Laser fiber for endovenous therapy having a shielded distal tip
OwnerJeff Welch, Howard Root +3inventors
InventorsJeff Welch, Howard Root, Jim Kauphusman, Nancy Arnold, John Vanscoy
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Abstract
An endovenous laser fiber optic member for endovenous laser therapy of peripheral veins of the body including a heat resistant insulative tip shield covering the distal end of the laser fiber optic. The tip shield may have echogenic qualities to increase ultrasound reflectivity. The tip shield also improves deflectability of the distal end and acts as a thermal break.
Claims28
A laser fiber for endovenous laser therapy of veins, the laser fiber comprising:
- a fiber optic member having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end including a connector adapted to connect to a therapeutic laser and the distal end adapted to emit laser energy when the fiber optic member is connected to the therapeutic laser;
- a protective jacket coaxially covering substantially an entire length of the fiber optic member while leaving a distal portion proximate the distal end of the fiber optic member uncovered;
- and
- a tip shield formed of a heat resistant, heat insulative material coaxially surrounding at least a portion of the distal portion of the fiber optic member, the tip shield being reflective of ultrasonic energy whereby the tip shield enhances visibility of the tip to ultrasonic imaging and provides a thermal break between the fiber optic member and the protective jacket.
An endovenous laser fiber for endovenous laser therapy of varicose veins of the leg, the laser fiber comprising:
- means for transmitting light having a proximal end and a distal end the proximal end including a connector adapted to connect to a therapeutic laser and the distal end being adapted to emit laser energy when the means for transmitting light is connected to the therapeutic laser;
- means for jacketing the transmitting means covering substantially the entire length of the transmitting means while leaving a portion at the distal end uncovered;
- and
- means for increasing ultrasound reflectivity covering the distal end portion that is uncovered by the jacketing means.
A method of improving the ultrasound visibility of an end of an endovenous laser fiber for endovenous laser therapy of varicose veins of the leg, the method comprising the steps of:
- removing a portion of a jacket from a distal portion of a jacketed fiber optic member;
- and
- applying a tip shield formed of a heat resistant, heat insulative material coaxially surrounding at least a portion of the distal portion of a fiber optic member from which the jacket has been removed, the tip shield being reflective of ultrasonic energy whereby visibility of the tip is enhanced to ultrasonic imaging.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.