An apparatus and method of treatment of an animal using the apparatus are disclosed. The apparatus includes a scalpel, a laser included in the scalpel, and a visible light source included in the scalpel. The visible light source provides a visible targeting beam. The method of treatment includes activating a visible targeting beam in a laser scalpel. The visible targeting beam has an illumination intensity. The method further includes illuminating a tumor that includes cancerous cells and non-cancerous cells with the visible targeting beam, activating an invisible mid-infrared laser included in the scalpel to produce a laser spot at the tumor, and ablating the cancerous cells while leaving the non-cancerous cells substantially undamaged.

A system and method for measuring a hydration level in human tissue. The system includes a coaxial probe have a first end configured to be in contract with human tissue and configured to be emit and receive signals associated with a spectroscopic technique and having a second end adapted to be coupled to transmit and receive circuitry. The system further includes a patch or other means coupled to the coaxial probe and configured to be adhered to human tissue so as to provide a force upon at least a portion of the coaxial probe configured to be in contact with human tissue. In embodiments, the system may further include means coupled to receive signals from the coaxial probe, for determining an amount of liquid within a portion of human tissue in contact with the first end of the probe.

An apparatus and method of treatment of an animal using the apparatus are disclosed. The apparatus includes a scalpel, a laser included in the scalpel, and a visible light source included in the scalpel. The visible light source provides a visible targeting beam. The method of treatment includes activating a visible targeting beam in a laser scalpel. The visible targeting beam has an illumination intensity. The method further includes illuminating a tumor that includes cancerous cells and non-cancerous cells with the visible targeting beam, activating an invisible mid-infrared laser included in the scalpel to produce a laser spot at the tumor, and ablating the cancerous cells while leaving the non-cancerous cells substantially undamaged.

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.

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.

Herein are disclosed protected optical fiber terminations for use in the treatment of renal and biliary calculi. The protected optical fiber termination including a ferrule affixed to the optical fiber that provides the termination of the optical fiber with protection from contact with saline and/or biological fluids. The optical fiber termination can include open or closed ferrules. The open ferrules providing a means for maintaining a bubble, e.g., a Moses bubble on the termination; the closed ferrules providing a calumniated focus on the renal or biliary calculi.

A laser fiber, is modified to have a tip that has a length that is predetermined to ensure that the tip remains viable throughout a given procedure type, despite the presence of burn-back. The extended tip is defined by stripping back the jacket of the laser fiber over the pre-determined length starting at the distal end of the fiber. The stripped portion of the fiber is then dip-coated with a layer of polymeric coating such as an acrylate. A visual indicator can be printed onto the extended tip to aid in the use of the extended fiber. A self-aligning stability sheath is provided to make insertion easier in certain types of endoscopes. The laser fiber with extended tip can be pre-inserted into the sheath and sold as a pre-prepared kit for ease of use and protection of the fiber.

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.