Patent classifications
A61B2018/2211
Cauterization devices, methods, and systems
Aspects of this disclosure pertain to a device with an elongated body having a distal end. The distal end may comprise a port that permits discharge of a laser energy towards a tissue from an optical fiber located in the distal end. An exterior surface of the distal end may include a cauterization portion that permits discharge of a cauterization energy towards the tissue. In some aspects, the device includes an insulative portion that attaches the distal end to the elongated body and limits energy transfer therebetween. Related systems and methods are also disclosed.
Laser Ablation Catheter
Provided is a laser ablation catheter, including a laser optical fiber bundle, an adjustable head, an outer tube, an overtube and a connector. The outer tube wraps the laser fiber bundle. The adjustable head includes an adjustable stent, the adjustable stent is made of a shape memory material and is sleeved outside one end of the outer tube. The connector is connected to the other end of the outer tube, and the laser fiber bundle can be connected to a laser generator through the connector. The overtube is sleeved outside the adjustable stent for compressing the adjustable stent. At least one end of the adjustable stent is a movable end, and the movable end is slidingly connected to the outer tube. When the overtube is withdrawn, the movable end can provide conditions for the deformation of the adjustable stent.
Active alignment system and method for laser optical coupling
A catheter system for treating site within or adjacent to a vessel wall or a heart valve includes a light source, a first and second light guide, and an optical alignment system. The light source generates light energy. The first and second light guides receive the light energy from the light source and have respective guide proximal ends. A multiplexer directs the light energy toward the guide proximal ends of the first and second light guides. The optical alignment system determines an alignment of the light energy relative to at least one of the guide proximal ends and adjusts the positioning of the light energy relative to the at least one of the guide proximal ends based at least partially on the alignment of the light energy relative to the at least one of the guide proximal ends.
Method and apparatus for treating peripheral olfactory dysfunction
Method and apparatus for treating peripheral olfactory dysfunction are described herein. One method may include introducing a treatment device into a nasal cavity of the patient, the treatment device having a proximal end, a distal end, an elongated shaft therebetween, and a treatment end effector disposed on or near the distal end. The distal end of the treatment device may be advanced into proximity of a cribriform plate within the nasal cavity and at least one olfactory neuron may be ablated through the cribriform plate via the treatment end effector to reduce at least one symptom of olfactory dysfunction.
CATHETER INFLATION TUBE FOR USE IN INTRAVASCULAR LITHOTRIPSY
A catheter system (100) for treating a treatment site (106) within or adjacent to a vessel wall (108A) or a heart valve. In various embodiments, the catheter system (100) includes a balloon (104) and an inflation tube (219, 319). The balloon (104) has a balloon interior (146). The inflation tube (219, 319) is configured to guide a flow of an inflation fluid (132) into the balloon interior (146). The inflation tube (219, 319) has an inflation lumen (319A). The inflation tube (219, 319) is movable between (i) an first configuration (319F) wherein the inflation lumen (319A) has a first cross-sectional area, and (ii) a second configuration (319S) wherein the inflation lumen (319A) has a second cross-sectional area that is less than the first cross-sectional area. In various alternative embodiments, the inflation tube (219, 319) can be biased toward the second configuration (319S) or the first configuration (319F). The inflation tube (219, 319) can include a tube wall (319W) that varies in thickness
Laser-assisted guidewire having a variable stiffness shaft
Embodiments of the present invention comprise a fiber optic guidewire having a hypotube with a plurality of openings that provide variable stiffness and tracking characteristics between at least one proximal segment and one distal segment of the guidewire. In some embodiments, the guidewire further comprises a mandrel disposed within the hypotube, the mandrel cooperating with the optical fibers to permit the distal end of the hypotube to be shaped as desired by a user. Methods of manufacturing and using the guidewire are also disclosed.
LASER DEVICE FOR VASCULAR AND INTRABODY SURGERY AND METHOD OF USE
A laser atherectomy device includes a light delivery catheter equipped with sensors for monitoring physical characteristics at a laser application site. An integrated control unit utilizing data from said sensors is provided to optimally adjust laser energy parameters and to provide for safe and efficacious ablation of the blood vessel occlusion.
SYSTEM WITH COOLING FLUID FOR INTERSTITIAL LASER THERAPY
Disclosed is a system provided with cooling fluid for interstitial laser therapy that limits and/or provides control of the laser ablation zone produced by a device for interstitial laser therapy, which allows for better control of the laser ablation zone and more predictive and accurate interstitial laser therapy. The device for interstitial laser therapy includes an optical waveguide having an optical output end and an optical diffuser optically coupled to, optically associated with, or positioned about the optical output end. An irrigation tube directs cooling fluid to flow out of a distal end of the irrigation tube which directs cooling fluid to flow inside of and/or outside of the optical diffuser.
METHODS, DEVICES, AND SUPPORT STRUCTURES FOR ASSEMBLING OPTICAL FIBERS IN CATHETER TIPS
A catheter includes proximal and distal sections, a shaft coupled between the proximal and distal sections, and optical fibers extending through the shaft and to the distal section of the catheter. The distal section includes a support structure that includes a proximal end, a distal end, reflective elements, and a cap disposed over a portion of the distal end of the support structure. The proximal end includes alignment receptacles. Each of the optical fibers is inserted into corresponding ones of the alignment receptacles and the alignment receptacles are shaped to maintain the optical fibers straight in the support structure. The distal end includes orifices facing different directions. Each of the optical fibers is optically aligned with corresponding ones of the lenses, reflective elements, and orifices such that the optical fibers in the support structure are straight. The cap includes optical ports aligned with the orifices.
Aligning multi-wavelength laser beams with cores of a multi-core fiber
Particular embodiments disclosed herein provide a surgical laser system comprising first laser source configured to emit a first laser beam with a first wavelength and a second laser source configured to emit a second laser beam with a second wavelength. The surgical laser system further comprises a first diffraction optical element (DOE) tuned to the first wavelength and a second DOE tuned to the second wavelength, wherein the first DOE is configured to diffract the first laser beam into one or more first diffracted beams at a diffraction angle and the second DOE is configured to diffract the second laser beam into one or more second diffracted beams at the same diffraction angle. The surgical laser system further comprises one or more beam splitters configured to reflect the one or more first diffracted beams and the one or more second diffracted beams onto a lens.