Abstract: A system and method for detecting relative location of a surgical laser fiber tip relative to a surgical laser target during a surgical laser procedure utilizes a spectrophotometer to detect radiation indicative of the relative location. For example, the detected radiation may indicate contact between the fiber tip and a stone being subjected to laser lithotripsy, so as to prompt the surgeon to withdraw the fiber tip from the stone and/or take other action to limit contact-induced erosion of the fiber tip, and to avoid saturation of the endoscope camera resulting from the flash that occurs following contact. In addition, the absence of any detected radiation by the spectrophotometer may be used to indicate that the stone is no longer present, or that the fiber tip is no longer aimed at the stone, prompting the operator to reposition the fiber and/or temporarily cease firing of the laser.

Abstract: An arrangement that prevents carbonization of cladding, coating, or buffer layers of a surgical laser fiber due to thermal radiation reflected back into the fiber from, or emitted by, a target of the laser, includes a thermal radiation blocking, absorbing or diverting structure. The thermal radiation blocking, absorbing or diverting structure surrounds an end portion of the fiber that has been stripped of one or more coating and/or buffer layers, and may be made of a heat resistant material such as PTFE or polyimide to block heat from reaching the coating or buffer layers, an optical ferrule such as fused silica to guide the heat away from the fiber coating or buffer layers, or a high refraction index material such as UV adhesive.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting relative location of a surgical laser fiber tip relative to a surgical laser target during a surgical laser procedure utilizes a spectrophotometer to detect radiation indicative of the relative location. For example, the detected radiation may indicate contact between the fiber tip and a stone being subjected to laser lithotripsy, so as to prompt the surgeon to withdraw the fiber tip from the stone and/or take other action to limit contact-induced erosion of the fiber tip, and to avoid saturation of the endoscope camera resulting from the flash that occurs following contact. In addition, the absence of any detected radiation by the spectrophotometer may be used to indicate that the stone is no longer present, or that the fiber tip is no longer aimed at the stone, prompting the operator to reposition the fiber and/or temporarily cease firing of the laser.

Abstract: A protective ferrule for an end-firing optical fiber arrangement combines a spherical or rounded shape with a planar end. The combination of the spherical or rounded shape and planar end provides protection for the working channel of an endoscope or catheter through which the fiber is inserted while confining and minimizing erosion of the active surface area of the fiber. The protective ferrule of may be fitted to the end of the optical fiber by the steps of heating the ferrule to expand an inside diameter so that it fits over the end of the fiber, with subsequent cooling of the ferrule causing it to contract and create a compression fit.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting relative location of a surgical laser fiber tip relative to a surgical laser target during a surgical laser procedure utilizes a spectrophotometer to detect radiation indicative of the relative location. For example, the detected radiation may indicate contact between the fiber tip and a stone being subjected to laser lithotripsy, so as to prompt the surgeon to withdraw the fiber tip from the stone and/or take other action to limit contact-induced erosion of the fiber tip, and to avoid saturation of the endoscope camera resulting from the flash that occurs following contact. In addition, the absence of any detected radiation by the spectrophotometer may be used to indicate that the stone is no longer present, or that the fiber tip is no longer aimed at the stone, prompting the operator to reposition the fiber and/or temporarily cease firing of the laser.

Abstract: A surgical laser delivery systems utilizes a standoff catheter to prevent contact and/or maintain a predetermined spacing between the laser delivery fiber or fiber assembly and the target. The standoff catheter includes multiple side-firing ports. The side-firing ports may include openings of the same or different dimensions, at least one diffuser, and/or at least one lens, to permit the operator to control the degree of vaporization/coagulation and/or vary lasing parameters without having to withdraw the optical fiber from the patient, by rotating or linearly moving the laser or laser assembly with respect the standoff catheter. The side-firing ports may also include an opening at the front of the stand-off catheter to enable use with a forward-firing laser fiber or fiber assembly.

Abstract: An optical fiber includes an integrated detector in the form of phosphors that emit light of a characteristic frequency or wavelength in response to leakage, through the fiber cladding, of light having an interrogation wavelength ?1. Stimulation of phosphor emission by the interrogation light is indicative of aging or wear on the layers surrounding the cladding, and therefore can be used to assess the risk of imminent breakage of the fiber.

Abstract: An arrangement that prevents carbonization of cladding, coating, or buffer layers of a surgical laser fiber due to thermal radiation reflected back into the fiber from, or emitted by, a target of the laser, includes a thermal radiation blocking, absorbing or diverting structure. The thermal radiation blocking, absorbing or diverting structure surrounds an end portion of the fiber that has been stripped of one or more coating and/or buffer layers, and may be made of a heat resistant material such as PTFE or polyimide to block heat from reaching the coating or buffer layers, an optical ferrule such as fused silica to guide the heat away from the fiber coating or buffer layers, or a high refraction index material such as UV adhesive.

Abstract: A protective sheath is provided to prevent mechanical damage to the working channel of the endoscope during insertion of the fiber, insulate the fiber from surrounding cooling fluids, and/or serve as an indicator of overheating that enables early detection of excess heating or burning of tissues or equipment at the treatment site. The protective sheath may include trim markings to facilitate cutting to a desired length, such as the length of the fiber in the scope, may also be arranged to glow when the fiber is pulled too far into the sheath, may be tightly fitted over the fiber to provide a plunger effect, and may include perforations to facilitate sterilization.

Abstract: An end-firing optical fiber includes protective ferrule through which treatment radiation is fired in an axial direction, the protective ferrule having refractive properties that cause the radiation to disperse laterally and/or the fiber having sufficient flexibility to enable the fiber to be aimed at a tissue situated to the side of the axis along which the fiber was inserted. The fiber and protective ferrule may be mounted in a cannula, with the cannula being sufficiently flexible to enable the cannula to be withdrawn into a scope having a straight working channel, but has a pre-formed curvature that enables treatment of lateral tissues when the cannula is extended out of a scope.

Abstract: An end-firing optical fiber arrangement includes a protective ferrule having a rounded end or a spherical fiber tip in which a notch is formed such that a planar end face of the fiber is set back from the rounded distal end of the protective ferrule or spherical fiber tip to prevent contact between the end face of the fiber and a stone or tissue.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting relative location of a surgical laser fiber tip relative to a surgical laser target during a surgical laser procedure utilizes a spectrophotometer to detect radiation indicative of the relative location. For example, the detected radiation may indicate contact between the fiber tip and a stone being subjected to laser lithotripsy, so as to prompt the surgeon to withdraw the fiber tip from the stone and/or take other action to limit contact-induced erosion of the fiber tip, and to avoid saturation of the endoscope camera resulting from the flash that occurs following contact. In addition, the absence of any detected radiation by the spectrophotometer may be used to indicate that the stone is no longer present, or that the fiber tip is no longer aimed at the stone, prompting the operator to reposition the fiber and/or temporarily cease firing of the laser.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting excess absorption of therapeutic radiation at a bend in a fiber, and the possibility of imminent fiber failure, by monitoring stimulated radiation emission by phosphors in a coating of the fiber, the stimulated emission being caused by leakage of an aiming beam through the cladding into the coating. To accomplish the detection, a conventional monitoring method and equipment are modified to detect the absence of, or an interruption in, the stimulated emission, which is caused by separation of the coating from the cladding in the area of the bend as a result of the excess absorption.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering energy, and in particular laser energy, to a tissue is adapted to minimize or eliminate burn back caused by contact between the energy delivery apparatus and bodily fluids by (i) preventing the energy delivery apparatus from contacting bodily fluids or tissues that might burn or cause the apparatus to burn; and/or (ii) monitoring the apparatus to detect overheating in order to withdraw the apparatus or control the energy supply in case overheating is detected. The apparatus is applicable, by way of example, to treatment of blood vessels using endovascular techniques.

Abstract: A medical laser safety feedback apparatus and method enhances the detectability of a feedback signal from the treatment site by modulating or encoding an aiming or reference beam that is used to provide a stimulated emission or reflected component of the feedback signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering energy, and in particular laser energy, to a tissue is adapted to minimize or eliminate burn back caused by contact between the energy delivery apparatus and bodily fluids by (i) preventing the energy delivery apparatus from contacting bodily fluids or tissues that might burn or cause the apparatus to burn; and/or (ii) monitoring the apparatus to detect overheating in order to withdraw the apparatus or control the energy supply in case overheating is detected. The apparatus is applicable, by way of example, to treatment of blood vessels using endovascular techniques.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector for coupling focused radiant energy from a laser to a fiber optic conductor includes a quartz alignment ferrule that is fused mechanically and optically to the fiber's proximal end, either by an index matching first adhesive or by heat fusing the cladding to the ferrule without removing the cladding from the end of the fiber. The fiber and ferrule are attached to the fiber's proximal termination connector by a second adhesive with a high refractive index which absorbs errant radiant energy that has propagated in the fiber's cladding. The absorbed errant energy is dissipated by the connector assembly as it is converted to heat.

Abstract: A protective ferrule for an end-firing optical fiber arrangement combines a spherical or rounded shape with a planar end. The combination of the spherical or rounded shape and planar end provides protection for the working channel of an endoscope or catheter through which the fiber is inserted while confining and minimizing erosion of the active surface area of the fiber. The protective ferrule of may be fitted to the end of the optical fiber by the steps of heating the ferrule to expand an inside diameter so that it fits over the end of the fiber, with subsequent cooling of the ferrule causing it to contract and create a compression fit.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements for distinguishing between target areas and non-target areas during a laser surgical procedure involve coating or otherwise providing the non-target areas with a phosphorescent material that emits radiation, upon stimulation when a predetermined condition occurs, that is distinguishable from the treatment radiation.

Abstract: A disposable sleeve is fitted over a surgical optical fiber assembly before carrying out a treatment procedure. The optical fiber assembly includes an optical fiber, a laser-transparent protective cap that surrounds the fiber tip, and any additional components assembled to the optical fiber and protective cap, such as a coolant jacket. The disposable sleeve includes a transparent end portion corresponding to the transparent protective cap to permit passage of laser light, the sleeve protecting the surgical optical fiber and the protective cap in order to enable re-use of the surgical optical fiber. After the surgical procedure is performed, the sleeve is removed from the optical fiber assembly and the fiber is sterilized. Another sleeve is then placed over the optical fiber assembly so that the optical fiber assembly may be re-used to carry out a second treatment procedure.