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US 5,400,428 AGranted
Method and apparatus for linearly scanning energy over an optical fiber array and coupler for coupling energy to the optical fiber array
AssigneeThe Spectranetics Corporation
InventorKenneth P. Grace
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for relatively moving energy across an array of optical fibers. The energy may be scanned across the fiber array. A dielectric mirror mounted on a galvanometer scanner is moved so as to cause successive pulses to irradiate different segments of the fiber optic array. As a result, each fiber receives radiation having sufficient fluence while reducing the energy per pulse (or the cw equivalent). Rather, than move the energy across the fiber array, the fiber array itself may be moved. One possible manner of movement is use of a piezo electric stack.
Claims116
An apparatus for ablating tissue comprising:
- a pulsed energy source;
- means for focusing said energy;
- a bundle of optical fibers, a proximal end of said fibers being disposed in an array;
- means for directing said focused energy on a group of at least two and less than all of said fibers;
- and
- linear scanning means for causing said directing means to sequentially direct said focused energy on different groups of said optical fibers;
- wherein said optical fibers receive less energy than is necessary to produce a fluence in all the fibers simultaneously to ablate tissue;
- and
- wherein said directing means directs said individual pulses of said energy so that each fiber of the group irradiated outputs radiation having a sufficiently high fluence to ablate tissue.
6 more elements
An apparatus for ablating tissue comprising:
- a pulsed energy source;
- means for focusing said energy;
- a bundle of optical fibers, a proximal end of said fibers being disposed in an array;
- means for directing said focused energy on a group of at least two and less than all of said fibers;
- and
- linear scanning means for causing said directing means to sequentially direct said focused energy in synchronism with individual pulses of said energy on different groups of said optical fibers;
- wherein said causing means includes means for shifting said optical fibers;
- and
- wherein said causing means includes a piezo electric stack.
6 more elements
An apparatus for ablating tissue, comprising:
- a catheter assembly including a plurality of optical fibers having proximal ends disposed in an array;
- a pulsed excimer laser for outputting laser pulses;
- means for focusing each laser pulse;
- and
- linear scanning means for directing successive pulses at different portions of said array, wherein each of said pulses irradiates at least two and less than all of said optical fibers, each optical fiber being irradiated by said pulse receiving sufficient radiation to ablate tissue at its distal end;
- wherein said optical fibers receive less energy than is necessary to produce a fluence in all the fibers simultaneously to ablate tissue;
- and
- wherein said directing means directs said laser beam so that each fiber of the group irradiated outputs radiation having a sufficiently high fluence to ablate tissue.
5 more elements
An apparatus for ablating tissue, comprising:
- a catheter assembly including a plurality of optical fibers having proximal ends disposed in an array;
- a pulsed excimer laser for outputting laser pulses;
- means for focusing each laser pulse;
- and
- linear scanning means for directing successive pulses at different portions of said array, said scanning means moving in synchronism with said laser's output pulses, wherein each of said pulses irradiates at least two and less than all of said optical fibers, each optical fiber being irradiated by said pulse receiving sufficient radiation to ablate tissue at its distal end;
- wherein said directing means includes a piezo electric stack.
3 more elements
An apparatus for ablating tissue, comprising:
- a catheter assembly including a plurality of optical fibers having proximal ends disposed in an array;
- a pulsed excimer laser for outputting laser pulses;
- means for focusing each laser pulse;
- and
- linear scanning means for directing successive pulses at different portions of said array, said scanning means moving in synchronism with said laser's output pulses, wherein each of said pulses irradiates at least two and less than all of said optical fibers, each optical fiber being irradiated by said pulse receiving sufficient radiation to ablate tissue at its distal end;
- wherein said catheter assembly includes a coupler for coupling said laser pulses to said optical fibers, said catheter assembly comprising a female receptacle and a male plug portion.
3 more elements
An apparatus for ablating tissue and for reducing the energy applied to tissue while maintaining a fluence level sufficient for ablation, comprising:
- means for producing a laser beam;
- means for focusing said laser beam;
- a bundle of optical fibers, a proximal end of said fibers being disposed in an array;
- means for directing said focused laser beam on a group of at least two and less than all of said fibers;
- and
- means for causing said directing means to sequentially direct said focused laser beam on different groups of said optical fibers;
- wherein said optical fibers receive less energy than is necessary to produce a fluence in all the fibers simultaneously to ablate tissue;
- and
- wherein said directing means directs said laser beam so that each fiber of the group irradiated outputs radiation having a sufficiently high fluence to ablate tissue.
6 more elements
A method of ablating tissue, comprising the steps of:
- focusing radiant energy;
- directing said focused energy onto one section of a bundle of optical fibers having a proximal end with the fibers disposed in an array;
- and
- sequentially causing said focused energy to irradiate different sections of said proximal end, each of said sections containing at least two and less than all of said fibers;
- wherein said optical fibers receive less energy than is necessary to produce a fluence in all the fibers simultaneously to ablate tissue;
- and
- wherein said directing means directs said laser beam so that each fiber of the group irradiated outputs radiation having a sufficiently high fluence to ablate tissue.
4 more elements
A method of ablating tissue, comprising the steps of:
- focusing radiant energy;
- directing said focused energy onto one section of a bundle of optical fibers having a proximal end with the fibers disposed in an array;
- and
- sequentially causing said focused energy to irradiate different sections of said proximal end, each of said sections containing at least two and less than all of said fibers;
- wherein said focused energy irradiates said sections in synchronism with bursts of radiant energy;
- wherein said causing step includes the step of shifting said optical fibers;
- wherein said shifting step includes using a piezo electric stack.
4 more elements
A method of inserting a bundle of fibers into a groove on a substrate, said method comprising the steps of:
- trimming tail tubing covering the bundle so as to expose a first length of optical fibers;
- forming a glue plug proximate an end of the tail tubing, said glue plug being formed on said first length;
- applying a potting material to a second length at an end of said bundle so as to support said exposed fibers;
- forming a piece of shrink tubing over the second length to provide extra support;
- cutting through the potted area using a diamond saw and polishing the cut end of said bundle;
- removing the shrink tubing and potting material from said bundle;
- heating the bundle and stripping a third length of polyimide coating from the exposed fibers;
- forming a second piece of shrink tubing on said bundle, said second piece extending from said tail tubing onto said third length;
- wetting the fibers with purified water and then inserting the bundle into the groove on the substrate, with fibers making up the third length extending so that the tip of the third length is flush with an edge of the substrate;
- tacking the bundle to the substrate;
- applying pressure to said third length, forming said fibers making up said third length into a rectangular close pack and tacking the third length into the groove proximate an edge of the groove;
- and
- potting the bundle with fiber guard and handle.
10 more elements
An apparatus for ablating tissue comprising:
- an excimer laser for producing a pulsed output beam;
- means for focusing the output beam;
- a bundle of optical fibers;
- a female coupling portion for receiving the focused output beam;
- a male coupling portion, a proximal end of said optical fibers being attached to said male coupling portion in a linear array, said male coupling portion being detachably coupled to said female coupling portion;
- and
- means for scanning said focused output beam across said optical fibers in synchronism with successive pulses of said excimer laser so as to allow said successive pulses to irradiate at least two and less than all of said fibers and so that successive pulses irradiate different fibers;
- wherein said male coupling portion includes a substrate having fibers disposed thereon and a cover slide covering said fibers, said substrate and cover slide being attached to a handle portion of said male coupling portion;
- wherein said female coupling portion includes a spring plunger and first and second reference balls for positioning said male coupling portion within said female coupling portion.
6 more elements
A method of laying a linear array of optical fibers, comprising the steps of:
- sorting the optical fibers into as many bundles as there are groups of fibers to be irradiated, the number of groups being at least two;
- placing a piece of shrink wrap tubing over the optical fibers;
- placing the optical fibers onto a substrate such that adjacent fiber bundles are separated from one another by a gap, and wherein the optical fibers overhang the end of the substrate by a first length;
- fixing the tubing to the substrate using an adhesive;
- spreading the fibers into a single row while simultaneously maintaining the space between the groups;
- fixing the fibers to the substrate using an adhesive;
- cutting the first length optical fibers;
- and
- polishing the optical fibers.
6 more elements
An apparatus for ablating tissue, comprising:
- means for producing energy;
- means for focusing said energy;
- a bundle of optical fibers having a proximal end disposed in an array;
- means for coupling said focused energy into said array, said coupling means including a male plug portion and a female receptacle for receiving the male plug portion;
- and
- means for scanning said focused energy over said array, said scanning means irradiating at least two and less than all of said optical fibers and sequentially directing said focused energy on different groups of said optical fibers;
- wherein said scanning means operates so as to be synchronous with bursts of said energy.
4 more elements
An apparatus for ablating tissue comprising:
- means for producing a laser beam;
- means for focusing said laser beam;
- an array of optical fibers;
- means for coupling said focused laser beam to said array of optical fibers, said coupling means including a male portion to which said array is attached via grooves in said male portion, each of said grooves containing at least two optical fibers of said array and a female portion receiving said focused laser beam;
- and
- means for directing said laser beam onto at least two but less than all of said plurality of optical fibers, said directing means generating relative movement between said array of optical fibers and said focused laser beam so that said focused laser beam is directed onto different optical fibers of said array.
3 more elements
A male coupling portion for a fiberoptic catheter, comprising a first plate member having a plurality of grooves disposed thereon, said grooves for retaining a plurality of optical fibers, wherein said plurality of optical fiber is divided such that each groove contains at least two optical fibers.
A coupling apparatus for coupling a laser to a laser catheter, said coupling apparatus including a male portion and a female portion;
- wherein said male portion comprises:
- a handle portion having an optical fiber catheter extending therefrom;
- a first plate member attached to said handle having optical fibers of said catheter disposed in an array on a first surface thereof, said fibers being disposed in grooves formed on said first surface;
- a second plate member attached to said handle so as to oppose said first plate;
- and
- size indicating means for indicating a size of said optical fiber catheter;
- and
- wherein said female portion comprises:
- means for interacting with said size indicating means and for providing a signal indicative of the size of the catheter;
- means for repeatably positioning said male portion in a position so that laser energy may be coupled to said catheter;
- and
- means for blocking said energy when said male and female portions are not coupled.
9 more elements
An apparatus for ablating tissue comprising:
- means for producing energy and for focusing said energy;
- an array of optical fibers;
- means for coupling said focused energy to said array of optical fibers, said coupling means including a male portion to which said array is attached and a female portion receiving said focused laser beam;
- means for directing said laser beam onto at least two but less than all of said plurality of optical fibers;
- wherein said directing means is a piezo electric stack and generates relative movement between said array of optical fibers and said focused laser beam so that said focused laser beam is directed onto different optical fibers of said array in synchronism with pulses from said laser.
2 more elements
An apparatus for ablating tissue, comprising:
- a pulsed energy source;
- means for focusing said energy;
- a bundle of optical fibers, a proximal end of said fibers being disposed in an array;
- means for directing said focused energy on a group of at least two and less than all of said fibers;
- and
- linear scanning means for causing said directing means to sequentially direct said focused energy on different groups of said optical fibers;
- wherein said bundle of optical fibers includes a plurality of optical fiber sub-bundles disposed in separate grooves on a fiber holding device.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.