The present disclosure provides, according to some embodiments, methods and systems for selectively reducing, blocking or inhibiting at least part of the neural activity in an organ of a subject. In preferred embodiments, the method and system are used for selectively blocking at least part of the neural activity in a duodenum of a subject in need thereof. According to some embodiments, the selective blocking occurs through use of laser radiation. According to some embodiments, the selective blocking occurs through use of ultrasound energy. According to some embodiments, the selective blocking comprises causing damage to at least part of sensory nerves located within a target area while maintaining functional activity of tissue surrounding the sensory nerves by means of shielding it from the effects of laser radiation. According to some embodiments, the sensory nerves include neurons configured to transmit signals triggered by food passing through the duodenum, such as, but not limited to, neurohormonal signals.

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.

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

Articles of manufacture, including terminations of or attachments to optical fibers are configured to substantially prevent axial emission and redirect radially most if not all light emanating from optical fibers. In that, a termination may include a fiber cap of a unitary construction of a tube and an optical element disposed to face a sealed end of the tube and dividing a hollow of the tube and having a conical surface, or an optical element dividing the hollow and complemented by a cone. An example of termination includes an optical fiber element having an up-tapered end with a maximum taper-diameter exceeding the core-diameter and ending at a conical element with an apex angle from about 70° to about 100°. Articles of manufacture additionally including mounting contraptions cooperating such terminations with cannulae to form an attachment to a laser system. Methods for transmitting light through such articles of manufacture.

A probe of a target identification system can be extended via a first lumen of a viewing instrument, such as for illuminating an area beyond a distal end of the viewing instrument via an optical path of the viewing instrument. An optical response to the illumination of the area can be received via an optical path of the probe and can be split from other optical signals of the optical path. The optical response information can be used to identify characteristics of a target and to adjust parameters of a working instrument such as a working instrument contemporaneously using the probe.

The present disclosure is directed to a medical device. Systems and methods are provided for utilizing a laser to break a kidney stones into smaller fragments and/or dust, and removing particles, stone fragments and/or stone dust from a patient. The medical device may include a tube having a distal end and a proximal end, a first lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the tube and in fluid communication with the distal end and a plurality of side ports located at a distal portion of the tube, and a second lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the tube.

A laser fiber for use in performing a medical laser treatment includes an optical fiber and a fiber tip. The optical fiber includes a terminating end surface at a distal end. The fiber tip is positioned at the distal end of the optical fiber and includes a transmissive portion and a spacer portion. Laser energy discharged from the terminating end surface of the optical fiber is transmitted through the transmissive portion. The spacer portion defines a distal terminating end of the fiber tip that is spaced a predetermined distance from the terminating end surface of the optical fiber. The predetermined distance is set for shock wave generation for calculus destruction at the distal terminating end of the fiber tip.

A device for shaping tissue includes a tip with an internal close-looped circulation system. The tip is configured to connect to tubes. One tube is configured to connect to a submersible cold-water pump. Another tube is an outlet. The tip has a sapphire window on one face and, on opposite face, a shaft with a laser fiber therein, and an opening for laser beam to shine through.

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.

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.