Device and method for dilation of a tubular anatomical structure

A method for dilating a tubular anatomical structure in a body of a patient, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a combination guidewire and optical fiber capable of carrying UV laser light, wherein said guidewire is formed as a hollow tube and has disposed within the hollow tube the optical fiber in a locked or unlocked position, wherein the optical fiber has a distal end having a configuration selected from the group consisting of an external cone and an inverted cone, wherein the distal end of the optical fiber is congruent with and shielded by the end of the guidewire until placement in the desired location within the tubular anatomical structure;
• and
• refractively emitting UV laser light energy from the distal end of the optical fiber at a wavelength of about 300-400 nm and an intensity of about 3-20 Watts/cm2 to impinge as an annular ring beam onto smooth muscle cells lining an inner wall of the tubular anatomical structure to stimulate photophysical production and release of nitric oxide (NO·) from stores of nitrites (NO2−) present in said smooth muscle cells, whereby the released nitric oxide causes relaxation of the smooth muscle cells and dilation of the tubular anatomical structure with minimal damage to the endothelial cells of the inner wall of the tubular anatomical structure.