Methods and apparatus related to a side-fire assembly that has an optical grating
AssigneeBoston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
InventorJeffrey W. Zerfas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus may include an optical fiber having an angled grating aligned along a plane non-normal to a longitudinal axis of a distal end portion of the optical fiber. The angled grating may be configured to redirect a first laser energy propagated within the optical fiber and incident on the angled grating to a direction offset from the longitudinal axis. The apparatus may also include a metallic cap coupled to the optical fiber. The metallic cap may have an inner surface configured to redirect a second laser energy incident on the inner surface along the direction offset from the longitudinal axis. The second laser energy being different than the first laser energy.
Claims18
A method of using a medical device, comprising:
- inserting a distal end portion of an optical fiber into a patient's body, a portion of the distal end portion of the optical fiber including an angled grating and being at least partially surrounded by a cladding layer and an outer cover comprising a cap;
- activating a first laser source to transmit a first laser energy from the first laser source toward the angled grating along a first portion of an optical path, with the first laser energy from the first laser source being a treatment laser energy and being internally reflected within the optical fiber over the first portion of the optical path;
- reflecting the first laser energy from the angled grating along a second portion of the optical path and through an opening in the distal end portion, the second portion of the optical path being non-parallel to the first portion of the optical path;
- activating a second laser source to transmit a second laser energy from the second laser source along the first portion of the optical path toward the cap, with the second laser energy from the second laser source being an alignment laser energy and being at least partially reflected from an inner surface of the outer cover;
- and
- reflecting at least a portion of the second laser energy from the inner surface of the outer cover and/or from an interior portion of the cap and through the opening, wherein any portion of the second laser energy incident on the angled grating travels through the angled grating without redirection by the angled grating.
A method of using a medical device, comprising:
- inserting a distal end portion of an optical fiber into a target site, the optical fiber comprising an angled grating and being at least partially surrounded by a cladding layer and an outer cover, wherein the outer cover defines defining an opening;
- emitting a first laser energy, with at least a portion of the first laser energy being transmitted through the optical fiber and through the cladding layer;
- reflecting the first laser energy from an inner surface of the outer cover and through the opening, wherein an portion of the first laser energy incident on the angled grating is transmitted through the angled grating without redirection by the angled grating;
- aligning the medical device with the target site based on visualizing the first laser energy;
- emitting a second laser energy having an intensity greater than the first laser energy;
- internally reflecting the second laser energy within the optical fiber;
- and
- reflecting the second laser energy from the angled grating through the opening to treat the target site.
A method of using a medical device, comprising:
- inserting a distal end portion of an optical fiber into a target site, the optical fiber comprising an angled grating and the optical fiber being at least partially surrounded by an outer cover, wherein the outer cover defines an opening;
- emitting a first laser energy;
- reflecting the first laser energy from an inner surface of the outer cover and through the opening, with any portion of the first laser energy incident on the angled grating being transmitted through the angled grating without redirection;
- aligning the medical device with the target site by visualizing the first laser energy emitted through the opening;
- adjusting a position of the medical device based on visualizing the first laser energy;
- emitting a second laser energy having an intensity greater than the first laser energy;
- and
- reflecting the second laser energy from the angled grating and through the opening to treat the target site.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.