Apparatuses and methods for endoscope laser fiber steering

An endoscopic apparatus, comprising:

• a sheath including a first tube concentrically nested within a second tube;
• and
• a laser fiber disposed in the sheath and movable therein along a longitudinal axis of the sheath,
• wherein the first tube includes a first deflectable section, the second tube includes a second deflectable section, the first and second deflectable sections being selectively weakened portions of the first and second tubes that are angularly oriented, relative to a longitudinal axis of the sheath, in directions that are offset from each other by an angle equal to or less than one-hundred and eighty degrees,
• wherein the first and second tubes are joined at a location distal to the first and second deflectable sections,
• wherein the sheath is actuable to form a first bend by relative axial translation between the first tube and the second tube,
• wherein advancing movements of the laser fiber cause a distal tip of the laser fiber to project out of a distal end of the sheath, and
• wherein, after projection of the distal tip of the laser fiber out of the distal end of the sheath, retreating movements of the laser fiber cause the distal tip of the laser fiber to retract towards the distal end of the sheath.

A method of performing endoscopic surgery, comprising:

• providing a sheath and a laser fiber disposed in the sheath;
• forming a first bend in the sheath, wherein forming the first bend causes a distal end of the sheath to be steered toward an anatomical region within a patient;
• advancing the laser fiber relative to the sheath, wherein advancing the laser fiber relative to the sheath causes a distal tip of the laser fiber to project out of the distal end of the sheath, such that the distal tip of the laser fiber is positioned about an object located within the anatomical region;
• transmitting energy along the laser fiber and from the distal tip of the laser fiber to the object;
• and
• after projection of the distal tip of the laser fiber out of the distal end of the sheath, retreating the laser fiber relative to the sheath, wherein retreating the laser fiber relative to the sheath causes the distal tip of the laser fiber to retract toward the distal end of the sheath.