The present invention relates to a laser surgery apparatus for contact laser surgery and to a method of using the laser surgery apparatus. The laser surgery apparatus (1) comprises a contact laser scalpel (3) for contact laser surgery, the contact laser scalpel (4) comprising an optical fiber (4) of IR laser radiation transmissive material and terminating at an optical fiber tip (5) having an exposed core region, and support means for holding said fiber and for positioning said scalpel (3). Said fiber tip (5) is tapered and disposed at a distal end of the scalpel (3) for contacting a tissue to be cut and comprises an uncoated contact surface (6) for transmit ting laser radiation and a guiding surface that is at least partially reflective to laser radiation and provided such that laser radiation guided by said optical fiber (4) to said fiber tip (5) will be at least partially reflected by said guiding surface and emitted through said uncoated contact surface. The contact laser surgery apparatus further comprises a pulsed laser source (2) adapted to provide pulse durations in the femtosecond, picosecond and/or nanosecond range, and light transmitting means (9) connecting said laser source (2) to said optical fiber (4) of said scalpel (3) for conveying laser radiation from said laser source (2) to said optical fiber (4) such that the conveyed laser light is emitted at said uncoated contact surface of the fiber tip.

A thermoablation probe for performing an interstitial thermal therapy (ITT) procedure on a brain lesion generally includes a rigid sheath and a flexible treatment device telescopically slidable within the sheath. The treatment device has a substantially continuous covering and a shape-memory wire enveloped by the covering.

A steerable laser probe may include a handle, an actuation lever, an optic fiber, and a housing tube. The housing tube may have a first housing tube portion having a first stiffness and a second housing tube portion having a second stiffness. The second stiffs ness may be greater than the first stiffness. The optic fiber may be disposed within the housing tube and within an inner bore of the handle. An actuation of the actuation lever about a pivot pin of the handle may gradually curve the optic fiber. An actuation of the actuation lever about the pivot pin of the handle may gradually straighten the optic fiber.

A steerable laser probe may include a handle having a handle proximal end and a handle distal end, an actuation structure of the handle, a housing sleeve, a shape memory sleeve at least partially disposed within the housing sleeve, and an optic fiber disposed within the shape memory sleeve and within an inner bore of the handle. A compression of the actuation structure may be configured to gradually curve the optic fiber. A compression of the actuation structure may be configured to gradually straighten the optic fiber. A decompression of the actuation structure may be configured to gradually curve the optic fiber. A decompression of the actuation structure may be configured to gradually straighten the optic fiber.

A light measurement device measures the intensity of laser light output from a catheter tip end portion of a catheter having a built-in optical fiber. The light measurement device includes a light receiving part which receives the laser light output from the catheter tip end portion and a mounting part which is disposed at a position facing the light receiving part. The mounting part defines a position of a tubular hoop, which accommodates the catheter, with respect to the light receiving part. In a state in which the position of the hoop is defined by the mounting part, the light measurement device obtains the intensity of the laser light by inputting the laser light to the light receiving part.

An Optical fiber with modified distal end and related methods are provided. The optical fiber extends from a proximal end portion to a distal end portion and includes a core, a cladding, a coating, and an optional jacket. The distal end portion comprises a portion with an enlarged outer diameter.

A method for treating a treatment site within or adjacent to a vessel wall or a heart valve, includes the steps of (i) generating light energy with a light source; (ii) positioning a balloon substantially adjacent to the treatment site, the balloon having a balloon wall that defines a balloon interior that receives a balloon fluid; (iii) receiving the light energy from the light source with a light guide at a guide proximal end; (iv) guiding the light energy with the light guide in a first direction from the guide proximal end toward a guide distal end that is positioned within the balloon interior; and (v) optically analyzing with an optical analyzer assembly light energy from the light guide, wherein the light energy that is analyzed moves in a second direction that is opposite the first direction.

Improved device and method for safe, accurate, efficient surgical procedures are disclosed. A preferred device is a waveguide assembly for delivering electromagnetic radiation to a tissue comprising a waveguide with a multi-facetted tip and a cap over the 5 multi-facetted tip. Preferably the waveguide is an optical fiber. The cap is a protective, reinforced cap fused to the optical fiber's tip as an integral part of it and comprises an axially-extending portion oriented at a predetermined angle relative to the elongated axis of the optical fiber. A method of manufacturing special waveguide caps is provided. The optical fiber assembly delivers high power electromagnetic radiation in lateral direction 10 with respect to the elongated axis of the optical fiber, determined by the multiple-facetted tip, the slant angles of the optical fiber's core, and the orientation of the cap's axially-extending portion. A method for removing unwanted tissue like in benign prostatic hyperplasia treatments is also provided.

The device comprises: an outer tubular structure (21) having a closed terminal end; an inner tubular structure (23), positioned in the outer tubular structure, and having a side wall with a terminal end and defining an inner volume, configured to receive a light guide (27); in which between the outer tubular structure (21) and the inner tubular structure (23) a first gap (25) for circulation of a coolant is formed; At least a portion of the external tubular structure (21) or the internal tubular structure (23) is diffusing to an electromagnetic radiation propagating in the light guide (27).

The device comprises an outer tubular structure (21) having a closed terminal end, and an inner tubular structure (23) positioned in the outer tubular structure (21) and having a side wall with a terminal end and defining an inner volume. A first gap for circulation of a coolant is formed between the outer tubular structure and the inner tubular structure. A light guide (27) is housed in the inner volume of the inner tubular structure (23). The light guide comprises an optical fiber (28) and a diffuser (30) optically coupled to a distal end of the optical fiber. The diffuser is at least partially made of a material diffusing to the electromagnetic radiation conveyed by the light guide, and has a curved shape.