Method and apparatus for intravascular laser surgery

An intravascular laser operating device for examining and removing a diseased part in a blood vessel comprising:

• a catheter having endoscopic fibers for performing an endoscopy and diagnosis of a diseased part in a blood vessel and laser light projecting fibers for projecting a laser light, a visible guide light, and an excitation light to the diseased part;
• a laser device for generating laser light;
• guide light applying means for applying said laser light, visible guide light, and excitation light to said laser light projecting fibers;
• said guide light to said laser light projecting fibers;
• said guide light applying means comprising first and second wave length converting element means;
• said first wave length converting element means for converting a wavelength of part of the laser light from said laser device into the visible guide light;
• said second wave length converting element means for converting a wavelength of part of the visible guide light into the excitation light;
• said excitation light for generating a fluorescent spectrum;
• an image forming device for obtaining an image representing the condition of the inside of the blood vessel based on image light received by the endoscopic fibers;
• said image forming device comprising:
• an optical system for dividing the image light received by the endoscopic fibers into at least a first and second portion,
• an image receiving means for receiving said first portion of said image light, and
• spectrum analyzing means for diagnosing the diseased part by obtaining a fluorescent spectrum of said second portion of said image light.