US5843073A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Infrared laser catheter system
Assignee: Cardiofocus Inc
•
Filing: 1995-03-29
•
Granted: 1998-12-01
•
Expires: 2015-03-29
Abstract
Abstract Laser energy produced by a laser operating in the mid-infrared region (approximately 2 micrometers) is delivered by an optical fiber in a catheter to a surgical site for biological tissue removal and repair. Disclosed laser sources which have an output wavelength in this region include: Holmium-doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Ho:YAG), Holmium-doped Yttrium Lithium Fluoride (Ho:YLF), Erbium-doped YAG, Erbium-doped YLF and Thulium-doped YAG. For tissue removal, the lasers are operated with relatively long pulses at energy levels of approximately 1 joule per pulse. For tissue repair, the lasers are operated in a continuous wave mode at low power. Laser output energy is applied to a silica-based optical fiber which has been specially purified to reduce the hydroxyl-ion concentration to a low level. The catheter may be comprised of a single optical fiber or a plurality of optical fibers arranged to give overlapping output patterns for large area coverage.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward Lawrence Sinofsky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 06:52
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/22; A61B18/24; G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/42; G02B6/4296; A61B2018/2065; A61B90/00; A61B90/39; G02B6/241; G02B6/36; G02B6/38; G02B6/3807; G02B6/3873; G02B6/3874; G02B6/3878
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
A system for transmitting laser energy via a optical fiber to a surgical site comprising: a laser energy source operating at a wavelength in a range of about 1.4-2.2 micrometers; and a flexible, elongate optical fiber for conducting laser energy from a proximal end of said fiber to a surgical site at a distal end of said fiber, the proximal end being coupled to the output of said laser energy source, and said fiber being a silica fiber having a low hydroxyl ion content to reduce absorption of said laser energy during transmission through said fiber.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
96 words
A system for transmitting laser energy via a optical fiber to a surgical site comprising: a laser energy source operating at a wavelength in a range of about 1.4-2.2 micrometers; and a flexible, elongate optical fiber for conducting laser energy from a proximal end of said fiber to a surgical site at a distal end of said fiber, the proximal end being coupled to the output of said laser energy source, and said fiber being a silica fiber having a low hydroxyl ion content to reduce absorption of said laser energy during transmission through said fiber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said laser source comprises a Holmium-doped Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet laser.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said laser source comprises an Erbium-doped Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet laser.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said laser source comprises a Holmium-doped Yttrium-Lithium-Fluoride laser.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said laser source comprises a Erbium-doped Yttrium-Lithium-Fluoride laser.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the laser source operates in a continuous wave mode at an energy level sufficient to repair biological tissue.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said laser source operates to deliver energy at a wavelength in a range of about 2.06-2.1- micrometers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said laser source operates to deliver energy at a wavelength in a range of about 1.88 micrometers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said laser source comprises a Thulium-doped Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet laser.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the laser source operates in a pulsed mode at an energy level sufficient to remove biological tissue by vaporization.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 10, wherein said laser source operates with a pulse width of 0.2-5 milliseconds.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 10, wherein said laser source operates at a repetition rate of about 1 to about 10 pulses per second.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 10, wherein said laser source operates to deliver energy to a surgical site of at least 0.57 millijoules per pulse.
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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) | 2001-11-30 | 2002-06-01 | 2002-12-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-11-30 | 2006-06-01 | 2006-12-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-11-30 | 2010-06-01 | 2010-12-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |