Method and a device for cold laser microsurgery with highly localized tissue removal
OwnerAaron Lewis, Daniel Palankerinventors
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for highly localized treatment of biological tissue by a laser includes a micropipette having a tip with a central opening having a diameter of less than about 10 microns. The micropipette is mounted on an articulated arm for precision motion with respect to tissue to be treated. Gas is supplied to the micropipette to prevent the entry of liquid, and laser light supplied through the articulated arm is directed into the pipette. The pipette is positioned in X, Y and Z directions with respect to the tissue to control the location and depth of treatment. A protective window may be positioned at the tip of the micropipette to prevent the entry of liquid.
Claims21
Apparatus for directing laser light to a material to be treated, comprising:
- a micropipette having an axially extending interior opening terminating in a tip having an interior diameter of about 10 microns;
- delivering means adjustably supporting said micropipette for motion with respect to the material being treated,
- means supplying laser radiation to said micropipette for delivery through said tip to the material being treated, said laser radiation being delivered to said material with a resolution of less than about 10 microns;
- and
- means preventing the entry of liquid into said micropipette tip from the region of the material being treated, whereby said laser light passes through said pipette without absorption by such liquid.
A method of microsurgical treatment of biological media, comprising:
- producing laser radiation in the deep ultraviolet wavelength;
- confining said radiation by directing it through a tapered micropipette having an exit tip having a diameter of less than 10 microns and having means for preventing the entry of liquid into said micropipette tip;
- and
- positioning said micropipette to locate said exit tip adjacent a region of interaction in media to be treated, thereby to direct said laser radiation onto the media in order to remove tissue from said media, said tapered micropipette confining said laser so that the region of interaction of said laser with said media is confined to dimensions on the order of 10 microns.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.