Omniguide, Inc.

Omniguide Communications

Other

Max Shurgalin

Yoel Fink

Charalambos Anastassiou

Robert Payne

Gil Shapira

Ori Weisberg

Steven Alan Jacobs

Tairan Wang

Burak Temelkuran

Uri Kolodny

Gregor Dellemann

David Torres

Jesse Rusk

Mihai Ibanescu

Marc Graham

Steven G Johnson

Lori Pressman

Vladimir Fuflyigin

Arnaz Singh Malhi

Crystal Simon

Gokhan Ulu

Noam Josephy

Douglas Woodruff

Thieu L Le

Soura Bhattacharyya

A method and laser surgical devices for surgical incising and ablating living tissues using laser beam and effecting enhanced surgical haemostasis concurrently with incising and ablating are disclosed. The method requires a surgical laser beam that is pulsed and is highly absorbed in living tissues and enhanced haemostatic action is achieved using along with the surgical laser beam energy, delivered in pulses, another separately controlled energy effecting haemostasis, by applying the second energy in any and every given spot of incising and ablating in a preemptive and focused manner, which minimizes haemostasis-related damage to surrounding tissues. In one embodiment a heated gas jet from a hollow core optical fiber transmitting the surgical laser beam is used. In other embodiments an ancillary laser radiation at a wavelength chosen specifically to minimize haemostasis-related damage to tissue is utilized for preemptive and controlled haemostatic effect.

Method of incising and ablating living tissues and surgical laser devices

Small diameter tools are provided, and methods of use described, to facilitate less invasive surgical procedures employing laser beams. Such tools include distal tips that enhance the precise placement of optical waveguides, as well as enable cutting and dissecting procedures. A rotary coupler allows precise control of flexible conduits in which waveguides may be disposed. Waveguide tips with conical features protect waveguide ends and allow unobstructed propagation of the laser beam out of the waveguide. A preferentially bending jacket for waveguides may be used to control an orientation of a waveguide disposed therein. Surgical waveguide assemblies may include various combinations of these components.

Devices and methods for laser surgery

An optical radiation delivery structure including a waveguide conduit having a surgical access portion and a handle portion. The handle portion includes a gripping portion and a waveguide lock, which is configured to have only a locked state and an unlocked state. In some embodiments, the handle portion includes a gripping portion and a counterbalance region, such that a center of mass of the waveguide conduit is disposed towards a proximal end of the waveguide conduit.

Waveguide locks and counterbalances for waveguide conduits

An apparatus includes a light source configured to provide radiation at a wavelength and a conduit configured to direct radiation at a wavelength from the light source to a target location of a patient. The conduit includes a first optical waveguide extending along a waveguide axis, the first optical waveguide being a flexible waveguide having a hollow core, the first optical waveguide being configured to guide the radiation at through the core along the waveguide axis; and a second optical waveguide extending along the waveguide axis, the second optical waveguide having a hollow core and being coupled to the first optical waveguide to receive the radiation from the first optical waveguide and to deliver the radiation to the target location. The first optical waveguide is a photonic crystal fiber and the second optical waveguide is not a photonic crystal fiber waveguide.

Two-part surgical waveguide

In general, in one aspect, the disclosure features a system that includes a flexible waveguide having a hollow core extending along a waveguide axis and a region surrounding the core, the region being configured to guide radiation from the COlaser along the waveguide axis from an input end to an output end of the waveguide. The system also includes a handpiece attached to the waveguide, wherein the handpiece allows an operator to control the orientation of the output end to direct the radiation to a target location of a patient and the handpiece includes a tip extending past the output end that provides a minimum standoff distance between the output end and the target location.

Medical system including a flexible waveguide mechanically coupled to an actuator

Photonic crystal fibers and medical systems including photonic crystal fibers

In general, in one aspect, the disclosure features a system that includes a flexible waveguide having a hollow core extending along a waveguide axis and a region surrounding the core, the region being configured to, guide radiation from the COlaser along the waveguide axis from an input end to an output end of the waveguide. The system also includes a handpiece attached to the waveguide, wherein the handpiece allows an operator to control the orientation of the output end to direct the radiation to a target location of a patient and the handpiece includes a tip extending past the output end that provides a minimum standoff distance between the output end and the target location.

In general, in one aspect, the invention features apparatus that include an assembly including a radiation input port configured to receive radiation from a radiation source and an output port configured to couple the radiation to a photonic crystal fiber, the assembly further including a retardation element positioned to modify a polarization state of the radiation received from the radiation source before it is coupled to the photonic crystal fiber.

In general, in one aspect, the invention features methods that include directing radiation to a target location of a patient through a photonic crystal fiber, the photonic crystal fiber having a hollow core and flowing a fluid through the hollow core to the target location of the patient.

In general, in one aspect, the invention features systems, including a photonic crystal fiber including a core extending along a waveguide axis and a dielectric confinement region surrounding the core, the dielectric confinement region being configured to guide radiation along the waveguide axis from an input end to an output end of the photonic crystal fiber. The systems also includes a handpiece attached to the photonic crystal fiber, wherein the handpiece allows an operator to control the orientation of the output end to direct the radiation to a target location of a patient.

Techniques for monitoring the quality (e.g., optical and mechanical properties) in optical waveguides (e.g., photonic crystal fibers) are disclosed. Additionally, techniques for detecting and localizing defects in the waveguides are also described. Pulses of light are launched into one end of an optical waveguide. The amount of light scattered out of the same end of the waveguide (i.e., a backscattered or reflected signal) is monitored at certain wavelengths specific to the spectral characteristics of the waveguide. Transmission characteristics and defect localization can be determined from the backscattered signal.

Optical waveguide monitoring

Techniques for monitoring optical waveguides are disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Lexington, MA, United States of America

Max Shurgalin