A tool has a handle and an elongate shaft that extends distally from the handle. A distal portion of the shaft is inserted into a subject during a surgical procedure. An optical fiber delivers laser energy to a tip at the distal portion of the shaft. The tip includes a mechanical cutting mechanism including a moving part that absorbs the laser energy, thermally conducts the absorbed energy to tissue that is disposed between the moving part and another part, and moves with respect to the other part in order to cut tissue that is disposed between the parts using a mechanical force that is lower than a mechanical force that would be required to cut the tissue in the absence of the laser energy. Other embodiments are also described.

Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a probe comprising a tube, wherein one or more optical fibers extend at least partially through the tube for transmitting at least one of a laser light and an illumination light from a light source to a target location. A distal end of the tube comprises a flat-walled morphology, and a protective window with a round edge is press-fit to the distal end. The flat-walled morphology of the distal end of the tube has a reduced diametric interference sensitivity, thus allowing a wider range of tolerances between the window and the tube walls for effective press-fitting.

A shock wave generating device includes an optical fiber and a reflective part, and is configured to reflect and converge the shock wave generated inside the reflective part to an outside of the reflective part. The reflective part includes: a reflector having a concave surface having a cut surface-of-revolution shape, and a through hole, which is formed coaxially with a rotating axis of the concave surface, and into which the optical fiber is to be inserted; a sealing body configured to seal an opening portion of the concave surface; and a liquid to be charged between the concave surface and the sealing body. The optical fiber has a distal end arranged at a position on a rear side of a focal point of the concave surface, at which the shock wave reflected by the concave surface is convergeable outside the reflective part.

Surgical devices and methods of operation thereof are provided herein. The surgical devices include interior walls defining a cavity that extends along a first axis and having an aperture at a first end of the surgical devices. The surgical devices include a backstop spaced apart from the aperture and having a surface opposing the aperture. The surgical devices include an arm that extends from the surgical device. The surgical devices are configured to receive a fiber waveguide into the cavity at a second end. The surgical devices of some embodiments include a surface for reflecting laser light from the fiber waveguide.

A catheter system (100) for treating one or more treatment sites (106) within or adjacent to the heart valve (108) includes an energy source (124), a plurality of energy guides (122A), and a balloon assembly (104). The energy source (124) generates energy. The plurality of energy guides (122A) are configured to receive energy from the energy source (124). The balloon assembly (104) includes a plurality of balloons (104A) that are each positionable substantially adjacent to one or more treatment site(s) (106). Each of the plurality of balloons (104A) has a balloon wall (130) that defines a balloon interior (146). Each of the plurality of balloons (104A) is configured to retain a balloon fluid (132) within the balloon interior (146). A portion of at least one of the plurality of energy guides (122A) that receive the energy from the energy source (124) is positioned within the balloon interior (146) of each of the plurality of balloons (104A) so that plasma is formed in the balloon fluid (132) within the balloon interior (146).

Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a thermally robust laser probe assembly comprising a cannula, wherein one or more optical fibers extend at least partially through the cannula for transmitting laser light from a laser source to a target location. The probe assembly further comprises a lens housed in the cannula and a protective component press-fitted to the distal end of the cannula, wherein the lens is positioned between the one or more optical fibers and the protective component.

A laser device for dermocosmetic, medical, or aesthetic treatments, comprising: A) a laser system comprising a lamp-pumped source; B) an optical fibre transporting the laser beam produced by said source; C) a handpiece or a scanner connected to said optical fibre, comprising a lens and mirror system projecting the image of the laser beam onto the area to be treated; characterized in that said optical fibre has a rectangular section and said image is rectangular. A method of dermocosmetic laser treatment characterized by rectangular laser spots is also claimed. It is a further object of the present invention a tracing kit, which allows the marking of a surface area, preferably of biological tissue, with a fluorescent or photosensitive substance invisible to light. Such an invisible and fluorescent or photosensitive substance absorbs the electromagnetic radiation with the proper wavelength emitted by the illuminator and reflects it in the visible spectrum.

One described aspect is an optical fiber comprising: a fiber core that extends along a fiber axis, is configured to transmit a laser energy along the fiber axis, and terminates at a distal end; a first cladding that extends along the fiber axis, is adjacent to the fiber core, and terminates at a distal end; a coating that extends along the fiber axis and terminates at a distal end, wherein the coating is a gold coating; a second cladding that surrounds a portion of the gold coating along the fiber axis, and terminates at a distal end; an outer jacket that extends along the fiber axis and terminates at a distal end; and a fiber tip. Associated laser systems are also disclosed.

A surgical instrument includes a light guide configured to convey light energy, a lens configured to focus the light energy into a light beam, a mounting tube, a jaw assembly coupled to the mounting tube, and a handle assembly. The jaw assembly includes a first jaw member non-movably secured to the mounting tube, a second jaw member movably secured to the mounting tube, and a window secured to the first jaw member and forming a tissue contacting surface. The window is oriented in a plane oblique to a longitudinal axis of the mounting tube and forms a liquid-tight seal between tissue and the lens. The handle assembly is coupled to the jaw assembly to move the second jaw member between an open position in which the second jaw member is spaced part from the window and a closed position.

Described herein are methods, devices, and support structures for assembling optical fibers in catheter tips and facilitating alignment and structural support. A method for assembling a plurality of optical fibers and lenses in a support structure for an ablation catheter includes providing a support structure with a proximal end, a body, and a distal end, wherein the distal end includes a plurality of alignment orifices or slits. A plurality of optical fibers are threaded through the alignment orifices or slits, such that each optical fiber is threaded through a corresponding alignment orifice or slit. An adhesive material is applied at each alignment orifice or slit to secure the optical fibers, and the plurality of optical fibers are then cleaved at the distal end to remove portions of the fibers extending out of the distal end. Finally, a lens is attached to each of the ends of the plurality of optical fibers.