Laser-based method and system for selectively processing target tissue material in a patient and optical catheter assembly for use therein

Abstract

A laser-based method and system for selectively processing target tissue material in a patient and optical catheter assembly for use therein are provided. The system includes a laser subsystem for generating an output laser beam. The system further includes a catheter assembly including at least one optical fiber having a proximal end coupled to the laser subsystem for guiding the output laser beam along a propagation path. The beam has optical and temporal properties and a predetermined selected wavelength. The catheter assembly is sized to extend through an opening in a first part of the patient and to a tissue material processing site within the patient. The catheter assembly includes a beam delivery and focusing subsystem which has an adjustable focal distance and disposed in the propagation path and that accepts the output laser beam and adjustably positions the beam into at least one focused spot on the target tissue material disposed within a second part of the patient at the site based on distance to the target tissue material from a predetermined point on the propagation path at the site for a duration sufficient to allow laser energy to be absorbed by the target tissue material and converted to heat to produce a desired physical change in the target tissue material without causing undesirable changes to adjacent non-target material disposed within the second part of the patient. The target tissue material is characterized by an absorptive coefficient. The predetermined wavelength is selected to achieve a penetration depth into the second part of the patient of approximately one millimeter or more.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.