Laser surgery system with safety control of non-target tissue temperature and method of use

A method of laser ablation surgery comprising:

• (a) performing a laser ablation surgery on a target tissue using a laser ablation surgery system, said system comprising:
• (i) a laser source configured to produce a laser beam at a wavelength absorbable by a target issue through an optical fiber connected thereto;
• (ii) a temperature sensor disposed at an irrigation fluid outlet of a flow sheath of a continuous flow endoscope, the continuous flow endoscope having an elongated probe including the flow sheath therein and with the irrigation fluid outlet of the flow sheath at a proximal end of the elongated probe, the temperature sensor being non-invasive and configured to monitor at the irrigation fluid outlet a temperature of an effluent of an irrigation fluid exiting a body cavity adjacent to the target issue during a laser ablation surgery thereby monitoring a temperature of the body cavity using the effluent as a medium, the body cavity being a non-target tissue not subject to ablation by the laser beam;
• and
• (iii) a system control operably connected to the laser source and the temperature sensor, said system control comprising at least one predetermined effluent temperature threshold, and a laser control mechanism;
• and
• (b) monitoring at the irrigation fluid outlet the temperature of the effluent exiting the body cavity during the laser ablation surgery by the temperature sensor, wherein the system control activates the laser control mechanism when the temperature sensor senses the temperature of the effluent exceeding the at least one predetermined effluent temperature threshold, thereby preventing a thermal injury to the body cavity due to heat transfer.

A method of laser ablation surgery comprising:

• (a) performing a laser ablation surgery on a target tissue with a continuous flow endoscope using an optical fiber connected to a laser source configured to produce a laser beam at a wavelength absorbable by the target issue;
• (b) providing a temperature sensor at an irrigation fluid outlet of the continuous flow endoscope, the continuous flow endoscope having an elongated probe including the flow sheath therein and with the irrigation fluid outlet of the flow sheath at a proximal end of the elongated probe, the temperature sensor being non-invasive and configured to monitor at the irrigation fluid outlet a temperature of an effluent of an irrigation fluid exiting a body cavity adjacent to the target tissue thereby monitoring a temperature of the body cavity using the effluent as a medium, the body cavity being a non-target tissue not subject to ablation by the laser beam;
• and
• (c) monitoring at the irrigation fluid outlet the temperature of the effluent exiting the body cavity by the temperature sensor during the laser ablation surgery on the target tissue, and adjusting emission of the laser source when the temperature sensor senses the temperature of the effluent exceeding a predetermined effluent temperature threshold, thereby preventing a thermal injury to the body cavity due to heat transfer.