the second laser means is a Holmium (Ho:YAG) laser.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 4 wherein in the step of providing a laser source means, the first laser means is an Argon laser and the second laser means is an Excimer laser.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 4 wherein in the step of providing a laser source means, the first laser means is a Nd:YAG laser and the second laser means is an Excimer laser.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1 including the step of providing laser pulses at the first power level to cause coagulation of the tissue within the channel as it is formed by the laser source means at the second power level.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of activating the laser source means during a second time period following the first, and the step of moving the optical fiber means axially forward through the opening and the step of reactivating the laser source means at the second power level occurs almost simultaneous while rotating the optical fiber means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
156 words
A surgical apparatus for revascularizing a patient's heart, the apparatus comprising: an optical fiber bundle having first and second fiber elements each connected at their proximal ends to a separate source of laser energy, the first fiber element being connected to a first laser source means for delivering laser energy for blanching or coagulating heart tissue having a first power, the first fiber element includes at least one centrally located optical fiber strand in the optical fiber bundle's distal end and the second fiber element connected to a second laser source means for delivering laser energy for ablating heart tissue having a second power different from the first power, the second fiber element includes peripherally located optical fiber strands in the optical fiber bundle's distal end; means for manipulating the fiber bundle and moving its distal end axially in preselected increments; and means for controlling pulses of laser energy from the first and second fiber elements.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
156 words
A surgical apparatus for revascularizing a patient's heart, the apparatus comprising: an optical fiber bundle having first and second fiber elements each connected at their proximal ends to a separate source of laser energy, the first fiber element being connected to a first laser source means for delivering laser energy for blanching or coagulating heart tissue having a first power, the first fiber element includes at least one centrally located optical fiber strand in the optical fiber bundle's distal end and the second fiber element connected to a second laser source means for delivering laser energy for ablating heart tissue having a second power different from the first power, the second fiber element includes peripherally located optical fiber strands in the optical fiber bundle's distal end; means for manipulating the fiber bundle and moving its distal end axially in preselected increments; and means for controlling pulses of laser energy from the first and second fiber elements.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the first fiber element is a single optical fiber strand and the second fiber element includes a plurality of single fiber strands.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the first and second fiber elements are comprised of a plurality of fiber strands.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the first and second laser source means is selected from the group consisting of an Argon, Nd:YAG, Holmium (Ho:YAG) and Excimer type lasers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the means for controlling includes memory means for preprogramming a train of laser pulses from each of the fiber elements, and switch means for emitting the laser pulses at preselected intervals.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
146 words
A surgical apparatus for revascularizing a patient's heart, the apparatus comprising: an optical fiber bundle having first and second fiber elements each connected at their proximal ends to a separate source of laser energy, the first fiber element being connected to a first laser source means for delivering a first power capable of blanching or coagulating heart tissue, and the second fiber element connected to a second laser source means for delivering a second power different from the first power and capable of ablating heart tissue, the first and second fiber elements each include a plurality of optical fiber strands that cross-sectionally form a substantially semi-circular area at the optical fiber bundle's distal end; means for rotating the fiber bundle and moving the fiber bundle's distal end axially in preselected increments; and means for controlling pulses of laser energy from the first and second fiber elements.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
146 words
A surgical apparatus for revascularizing a patient's heart, the apparatus comprising: an optical fiber bundle having first and second fiber elements each connected at their proximal ends to a separate source of laser energy, the first fiber element being connected to a first laser source means for delivering a first power capable of blanching or coagulating heart tissue, and the second fiber element connected to a second laser source means for delivering a second power different from the first power and capable of ablating heart tissue, the first and second fiber elements each include a plurality of optical fiber strands that cross-sectionally form a substantially semi-circular area at the optical fiber bundle's distal end; means for rotating the fiber bundle and moving the fiber bundle's distal end axially in preselected increments; and means for controlling pulses of laser energy from the first and second fiber elements.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the first and second laser source means is selected from the group consisting of Argon, Nd:YAG, Holmium (Ho:YAG) and Excimer type lasers.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the means for controlling includes memory means for preprogramming a train of laser pulses from each of the fiber elements, and switch means for emitting the laser pulses at preselected intervals.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-11-23 | 2002-05-25 | 2002-11-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-11-23 | 2006-05-25 | 2006-11-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-11-23 | 2010-05-25 | 2010-11-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |