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:
Jun. 14, 1994
Filed:
Jun. 25, 1993
Gary E Leach, Rowland Heights, CA (US);
Other;
Abstract
A method of laser-assisted prostatectomy which is based on the use of special laseroscope with continuous flow of the flushing and cooling liquid is provided. The method consists of inserting the above laseroscope into the patient's urethra with the laser fiber tip positioned at the prostate gland area, inserting a balloon catheter through the laseroscope to the urinary bladder neck, inflating the balloon of the catheter, initiating an inflow of washing and cooling liquid to the operating area, which is isolated from the urinary bladder by the balloon catheter, inserting a laser fiber into the laseroscope, firing the laser fiber and directing a laser beam laterally from the laser fiber onto the prostatic gland for directing the laser beam to the required area. The method is carried out by means of an apparatus comprising a tubular sheath (10) with three guide tubes, i.e., a guide tube (13) for an optical lens system (12), a second guide tube (14) for a laser fiber (16), and a third or auxiliary guide tube (18) for interchangeably inserting: a cleaning brush (19), which may rotate and reciprocate in the guide tube (18) for cleaning the operating tip of the laser fiber (16); an ultrasonic probe (40) for measuring the degree and depth of ablation of the prostatic tissue; and a balloon catheter (42) for the occlusion of the bladder neck. Spaces (15a) and (15b) between the inner surface of the sheath (10) and the outer surfaces of the guide tubes form mutually isolated channels for the continuous supply and removal of the flushing and cooling liquid.