Photo optic breakdown probe

A surgical laser optical breakdown probe for targeting and fracturing tissue comprising:

• (a) a laser for producing laser energy in pulses sufficient to be optically broken down into mechanical shock waves that will target and fracture tissue material that is to be surgically treated;
• (b) a first tubular member having a longitudinal axis and a distal end portion;
• (c) a laser fiber connected at a first end to said laser and extending within said first tubular member and longitudinally to said distal end portion of said first tubular member, said laser fiber having a longitudinal axis and a distal end remote from said first end;
• (d) a second tubular member disposed around said first tubular member and having a distal end portion at least partially extending beyond the distal end portion of said first tubular member and surrounding the distal end of said laser fiber;
• (e) a target at the distal end portions of said first and second tubular members and adjacent to said distal end of the laser fiber;
• (f) said target having a saw-toothed laser energy engagement surface for causing laser energy emitted from said laser fiber onto said surface to be broken down and converted into mechanical shock waves, said surface being oriented obliquely with respect to the distal end of the laser fiber such that the laser energy impinging thereon does not freely exit the probe;
• (g) cavity means bounded by at least said surface, the distal end portion of the second tubular member, the distal end portion of the first tubular member, and the distal end of said laser fiber;
• (h) said cavity means having a port framed at least by the distal end of the target and that portion of the distal end of the second tubular member which is opposite the target, such port providing means for receiving into said cavity dislodged tissue material that is to be treated, said cavity and port being radially displaced from the longitudinal axis of said laser fiber;
• (i) said cavity means thereby providing an operating situs containing said mechanical shock waves that are propagated thereto and that target and fracture tissue material received therein;
• (j) an aspirating passage extending longitudinally within said second tubular member and in communication with said cavity;
• (k) said second tubular member and said target being sharpened where they form a part of the rim of said port, such that said sharpened portions vibrate due to the optical breakdown of the laser energy on said target engagement surface and, when brought into contact with the tissue material to be treated, cause it to dislodge and be drawn into the operating situs.