An illumination system for a medical technology therapy and/or diagnosis system is provided. The system includes a light source, preferably a laser light source, and a light guide, which at a proximal end can be connected to the at least one light source and/or can be assigned thereto, and which system has at the distal end of the light guide a diffuser element having a longitudinal axis which extends into or in the diffuser element perpendicularly with respect to an input face of the light guide, wherein the diffuser element emits light laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis over its active length in the operating state, wherein the diffuser element has at least one diffuser base body and the diffuser base body contains a matrix that has at least one scattering element and is enclosed at least on its cladding surface by a solid encapsulation.

Described is a method and device for dilating a tubular anatomical structure. The device and method can be useful for extracting a blood clot in an artery of a mammal by concentrically irradiating an inner wall of the occluded artery using an ultraviolet (UV) laser beam delivered by an optical fiber having an external or inverted conical tip. Dilation results from photophysical production and release of nitric oxide from the cells lining the arterial wall when UV laser light is projected as a ring beam onto the inner arterial wall. This “minimal contact persistent dilation system” prepares the artery for safer mechanical extraction by thrombectomy, owing to decrease in friction and dissolution of chemical bonding.

Disclosed is a device for interstitial laser therapy. The device comprises an optical waveguide extending about a central longitudinal axis and having an optical output end; an optical diffuser optically coupled to, optically associate with, or positioned about the optical output end, wherein the optical diffuser comprises a housing having an open end for receiving the optical output end and a first longitudinal portion of the optical waveguide; and a temperature sensor interposed, positioned or located between the central longitudinal axis and an exterior surface of the housing, and preferably within the longitudinal extent of the first longitudinal portion of the optical waveguide. The optical diffuser can be provided with one or more holes, one or more slits, one or more openings, and/or one or more vents. The device can also include a second temperature sensor. Also disclosed is a system for interstitial laser therapy.

Devices, systems, and methods to verify a magnetic field phase drift and to check for proper function of a laser fiber cooling system during laser ablation therapy are disclosed. The laser fiber cooling system includes a cooling catheter insertable into laser ablation target tissue, a coupling assembly to define fluid channels, inflow and outflow ports, a fluid pump to pump fluid through the laser fiber cooling system, a fluid source, a first sensor to measure an inflow fluid parameter, a second sensor to measure an outflow fluid parameter, and a processor. Methods of verifying and checking include measuring the fluid parameter, comparing the inflow and outflow parameter measurements to determine a comparison value, comparing the comparison value to a tolerance range, and signaling a user when the comparison value is outside of the tolerance range.

An insertable catheter device includes a shaft including a proximal end and a distal end, an expandable balloon, and an actuator configured to expand and retract the expandable balloon. The actuator includes a fluid conduit that extends through the shaft and is coupled with the expandable balloon to enable inflation and retraction of the expandable balloon via injection or withdrawal of a fluid to or from the expandable balloon via the fluid conduit. The expandable balloon is displaceably retractable into the shaft and extendable from the shaft. A fluid pump is coupled with the fluid conduit to pump the fluid through the fluid conduit. A patch is positioned to be displaced by the expandable balloon when the expandable balloon is inflated, and the expandable balloon is displaceably retractable into the shaft and displaceably extendable from the shaft.

In certain embodiments, an ophthalmic laser system for treating a floater in a vitreous of an eye includes a laser device that directs laser pulses towards the floater to yield cavitation bubbles that create a bubble jet to treat the floater. In some examples, the laser device includes a beam multiplexer that splits a laser beam into multiple beams that form the cavitation bubbles that create the bubble jet. In some examples, the laser device directs laser pulses towards the floater according to a pulse pattern that forms the cavitation bubbles that create the bubble jet.

A catheter system (100) for treating a treatment site (106) within or adjacent to a vessel wall (108A) or a heart valve includes a light source (124), a first light guide (122A), a second light guide (122A), and a guide bundle (152). The light source (124) generates light energy. The first light guide (122A) receives the light energy from the light source (124) and has a guide proximal end (122P). The second light guide (122A) receives the light energy from the light source (124) and has a guide proximal end (122P). A guide bundle (152) is in optical communication with the light source (124). The guide bundle (152) bundles the first light guide (122A) and the second light guide (122A). The guide bundle (152) includes a first ferrule (778) that engages the guide proximal end (122P) of the first light guide (122A) and a second ferrule (778) that engages the guide proximal end (122P) of the second light guide (122A). At least one of the ferrules (778) can be formed at least partially from a ceramic material or a metallic material.

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.

A photoacoustic catheter can include an elongate shaft and a first photoacoustic transducer. The elongate shaft can extend from a proximal region to a distal region and can include a first light guide that is in optical communication with a light source. The first photoacoustic transducer can be disposed within the distal region of the elongate shaft and can be in optical communication with the first light guide. The first photoacoustic transducer can impart acoustic pressure waves upon a calcified lesion to induce fractures. The first photoacoustic transducer can include a light-absorbing material and a thermal expansion material that can be in contact with one another.

A catheter system (100) includes a light guide (122A) and a light source (124). The light guide (122A) is configured to selectively receive light energy. The light source (124) generates the light energy. The light source (124) is in optical communication with the light guide (122A). The light source can include (i) a seed source (260) that outputs the light energy, (ii) a pre-amplifier (262) that receives the light energy from the seed source (260), the pre-amplifier (262) being in optical communication with the seed source (260), and (iii) an amplifier (264) that receives the light energy from the pre-amplifier (262), the amplifier (264) being in optical communication with the pre-amplifier (262) and the light guide (122A).