Abstract: A heart-synchronized pulsed laser system includes a laser; means for sensing the contraction and expansion of a beating heart to be synchronized with the laser; means, responsive to the means for sensing, for generating a trigger pulse; means for positioning the leading edge of the trigger pulse; means for positioning the leading edge of the trigger pulse during the contraction and expansion cycle of the heartbeat; means for defining the width of the trigger pulse to occur during the heartbeat cycle; and means responsive to the trigger pulse for firing the laser to strike the beating heart at the time indicated by the trigger pulse position and for the period indicated by the width of the trigger pulse.

Abstract: A handpiece for a medical laser system comprising a barrel for having a passage for transmitting a laser beam and a contacting wall on one end of said barrel including an aperture in communication with the passage, a solid face extending radially outward from the aperture to the periphery of said contacting wall, and a knurled surface on the face for preventing movement of the contacting wall with respect to the heart wall during surgery.

Abstract: A non-reusable lens cell for a surgical laser handpiece having a contact surface with an aperture for exiting a laser beam includes a housing having a first connector at a first end for engaging a laser source and a second connector at a second end for engaging a handpiece; and a hydroscopic lens device for focusing the laser beam through the handpiece proximate the aperture and being degradable in the presence of moisture during attempts at sterilization to deteriorate the lens device, disrupt the focus and thwart reuse of the lens cell.

Abstract: An angled beam-delivery handpiece includes a barrel for delivering a monochromatic light beam; a contact surface at the distal end of the barrel; a window in the side of the barrel proximate the contact surface; an aperture in the contact surface; and a refractive element in the barrel above the window for diverting the beam carried by the barrel to exit the aperture at an angle to the laser beam in the barrel.

Abstract: An improved medical laser treatment system and method generates a beam of laser energy at a predetermined wavelength; transmits the beam of laser energy along a path to a medical treatment site; delivers to the medical treatment site an insufflating gas which is absorbent at the predetermined wavelength; and introduces into the path of the beam of laser energy a non-absorbent purge gas which is transparent to the predetermined wavelength of the laser, at a flow rate for opposing the influx of insufflating gas to reduce the resonant absorption of the laser beam energy.

Abstract: A unitary ECG monitor lead and needle electrode system includes a connector for connection to an ECG monitor junction; an electrode lead interconnected with the connector at one end of the electrode lead, the lead including a signal conductor; and a needle electrode unit interconnected with the other end of the electrode lead and including a needle electrode, a body portion for receiving the other end of the lead and for receiving an electrode needle, for forming the needle electrode unit as a single integral unit.

Abstract: A self-aligning coupler for a laser endoscope having a body and a lumen extending from the body includes a coupler housing; an input port adapted for connection to a laser beam source; and an output port adapted for connection to the endoscope body; a tilt assembly; an alignment sleeve fixed to the tilt assembly for extending through the output port and the body into the lumen; lens means mounted with the tilt assembly for projecting the laser beam down the alignment sleeve and fixing the focus of the beam generally on the axis of the alignment sleeve; means for centering the sleeve with respect to the lumen and generally aligning the lumen and sleeve axes; and gap means between the tilt assembly and the coupler housing for enabling the tilt assembly to float in the coupler housing laterally relative to the axes of the sleeve and lumen for accommodating misalignment between the body and lumen while maintaining alignment of the lens means, sleeve and lumen.