Tissue ablation and a lateral-lasing fiber optic device therefor

A device for applying a laser energy beam to a selected body site comprising:

• an elongated, laser energy transmitting conduit having a proximal end and a distal end;
• a laser energy source optically coupled to the proximal end region of the conduit for transmitting laser energy along the conduit;
• a hollow, apertured bulbous element mounted on the distal end of said conduit and provided with an internal laser energy reflective surface so that a major portion of the laser energy transmitted by the conduit to the bulbous element impinges thereon and exits from the element laterally as a laser energy beam;
• said element defining a cavity within which the distal end of the conduit is received and further defining an aperture communicating with said cavity and positioned to one side of the laser energy path entering said cavity but in registry with the laterally exiting laser energy beam;
• and
• an covering over said cavity;
• said covering being permeable to the laser energy beam but preventing body tissue entry into said cavity,

A device for applying a laser energy beam to a selected body site comprising:

• an elongated, laser energy transmitting conduit having a proximal end and a distal end;
• a laser energy source optically coupled to the proximal end region of the conduit for transmitting laser energy along the conduit;
• a hollow apertured bulbous element mounted on the distal end of said conduit and provided with an internal laser energy reflective surface so that a major portion of the laser energy transmitted by the conduit to the bulbous element impinges thereon and exits from the element laterally as a laser energy beam;
• said element defining a cavity within which the distal end of the conduit is received and further defining an aperture communicating with said cavity and positioned to one side of the laser energy path entering said cavity but in registry with the laterally exiting laser beam;
• and
• a bar that extends longitudinally across said cavity and prevents body tissue entry into said cavity.

A device for applying a laser energy beam to a selected body site comprising:

• an elongated laser energy transmitting conduit having a proximal end and a distal end;
• a laser energy source optically coupled to the proximal end region of the conduit for transmitting laser energy along the conduit;
• a hollow, apertured bulbous element mounted on the distal end of said conduit and provided with an internal laser energy reflective surface so that a major portion of the Laser energy transmitted by the conduit to the bulbous element impinges thereon and exits from the element laterally as a laser energy beam, said element defining a cavity within which the distal end of the conduit is received and further defining an aperture communicating with said cavity and positioned to one side of the laser energy path entering said cavity but in registry with the laterally exiting laser energy beam;
• and
• a plurality of bars across said cavity that prevent body tissue entry into said cavity.