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:
May. 16, 1995
Filed:
Apr. 26, 1994
Terry A Fuller, Rydal, PA (US);
Mark A DeStefano, Perkasie, PA (US);
Sanjeev Popli, Norristown, PA (US);
William C Lawson, Willow Grove, PA (US);
Surgical Laser Technologies, Inc., Oaks, PA (US);
Abstract
A medical device has a flexible light guide having a light energy input end adapted for connection to a source of light energy and a light energy output end. The output end outputs a beam of light energy. The device includes a tip for contacting tissue to be treated by the device and irradiating the tissue with light energy. The tip consists essentially of light-transmissive material and has a working region for contacting and irradiating the tissue to be treated. The working region of the tip includes sidewalls. The tip has a bore therein for receiving the output end of the light guide. The output end of the light guide is at least partially surrounded by the light-transmissive material, and is positioned relative to the light-transmissive material so as to define an interface therebetween. The interface is in proximity to and in thermally-conductive relationship with the working region of the tip so that heat energy generated at the interface significantly raises the temperature of the tip's working region. The interface is sufficiently distant from the working region of the tip so as to allow at least a portion of the beam of light energy to strike the sidewalls at first locations, reflect back into the tip and exit the tip at second locations different from the first locations.