US6096031A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High repetition rate erbium:YAG laser for tissue ablation
Assignee: ESC MEDICAL SYSTEMS Inc
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Filing: 1997-04-10
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Granted: 2000-08-01
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Expires: 2017-04-10
Abstract
Abstract A medical laser system is disclosed for ablating biological material. The system includes an Erbium:YAG gain medium capable of generating a pulsed output having a wavelength of 2.9 microns. The laser is optimized to generate a pulsed output having a repetition rate of at least 50 hertz and preferably at least 100 hertz. The output is delivered to the target tissue via an optical fiber. Preferably, a suction source is provided to aspirate the tissue as it is being ablated. The erbium laser system provides accurate ablation with minimal damage to surrounding tissue.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerald M. Mitchell
- 👤 Edward D. Reed
- 👤 Greg J. Spooner
- 👤 Michael Hmelar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 11:48
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/05; H01S3/06; H01S3/0602; H01S3/0615; A; A61; A61F; A61F9/00; A61F9/007; A61F9/008; A61F9/00802; A61F9/00825; H01S3/08; H01S3/23; H01S3/2383; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/22; A61B18/26; A61F2009/00861; A61F2009/0087; A61F2009/00885; A61F2009/00887; A61F9/00736; H01S3/005; H01S3/08072; H01S3/09; H01S3/091; H01S3/0915; H01S3/092; H01S3/10; H01S3/102; H01S3/14; H01S3/16; H01S3/1601; H01S3/1603; H01S3/1608
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for treating biological tissue comprising the steps of: generating a pulsed laser output from an erbium doped gain medium excited by an optical pump source, said laser output pulses having a length in the range of 70-200 microseconds and controlled by the activation period of the optical pump source and having a repetition rate greater than 100 hertz; and delivering the pulsed laser output to the biological tissue through a fiberoptic endoprobe with an energy per pulse of at least 0.25 millijoules to cut, vaporize, ablate, incise or emulsify the tissue.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
93 words
A method for treating biological tissue comprising the steps of: generating a pulsed laser output from an erbium doped gain medium excited by an optical pump source, said laser output pulses having a length in the range of 70-200 microseconds and controlled by the activation period of the optical pump source and having a repetition rate greater than 100 hertz; and delivering the pulsed laser output to the biological tissue through a fiberoptic endoprobe with an energy per pulse of at least 0.25 millijoules to cut, vaporize, ablate, incise or emulsify the tissue.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as recited in claim 1 further including the step of aspirating the tissue which has been cut, vaporized, ablated, incised or emulsified.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the energy per pulse delivered to the tissue is at least 0.5 millijoules.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the pulsed laser output has a repetition rate of at least 150 hertz.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for treating biological tissue comprising the steps of: generating a pulsed laser output from a medium excited by an optical pump source, said pulsed laser output having a repetition rate greater than 100 hertz, a pulse length in the range of 70-200 microseconds and controlled by the activation period of the optical pump source, and an output wavelength of 2.8 to 2.9 microns; and delivering the pulsed laser output to the biological tissue through a fiberoptic endoprobe with an energy per pulse of at least 0.25 millijoules to cut, vaporize, ablate, incise or emulsify the tissue.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for treating biological tissue comprising the steps of: generating a pulsed laser output from a medium excited by an optical pump source, said pulsed laser output having a repetition rate greater than 100 hertz, a pulse length in the range of 70-200 microseconds and controlled by the activation period of the optical pump source, and an output wavelength of 2.8 to 2.9 microns; and delivering the pulsed laser output to the biological tissue through a fiberoptic endoprobe with an energy per pulse of at least 0.25 millijoules to cut, vaporize, ablate, incise or emulsify the tissue.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as recited in claim 5 further including the step of aspirating the tissue which has been cut, vaporized, ablated, incised or emulsified.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as recited in claim 5 wherein the energy per pulse delivered to the tissue is at least 0.5 millijoules.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
126 words
A method of performing photophacoemulsification comprising the steps of: generating a pulsed laser output from a medium excited by an optical pump source, said pulsed laser output having a repetition rate greater than 100 hertz, having a pulse length in the range of 70-200 microseconds and controlled by the activation period of the optical pump source, and an output wavelength of 2.8 to 2.9 microns; supplying the laser output to the input end of a delivery device; positioning a delivery end of the delivery device within the vitreous of the eye to be treated; and delivering the pulsed laser output to the vitreous of the eye with an energy per pulse of at least 0.25 millijoules to emulsify the tissue and simultaneously aspirating the emulsified tissue.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
126 words
A method of performing photophacoemulsification comprising the steps of: generating a pulsed laser output from a medium excited by an optical pump source, said pulsed laser output having a repetition rate greater than 100 hertz, having a pulse length in the range of 70-200 microseconds and controlled by the activation period of the optical pump source, and an output wavelength of 2.8 to 2.9 microns; supplying the laser output to the input end of a delivery device; positioning a delivery end of the delivery device within the vitreous of the eye to be treated; and delivering the pulsed laser output to the vitreous of the eye with an energy per pulse of at least 0.25 millijoules to emulsify the tissue and simultaneously aspirating the emulsified tissue.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the pulsed laser output has a repetition rate of at least 150 hertz.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as recited in claim 8 wherein the energy per pulse delivered to the tissue is at least 0.5 millijoules.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the pulsed laser output has a repetition rate of at least 150 hertz.
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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) | 2003-08-01 | 2004-01-31 | 2004-08-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-08-01 | 2008-01-31 | 2008-08-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-08-01 | 2012-01-31 | 2012-08-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |