SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF CUTTING HARD AND SOFT BIOLOGICAL TISSUE UTILIZING RADIANT ENERGY AND DYES

Abstract

A laser system for hard and soft biological tissues utilizes a laser (206), dye spray applicator (205), and a rinse spray applicator (212) in concert within a single handpiece (200) to create a computer programmable system that delivers a precise means of controlled ablation. The handpiece (200) is first used to apply dye (209) to a targeted treatment surface (210). Then it is used to apply a laser beam to the dyed treatment surface. This is followed by applying a rinse agent (215) through the same handpiece (200) to remove debris and combustion by-products. The steps are then repeated until the operation is complete.

Claims

1. A laser system comprising a laser control module and a handpiece, the handpiece further comprising: a casing having distal and proximal ends; connection structure extending between the proximal end of the handpiece to the laser control module, said connection structure containing a laser waveguide for the handpiece; an exit for laser output contained within the distal end of the handpiece; a discrete dye nozzle contained within the distal end of the handpiece, proximate the exit for laser output; and a discrete rinse nozzle contained within the distal end of the handpiece, proximate the exit for laser output and dye nozzle, the rinse nozzle and dye nozzle being independently supplied with at least two distinct fluids: wherein the same handpiece may be utilized to sequentially apply a dye to a treatment surface, apply a laser to the dyed treatment surface, and apply a rinse agent to the treatment surface after the laser is used.

2. The laser system of claim 1, the dye nozzle and rinse nozzle being supplied from reservoirs from the laser control module, with supply tubing extending from said reservoirs to the dye nozzle and rinse nozzle.

3. The system of claim 1, the dye nozzle and rinse nozzle being supplied from reservoirs contained within the handpiece.

4. A method of cutting tissues, the method comprising: a step of supplying a laser system with a handpiece having an exit for a dye, a laser, and a rinse agent; a step of using the handpiece to apply a dye to a targeted area; a step of using the handpiece to apply a laser to the targeted area after said targeted area is dyed; a step of using the handpiece to apply a rinse agent to the targeted area after the laser is applied thereto, the dye and rinse agent being at least two different fluids stored in separate reservoirs and applied independently of each other.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of a laser cutting system utilizing an embodiment of the invention.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a close-up schematic of the head of the laser cutting system in FIG. 1.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a schematic depicting an alternate head design, with reservoirs for liquids stored therein.

[0014] FIG. 4 is another schematic depicting an alternate head design, with reservoirs for liquids stored therein.

[0015] FIG. 5 is another schematic depicting an alternate head design, with reservoirs for liquids stored therein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0016] With reference now to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the laser cutting system is herein described. It should be noted that the articles a, an, and the, as used in this specification, include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

[0017] The present invention utilizes a laser, dye spray applicator, and a rinse spray applicator together in concert to create a computer programmable system that delivers a precise means of controlled ablation. The laser module, spray applicator and rinse applicator are integrated into a single unit that is activated by the main interface, a foot switch or hand piece. The laser portion comprising a laser module that is coupled to a fiber optic cable or tip, wherein the coherent radiant energy is delivered directly to the treatment site. The dye spray activator comprises a liquid dye storage container and a pump, which is connected by means of tubing to a nozzle that is designed to spray a pattern of stain onto the treatment site that best matches the radiant energy footprint from the fiber optic. The rinse applicator comprises a rinsing liquid storage container and a pump that is connected by means of tubing to a nozzle that is designed to rinse the treatment site. The nozzles of the stain and rinse applicators can be attached directly to the end of the fiber optic cable or hand piece such that by simply aiming the laser all 3 steps of dye application, laser initiation, and rinsing can be done continuously in succession by triggering the foot switch or other triggering device, thereby allowing the operator to continuously ablate as desired.

[0018] The integrated system is controlled by means of a programmable computer module that controls the laser power output and the duration of the pulse; it also controls the pump for both the stain applicator and the rinse applicator such that a precise amount of the liquid components and/or the duration of flow can be precisely controlled and delivered at the specified time. As seen in FIG. 1, a laser system to cut both hard and soft tissue (100) has a casing (101) with a display (102) for laser system information and control. An emergency stop button (103) may be provided to intervene laser at any given time. A power supply (104) to provide power to the system is depicted, however the system can also be rechargeable battery operated. The system may be controlled by any means, however a wireless footswitch (108) is commonly utilized to control emission of the laser system (100). Controls may also be positioned on the handpiece itself. A multifunction cable (105), containing fiber waveguide for a laser beam, electrical wires, and tubing to deliver desired liquids, is also connected to the system, and runs through hand piece (106) which is held by the operator. Handpiece (106) supports multifunction cable (105) and presents exits of for the laser beam and liquids (107). A laser beam is generated from a laser module generated inside the laser system casing. The liquids can be transported through cable (105) from liquid reservoirs inside the system or may be stored in micro cartridges placed in the handpiece (107).

[0019] The handpiece has a head (200), which may be one of many different embodiments. One embodiment is shown in FIG. 2, featuring a casing (201) with distal end (202) and an exit (203) for laser (206) and liquids. At exit (203), there is a microvalve (204) connected to tubing (207) to deliver dye to microvalve (204), with a nozzle (205) for delivery. In this embodiment, the dye is stored in a reservoir in the laser system. There is a wire harness (208) to connect the microvalve (204) and control the microvalve from the system. The emission of the dye is controlled by microvalve (204) through nozzle (205) to form a dye jet (209) to apply the dye to the treatment surface (210). There is also a microvalve (211) with a nozzle (212) of a rinse agent. As with the dye, tubing (213) delivers the rinse solution to microvalve (211) from a reservoir in the laser system. There is a wire harness (214) connected to the microvalve (211) for control. The emission of the rinse solution is emitted through nozzle (212) as a rinse jet (215) to the treatment surface (210). The laser (206), dye jet (209), and rinse jet (215) may be focused on a single spot area of the treatment site, as is shown in FIG. 2.

[0020] In use, the laser beam will have certain wavelength and power. The wavelength can be one of followings: any wavelength can be generated by semiconductor lasers, any wavelength that can be generated by diode pumped lasers, any wavelength that can be generated by solid state lasers, any wavelength that can be generated by gas lasers. The power output of laser beam can be ranged for 1 W to 100 W. The laser being selected to produce a narrow wavelength of coherent light such that it can be matched to a dye that will absorb the energy at an efficiency of greater than 50%, and more especially at an efficiency above 90%. The radiant energy is produced by various means as described, but the preferred radiant energy source is a diode laser. The cutting implements according to present invention may utilize laser density as low as 1 watt and up to about 100 watts output. The laser output can be in continuous or pulsed format depending on the requirements of laser power and dye to be used.

[0021] The first liquid in the system is a dye, stain, or pigment that efficiently absorbs radiant energy and transforms it back into heat. Collectively, these will be referred to as dyes. Examples of dyes usable according to the teachings of the present invention include, but are not limited to, are: carbon black, FD&C Blue #2, nigrosin, FD&C black shade, FD&C blue #1, methylene blue, FD&C blue #2, malachite green, D&C green #8, D&C green #6, D&C green #5, ethyl violet, methyl violet, FD&C green #3, FD&C red #3, FD&C red #40, D&C yellow #8, D&C yellow #10, D&C yellow #11, FD&C yellow #5, FD&C yellow #6, neutral red, safranine O, FD&C carmine, rhodamine G, napthol blue black, D&C orange #4, thymol blue, auramine O, D&C red #22, D&C red #6, xylenol blue, chrysoidine Y, D&C red #4, sudan black B, D&C violet #2, D&C red #33, cresol red, fluorescein, fluorescein isothiocyanate, bromophenol red, D&C red #28, D&C red #17, amaranth, methyl salicylate, eosin Y, lucifer yellow, thymol, dibutyl phthalate, indocyanine green, and the like. The preferred dye is one that is deemed biologically compatible or non-toxic and may include any of the above dyes as an ingredient in a final solution. Other dyes, currently existing or discovered or manufactured in the future, may be readily utilized in this method. Therefore, the above listing should not be considered definitive, but illustrative of dyes to be utilized in the disclosed method and in no way be considered limiting.

[0022] The second liquid in the system is a liquid that can wash off the dyes after laser interaction from tissue. An embodiment of the present invention utilizes a washing or rinsing step that is designed to remove residual decomposition and contamination components from the treatment site after the dye and laser steps have initiated and fired. These actions will produce residual contaminants, including by-products of combustion and thermally decomposed tissue, which need to be removed from the treatment site. If these contaminants are not removed, they will significantly decrease the efficiency of the next laser/dye cycle. A rinse or wash step is designed to remove these contaminants before the next cycle begins. Examples of rinsing solvents and solutions include but are not limited to water; solutions of salts in water, such as sodium chloride; alcohol solutions; poly-ol solutions; surfactants; and any other useful rinsing agent.

[0023] Initially, in one embodiment of the method of the invention, the dye in liquid form is systematically micro-sprayed onto the treatment site as a pulse. Immediately thereafter, the laser is triggered, and a pulse of radiant energy is directed to the treatment site where it is absorbed by the liquid dye, creating extreme localized heating. This heating causes rapid expansion, and a micro explosion soon follows which cuts both the hard and soft tissue. Finally, a cleansing spray is pulsed over the treatment site to wash and clean the treatment site before the entire process is repeated in rapid succession thus creating a system to cut biological tissue efficiently and precisely. The dyes are specifically selected to efficiently match the output of the radiant energy source and thus maximize energy absorption. This efficient absorption translates the energy into faster heat conversion and better cutting efficiency.

[0024] An example of a treatment cycle with the present invention is as follows: [0025] 1. Spray the laser treatment site with a radiant energy absorptive dye (209) that is matched to the output of the laser. [0026] 2. Initiate the laser (206), wherein the stained area becomes thermally heated to such an extent that ablation occurs at the surface (210). [0027] 3. Rinse and cleanse the area from residual contaminants by means of a pressurized jet of rinsing liquid (215) that directly blasts the treatment site. [0028] 4. The cycles of dye, laser, rinse will repeat until desired cutting results are achieved.

[0029] An alternate handpiece construction is shown in FIG. 3, where (300) is a handpiece for the laser system, with (301) being a handpiece casing with a proximal end and distal end (302) with an exit (303) for laser (307), dye (209), and rinse solution (315). Inside the handpiece (301), there is a fiber (304) from laser system to deliver a laser beam. This fiber cable (304) is turned 90 (305) and ends before the handpiece exit. The laser beam can be optically shaped into a replaceable fiber tip (306) which delivers the laser beam (307) to the treatment surface (308). The handpiece contains two liquid cartridges (309), (313) located proximate laser tip (306). Cartridge (309) contains a dye solution and has a nozzle (310) positioned to spray a dye jet (311) on the treatment surface (308). There is a wire (312) connected the cartridge (309) to the laser system to control emission of the dye jet (311). The amount of solution injected from cartridge and speed are controlled electronically. Rinse cartridge (313) contains rinse solution and like the dye cartridge has a nozzle (314) positioned to spray the rinse solution (315) on the treatment surface (308). There is a wire (316) connecting the cartridge (313) to the laser system to control emission of rinse solution to surface. The amount of solution injected from cartridge and speed are controlled electronically. Both cartridges (309), (313) are replaceable when the liquids in the cartridge are consumed.

[0030] Other systems may adapt how the laser is delivered, such as the embodiment shown in FIG. 4. In this embodiment (400), the deliveries of dye and rinse solutions are the same as described in FIG. 3, where (401) is the casing of handpiece with distal end (402) and exit (403) for laser beam, dye, and rinse solutions. However, inside the handpiece there is a fiber (404) to deliver the laser beam (405) and at end of fiber (404) is a lens (406) to shape the beam. Beam may be focused or shaped into a parallel, collimated, beam (407). A reflector (408) is used to reflect the beam (407) by a 90 angle, thereby directing beam (409) to treatment surface (410).

[0031] Further variation on the laser direction is shown in FIG. 5. In this embodiment (500) the deliveries of dye and rinse solutions are the same as described in FIG. 3, but the laser (506) is delivered through a fiber (504) that is bent 900 (505) and is then directed to lens (507) which adjusts the beam (508). Beam (508) may be a focused or parallel beam when is strikes the treatment surface (509).

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0032] The present invention may be manufactured in industry and has relevance in the medical and dental arts. the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, numerous modifications and variations can be made and still the result will come within the scope of the invention. No limitation with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed herein is intended or should be inferred.