# US 10,441,359 B2 · Surgical laser systems and laser lithotripsy techniques

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- Number: US 10,441,359 B2
- Document ID: US10441359B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/023,423
- Filed: 2018-06-29
- Published: 2018-10-25
- Granted: 2019-10-15
- Earliest claimed: 2012-04-12
- Assignees: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
- Applicants: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
- Inventors: Wen-Jui Ray Chia; Rongwei Jason Xuan; Thomas C Hasenberg; Jian James Zhang; Steven Yihlih Peng; Danop Rajabhandharaks
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441359B2

## CPC

- A61B 18/26: for producing a shock wave, e.g. laser lithotripsy
- A61B 1/00009: {of image signals during a use of endoscope}
- A61B 1/307: for the urinary organs, e.g. urethroscopes or cystoscopes
- A61B 5/0084: {for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters (A61B5/1459 takes precedence)}
- A61B 5/20: for measuring urological functions {restricted to the evaluation of the urinary system (A61B5/4375 takes precedence)}
- A61B 5/0051: {by applying vibrations}
- A61B 5/0075: {by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy (A61B5/0071 takes precedence)}
- A61B 2017/00061: {spectrum}
- A61B 2017/00172: {Pulse trains, bursts, intermittent continuous operation}
- A61B 2017/00176: {Two pulses, e.g. second pulse having an effect different from the first one}
- A61B 2018/00511: {Kidney}
- A61B 2018/00517: {Urinary bladder or urethra}
- A61B 2018/00642: {with feedback, i.e. closed loop control}
- A61B 2018/00732: {Frequency}
- A61B 2018/0088: {Vibration}
- A61B 2018/00982: {combined with or comprising means for visual or photographic inspections inside the body, e.g. endoscopes}
- A61B 2018/207: {mixing two wavelengths}
- A61B 2505/05: Surgical care
- A61B 2562/223: Optical cables therefor
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

A surgical laser system includes a laser generator, a laser probe, a stone analyzer, and a controller. The laser generator is configured to generate laser energy based on laser energy settings. The laser probe is configured to discharge the laser energy. The stone analyzer has an output relating to a characteristic of a targeted stone. The controller comprises at least one processor configured to determine the laser energy settings based on the output.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system comprising:
a first laser generator configured to generate a first laser pulse train having first laser pulses with a first pulse repetition rate;
an analyzer configured to receive a portion of the first laser pulse train reflected from a kidney or bladder stone, and generate an output relating to a natural or resonance frequency of the kidney or bladder stone; and
a controller configured to determine the natural or resonance frequency of the kidney or bladder stone based on the output from the analyzer, and match the first pulse repetition rate with the natural or resonance frequency.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a laser probe configured to discharge the first laser pulse train towards the kidney or bladder stone.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further including a second laser generator configured to generate a second laser pulse train having second laser pulses with a second pulse repetition rate.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein the second laser pulses have a lower energy level than the first laser pulses.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein the first pulse repetition rate is different than the second pulse repetition rate.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein each second laser pulse in the second laser pulse train includes a pulse width less than 1 millisecond.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, further including a beam combiner configured to combine the first and second laser pulse trains into a combined laser pulse train including laser pulses at a resultant pulse repetition rate.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein each first laser pulse in the first laser pulse train includes a pulse width less than 1 millisecond.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the first pulse repetition rate covers a lifespan of a plasma cloud.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the first pulse repetition rate is greater than 1 gigahertz.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the output includes at least a size of the kidney or bladder stone, a length of the kidney or bladder stone, a composition of the kidney or bladder stone, or a vibration frequency of the kidney or bladder stone.

### Claim 12

A system comprising:
a controller configured to:
instruct a first laser generator to generate a first laser pulse train having first laser pulses with a first pulse repetition rate;
receive an output from an analyzer, wherein the analyzer receives a portion of the first laser pulse train reflected from a kidney or bladder stone;
determine a natural or resonance frequency of the kidney or bladder stone-based on the output from the analyzer; and
match the first pulse repetition rate with the natural or resonance frequency.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured to:
instruct a second laser generator to generate a second laser pulse train; and
instruct a beam combiner to combine the first and second pulse trains into a combined laser pulse train including laser pulses at a resultant pulse repetition rate.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the first laser pulse train has a wavelength from 300 nanometers to 20,000 nanometers.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the first laser pulse train has a power level from 1 millijoule to 10,000 millijoules.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein each first laser pulse in the first laser pulse train has a pulse width from 1 picosecond to 10 milliseconds.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the first pulse repetition rate is from 0.1 hertz to 10 gigahertz.

### Claim 18

A method comprising:
generating, with a first laser generator, a first laser pulse train having first laser pulses with a first pulse repetition rate;
receiving, at an analyzer, a portion of the first laser pulse train reflected from a kidney or bladder stone;
generating, with the analyzer, an output relating to a measured natural or resonance frequency of the kidney or bladder stone;
receiving, at a controller, the output relating to a natural or resonance frequency of the kidney or bladder stone from the analyzer;
determining, with the controller, the natural or resonance frequency of the kidney or bladder stone based on the output; and
matching, with the controller, the first pulse repetition rate with the natural or resonance frequency of the kidney or bladder stone.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, further comprising:
discharging, with a laser probe, the first laser pulse train towards the kidney or bladder stone.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, further including:
generating, with a second laser generator, a second laser pulse train; and
combining, with a beam combiner, the first and second laser pulse trains into a combined laser pulse train including laser pulses at a resultant pulse repetition rate.