Abstract: The present invention is directed towards medical optical fibers with protective tips for use with endoscopes for laser based treatment of internal bodily organs and method of manufacture therefor. The medical optical fibers have a short stripped medical optical fiber section and a protective tip provided thereon to encapsulate both the stripped medical optical fiber section and the jacket tip immediately therebehind.

Abstract: Apparatus for the treatment of a target tissue with a laser beam in which the target tissue is immersed in a liquid medium within a body lumen. The laser device is configured to provide one or more laser pulses which are configured by a controller to have an energy sufficient to form one or more vapor bubbles in the liquid medium at the distal delivery end of the fiber. The one or more pulses are configured by the controller to: first, cause a vapor bubble to be formed distally of the distal end portion of the endoscope and around the distal delivery end of the optical fiber; second, cause a second bubble to be formed distally of the first bubble; and, third, inflate the second bubble as the first bubble has begun to collapse to expand an amount sufficient to displace a substantial portion of the liquid medium from the space between the distal delivery end of the fiber and the target tissue.

Abstract: A dual port switching apparatus (12) comprising a connection part for mounting to a base unit (11), an input beam port to receive a main laser beam from a base unit (11) in an input optical path (22), a first output port (14) for connection to a flexible wave guide, a second output port (15) for connection to an articulated arm (16), and a switching element (56) moveable between a first position and a second position to direct an input beam to one of the first output port (14) and the second output port (15).

Abstract: Described herein are laser emitting medical devices and techniques implementable by laser emitting medical devices to determine and display a pop-dusting efficiency of a lasing treatment where a distal end of an optical fiber is disposed in a liquid environment. The devices and techniques provide to determine the pop-dusting efficiency based on the average distance of a target from the distal end of the optical fiber, as well as the “strikes per second” as calculated by a computing system.

Abstract: A removable cap for an endoscope used with a surgical laser to improve the stone free rate (SFR) of lithotripsy procedures. The removable cap includes a filter configured to block or filter light of a wavelength like a wavelength of light from an aiming beam generated by the surgical laser.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for a retrieval device for addressing a kidney stone. A retrieval device includes an expandable basket with a deployed cover. The basket is expanded and maneuvered around the kidney stone. The cover is then deployed around the basket to contain the kidney stone for laser lithotripsy. Fragments at or below a target size are allowed to escape through apertures in the cover or are removed via a suction tube.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a laser generator comprising several laser sources where each laser source is arranged to generate a series of laser pulses offset in time from the other series of laser pulses generated by the other laser sources. The offset series of pulses are combined to provide a composite series of laser pulses with a higher frequency than each of the series of pulses have individually. Further, the present disclosure provides that the pulses of the composite series of laser pulses are non-equidistant from each other.

Abstract: Described herein is an endoscopic system for use with a laser source. The endoscopic system is configured to synchronize measurement, captured by an endoscopic sensor, of physical characteristics of an environment with lasing by the laser source. The endoscopic system is further configured to modify measurements captured by the endoscopic sensor based on lasing by the laser source.

Abstract: A tissue dissecting system for dissecting and removing tissue in a body as well as apparatuses of a tissue dissecting system are described. The system includes a holder defining a housing and an elongated cannula defining a fiber tube and a suction tube. One end of the cannula is coupled to the holder and the other end of the cannula is configured to accommodate a tip. The tip includes a body defined with an inclined tip surface. A first aperture is defined along a longitudinal axis of the body and the first aperture is configured to accommodate an optical fiber. Further, a second aperture is configured adjacent the first aperture where, the second aperture is fluidly connectable to a suction tube.

Abstract: Laser apparatus including laser devices for emitting laser pulses, a motorized laser pulse reflection arrangement continuously rotated at a uniform angular velocity for reflecting laser pulses along a single optical path toward a target and a controller synchronized with the motorized laser pulse reflection arrangement for individually firing the laser devices for emitting a train of laser pulses reaching the target without obstruction by the motorized laser pulse reflection arrangement.

Abstract: Described herein are laser emitting medical devices and techniques implementable by laser emitting medical devices to determine a power of light emitted from a distal end of an optical fiber coupled to the medical device where the distal end of the optical fiber is disposed in a liquid environment. The devices and techniques provide to determine the power of the emitted light based on the duration or length of a bubble formed in the liquid environment by the emitted light.

Abstract: This disclosure teaches the use of an endoscopic surgical laser with beam diffraction. During a lithotripsy procedure, an endoscopic probe with a laser fiber is deployed. A diffraction grating within the optical core of the laser fiber disperses the laser energy over a larger area for more effective ablation of renal calculi.

Abstract: A method of treating a mobile target tissue with a laser beam includes: providing a laser device for generating a laser beam and providing an optical fiber having a delivery end for guiding the laser beam to the target tissue; a controller causes the laser device to generate one or more laser pulses substantially along the same longitudinal axis. The controller causes the laser device to provide one or more laser pulses. The one or more pulses are selected to allow a vapor bubble formed by the one or more pulse to expand an amount sufficient to displace a substantial portion of the liquid medium from the space between the delivery end of the fiber and the target tissue. The one or more pulses are delivered to the target tissue through the vapor bubble after the vapor bubble has reached its maximum extent and has begun to collapse to reduce retropulsion of the mobile target tissue.

Abstract: A method of treatment of skin tissue with two laser devices of unequal wavelengths comprising the steps of: (1) activating the two laser devices simultaneously to produce two laser beams of unequal wavelength; (2) directing the two laser beams into a handpiece having a distal tip to direct the laser beams onto the skin tissue; (3) directing the two laser beams within the handpiece to an adjustable beam deflector; and, (4) the adjustable beam deflector directing the two laser beams onto the skin tissue to produce a pattern of laser spots simultaneously but separated from one another.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method and system for distinguishing between a stone and a tissue based on reflected light from the stone or the tissue. It is to be appreciated that the efficiency of treatments using lasers often depend upon the relative position and orientation of the optical fiber tip with respect to the target. Further, the safety of the patient often depends on accurate aiming of the distal end of the fiber optic cable at the intended target. For example, where a stone is the intended target, unintentionally activating the laser while aimed at tissue could damage the tissue. This may lead to unnecessary complications, and in some cases, it can also lead to permanent damage to the tissue, which could make portions of the body of the subject dysfunctional.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a modified ball-tip architecture for a medical optical fiber where the modified ball-tip provides both protection to the distal end of the optical fiber and a working channel of an endoscope in which the medical optical fiber is inserted as well as provides for pre-procedure measurements. The modified ball-tip provides a ball-tip but exposes the distal end of the optical fiber.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating tissue includes a first energy application device to direct energy at tissue of a patient to cause at least one channel to be formed and a controller to control application of energy from the first energy application device to form the at least one channel. The at least one channel may be in the shape of a spiral-like shape or may be in a flower-like shape. Mechanisms are provided to help open channels formed in the human skin structure. A second energy application source may be used to maintain the channel open after formation. The controller may cause the first energy application device to form a plurality of channels of varying depth, width and distribution over the human skin surface. The apparatus to control the application of energy may be operated using a foot-activated pedal.

Abstract: Techniques and a laser system for modulating laser pulses are provided. The laser pulses can be modulated to cause a gaseous pathway formed when the laser pulses are emitted into a liquid medium to collapse within a specified distance. The instantaneous power of the laser pulses can be modulated in an opposite phase from the growth of vapor bubbles forming the gaseous pathway.