The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 16, 1993
Filed:
Sep. 24, 1991
Glenn S Baker, Wakefield, MA (US);
Edward L Sinofsky, Peabody, MA (US);
C. R. Bard, Inc., Murray Hill, NJ (US);
Abstract
A laser catheter includes an elongated tubular catheter body, one or more optical fibers extending through the catheter body and a catheter window mounted at the distal end of the catheter body. The optical fibers direct laser energy through the catheter window for removal of biological material. A diffraction grating is formed on the proximal surface of the catheter window in alignment with laser energy from the optical fibers. The laser energy is modified by the diffraction grating to provide a desired spatial distribution pattern. Preferably, the diffraction grating provides a diverging beam suitable for forming a hole in an obstruction, the hole having a diameter that is approximately the same as the diameter of the catheter. The diffraction grating enables formation at the distal end of the catheter of a beam pattern having an elliptical or other noncircular cross section. In another embodiment, an optical fiber with a noncircular cross section is used to shape the laser radiation emitted from the laser catheter.