Laterally reflecting tip for laser transmitting fiber

A light reflecting tip apparatus for mounting upon a distal end portion of a flexible elongated light transmitting fiber, comprising:

• an elongated cylindrical body having a fiber receiving longitudinal opening means defined therein for receiving said distal end portion of said fiber, and having a lateral passageway defined diametrically therethrough and intersecting said longitudinal opening, said lateral passageway having diametrically opposite first and second end openings;
• a reflecting mirror surface means defined on said body for reflecting light from said fiber laterally outward through said lateral passageway;
• and
• wherein said lateral passageway provides a flushing means for permitting surrounding fluid to flow in one of said first and second end openings, then across said reflecting mirror surface means, then out the other of said first and second end openings to reduce collection of contaminants on said reflecting mirror surface means, said flushing means being free from communication with any source of flushing fluid other than said surrounding fluid surrounding said cylindrical body.

A method of applying laser energy to a site within a patient's body to alter, remove or destroy tissue at said site, comprising:

• (a) providing an operating assembly including:
• a flexible elongated light transmitting fiber having a distal end portion with a distal fiber end defined thereon;
• and
• a light reflecting tip attached to said distal end portion of said fiber, said tip including a reflecting mirror surface spaced from said distal fiber end, said tip having a flushing passageway defined therein between said distal fiber end and said reflecting mirror surface;
• (b) inserting said operating assembly into a liquid operating environment within said patient's body;
• (c) positioning said tip adjacent said site within said patient's body;
• (d) transmitting laser light along said fiber, out said distal fiber end, and across said flushing passageway;
• (e) then reflecting said laser light off said mirror surface and transmitting said reflected light through a portion of said flushing passageway out of said tip and onto said site within said patient's body;
• and
• (f) flowing surrounding liquid solely from said liquid operating environment through said flushing passageway and across said reflecting mirror surface without providing any flushing liquid from any source other than said liquid operating environment, and thereby carrying away from said tip liquid heated by light passing from said distal fiber end across said flushing passageway to said reflecting mirror surface.