Dual laser device for transmyocardial revascularization procedures
AssigneeEclipse Surgical Technologies, Inc.
InventorsRichard L. Mueller, Stuart D. Harman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of and apparatus for performing a transmyocardial revascularization procedure is disclosed which utilizes two laser power sources. A first laser source provides a coagulating or blanching effect on tissue and a second laser source capable of tissue ablation are supplied to a combined optical fiber bundle comprising a plurality of fibers which can be moved axially or rotatively by the operating physician. As the distal end of the fiber bundle is moved forward, bursts of laser energy therefrom may be programmed to first penetrate the epicardium with minimal bleeding and thereafter provide channels or pockets in the myocardium for causing or stimulating angiogenesis.
Claims19
A method for revascularizing a patient's heart comprising the steps of:
- providing access to a ventricle chamber sidewall of the patient's heart for an optical fiber means connected at its proximal end to laser source means and having a distal end for emitting laser energy at selected intervals;
- manipulating and placing the fiber means' distal end near a surface of the ventricle location;
- activating the laser source means during a first time period to provide an initial laser emission at a first power level at a target area on the surface of the ventricle;
- activating the laser source means during a second time period following the first time period to provide a second laser emission at a second power level that creates an opening in the ventricle at the target area without causing substantial bleeding at the opening;
- moving the optical fiber means axially forward through the opening;
- and
- reactivating the laser source means at the second power level to form a revascularizing channel or an ablated pocket within myocardium.
A surgical apparatus for revascularizing a patient's heart, the apparatus comprising:
- an optical fiber bundle having first and second fiber elements each connected at their proximal ends to a separate source of laser energy, the first fiber element being connected to a first laser source means for delivering laser energy for blanching or coagulating heart tissue having a first power, the first fiber element includes at least one centrally located optical fiber strand in the optical fiber bundle's distal end and the second fiber element connected to a second laser source means for delivering laser energy for ablating heart tissue having a second power different from the first power, the second fiber element includes peripherally located optical fiber strands in the optical fiber bundle's distal end;
- means for manipulating the fiber bundle and moving its distal end axially in preselected increments;
- and
- means for controlling pulses of laser energy from the first and second fiber elements.
A surgical apparatus for revascularizing a patient's heart, the apparatus comprising:
- an optical fiber bundle having first and second fiber elements each connected at their proximal ends to a separate source of laser energy, the first fiber element being connected to a first laser source means for delivering a first power capable of blanching or coagulating heart tissue, and the second fiber element connected to a second laser source means for delivering a second power different from the first power and capable of ablating heart tissue, the first and second fiber elements each include a plurality of optical fiber strands that cross-sectionally form a substantially semi-circular area at the optical fiber bundle's distal end;
- means for rotating the fiber bundle and moving the fiber bundle's distal end axially in preselected increments;
- and
- means for controlling pulses of laser energy from the first and second fiber elements.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.