Surgical Laser Technologies, Inc.

Surgical Laser Technologies Ohio, Inc.

Surgical Laser Technology, Inc.

Norio Daikuzono

Kenneth P Cook

Robert M Bross

John Vanden Hoek

A laser catheter for the treatment of lesions and plaque deposits in arteries and other narrow paths having a radiation assembly affixed to a flexible conduit. The conduit generally includes multiple lumens for the passage of an optical fiber, a guide wire, a cooling medium therethrough, or fluid for inflating an angioplasty balloon. The radiation assembly is of short longitudinal profile and includes a generally spherical laser contact member retained within a housing, the latter affixed to the flexible conduit. The radiation assembly provides a dual-mode ablation/melting treatment regime. A longitudinal channel is provided through and along one side of the contact member thereby to permit guide wire positioning of the laser catheter while routing the guide wire away from the laser energy to avoid damage thereto. A balloon, in fluid communication with a catheter lumen, may be positioned rearwardly of the radiation assembly for secondary balloon angioplasty operations.

Laser catheter apparatus for use in arteries or other narrow paths

A laser medical probe adapted for direct contact with, or insertion into, tissue undergoing laser treatment. The probe includes a laser energy transmissive surface for emitting radiation from the probe. The probe surface includes a layer of laser transmissive particles for diffusing laser energy passing therethrough and an affixing material for affixing the particles to the probe surface. Laser energy emitted from the surface may be coupled into the particles and irregularly refracted and reflected thereby causing a wide laser energy radiation profile. The affixing material and the particles form a tissue contact surface for directly contacting the tissue undergoing treatment. A substantial number of the particles partially extend from the affixing material. The resultant tissue contact surface is rough. The affixing material may be a ceramic bonding agent.

Contact or insertion laser probe having wide angle radiation

A medical laser probe for contact laser surgery wherein a surgical incision, for example, is made by direct and indirect laser heating of the tissue. Direct heating is achieved in the conventional manner by direct laser irradiation of the subject tissue. Indirect heating is achieved through the use of a probe tip specially coated with infrared absorbing material. This material serves to partially absorb and partially transmit the laser energy. The absorbed laser energy heats the probe tip thereby facilitating tissue vaporization when the probe is brought into contact with the tissue. The transmitted laser energy vaporizes the tissue by the conventional irradiation thereof. The tip surface is roughened prior to application of the infrared material to enhance adhesion while an optically transparent material is placed over the tip to preclude material damage or erosion during normal tip use.

Vaporization contact laser probe

A medical and surgical laser probe comprised of a quartz optical fiber and a laser rod member optically connected thereto which is made of an artificial saphire and has a tapered portion so as to emit the incident laser beam from the tip end of the rod member without leaking it out from the tapered face. With this laser probe, laser irradiation in contact with the tissue is enabled and any desired medical and surgical treatment such as incision, coagulation, hemostasis can be attained effectively.

Medical and surgical laser probe I

A medical and surgical laser probe which is provided with a contact member made of a laser transmitting material in front of a forward end of a laser guide so as to enable the probe to be used in contact with the tissue. The contact member has a specified configuration which causes no substantial convergency so as to be specially adapted coagulation treatment. With the contact member of the present invention, the coagulation treatment can be carried out effectively.

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Tokyo, Japan

Norio Daikuzono