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: A disposable fiber optic sleeve for attachment at the forefront of a surgical instrument. The sleeve is an elongated tubular shape and incorporates multiple fiber optic bundles for transmission of visible light to enhance intraocular visualization. Additional bundles of optical fibers may provide for the application of laser beam and video transmission to intraocular tissue. The sleeve is constructed of inexpensive plastic materials and is designed to be disposable after a single or several uses.

Abstract: A micro-keratome device for performing eye surgery is disclosed. The device is comprised of a vacuum ring, an applanation shoe and a cutting blade. The cutting blade and applanation shoe are mounted on the vacuum ring with the cutting blade being pivotally mounted to the applanation shoe so that movement of the cutting blade, while the vacuum ring is still mounted to a patient's eye, permits the user to have an unobstructed path to that portion of the eye exposed by the cutting blade. In a further embodiment, the device includes a guard, mounted at one end of the applanation shoe, which collects, protects and positions the previously cut portion of eye tissue.

Abstract: According to the invention, a method is provided for disrupting the targeted lesion in skin, such as is necessary in treatment of vascular or pigmented lesions. A microplasma is generated in a target region of skin, the microplasma disrupting the skin ("plasma ablation") to enable removal of the targeted lesion. The microplasma absorbs radiation energy and expands, creating high pressure in the surrounding region which causes disruption of the targeted lesion in that region. A beam of pulsed laser radiation can be used to generate the microplasma by properly controlling the peak irradiance, the pulse duration and the focal spot size of the beam. The invention enables use of a laser having small pulse energy. A synchronized laser beam scan device can be used to scan the beam to provide a highly efficient system for rapid skin treatment.

Abstract: Apparatus for illuminating a central area of an eye by lamellar lighting during eye surgery. Basically, a support fixture carrying a light emitter is adapted to be placed adjacent to the surgical field. The support fixture, when in place on an eye, directs light from the light emitter toward the surgical field tangentially to the cornea, at an angle of from about 0 to 45.degree. to the plane of the eye iris. The light entering the eye travels along the lamellae of the cornea in the manner of a light pipe. Very little, if any light reaches the back of the eye, avoiding patient discomfort, or is directed toward the surgical microscope as glare. This lamellar lighting combines scleral scatter and retro illumination. In preferred embodiments, the light emitter may be mounted on, or incorporated in, a conventional eyelid speculum or a fixation ring.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for treating veins. In the subject method, the skin is pierced with the sharpened tip of a fiber optic probe. The probe is advanced to a location underneath the vessel to be treated. Once in position, the vessel is irradiated with a treatment beam having a fluence sufficient to coagulate and collapse the vessel at that location. The procedure is then repeated at multiple sites along the length of the vessel so that it will collapse along its length and no longer carry any blood. In the preferred embodiment, a curved probe is used to facilitate the insertion of the tip under the vessel.

Abstract: A biopsy needle cauterizes the wound caused by the taking of a tissue specimen and the tissues in contact with the biopsy needle prior to withdrawal of the biopsy needle from a person, thereby minimizing bleeding and preventing the proliferation of any existing cancer cells along the path of insertion and withdrawal of the biopsy needle from the body. In contrast with existing biopsy needles, the tissue is excised by retraction of the stylet into the cannula, with the cutting edge being at the junction of the upper surface of the stylet and the front wall of the recess which holds the tissue specimen, rather than excising the tissue by sliding the cannula forward over the recess in the stylet with the cutting means at the leading edge of the cannula.

Abstract: A catheter uses a steerable outer catheter with an inner catheter rotatable and extendable with respect to the outer catheter. The outer catheter may be positioned within a patient's heart and a portion of the outer catheter may provide movement like that of a windshield wiper by manipulation of a spring. By combining the windshield wiper type movement with the extension and rotation of the inner catheter relative to the outer catheter, a large area within a patient's heart may be readily mapped for conduction tissue and be subjected to laser ablation if appropriate. Various configurations provide flexibility in relatively positioning of windows used to apply laser energy and ring electrodes used to sense conduction tissue.

Abstract: An apparatus for profiling a cornea of an eye is disclosed which comprises a topography instrument for determining the curvature of the cornea, a computer system for receiving information from the topography instrument for determining whether any areas of the cornea need to be ablated to correct for any abnormalities of the cornea, a diffractive optical element which is constructed based upon the determination of which areas of the cornea need to be ablated, and a beam of radiation being projected at the diffractive optical element for the diffractive optical element to modulate the beam of radiation and direct the modulated beam of radiation at the cornea for ablating the cornea to correct for any abnormalities of the cornea.

Abstract: A method and device for first irradiating a region of tissue with a radiation source, and then incising the region with a mechanical cutting instrument (e.g., a scalpel). Irradiation allows for effective heating of the tissue, which results in blood vessel contraction or coagulation of the blood before the actual incision is made; once the tissue is incised, the resulting flow of blood is low.

Abstract: Binocular stereo microscope including an observation optical system to observe the patient's eye through binocular vision, comprising laser transmitting optical system for transmitting the therapeutic laser beam coaxially with the optical axis of an objective lens in the binocular stereo microscope to the patient's eye, alignment light beam projection optical system for projecting the alignment light beam onto the patient's eye to form an alignment index on the eye. CCD detects the index image projected on the patient's eye by the alignment light beam projection optical system, CPU judges alignment situation based on the image detected by the CCD, moving unit for moving the patient's eye relatively to the binocular stereo microscope is moved based on a judgement of the CPU.

Abstract: A side firing fiberoptic probe has an optical fiber with proximal and distal ends and the cladding is removed from its distal end portion. On the distal end of the core is a transparent reflector of generally cylindrical configuration and it is of larger diameter than and coaxial with the core. The reflector has a planar face at its opposite end which extends at an angle to the axis of the reflector and core. Extending about and sealingly engaged with the fiber distal end portion and the reflector is the cylindrical body portion of a transparent end cap. The cap has a closed end spaced from the planar face of the reflector, and it provides an atmospheric interface between the inner surface of its closed end and the planar face of the reflector and about the unclad distal end portion of the core. Light rays passing through the core fall on the planar face in a generally circular pattern and are reflected thereby at an angle of 50.degree.-90.degree. in a generally conical beam through the reflector and cap.

Abstract: An anchor for attaching an object within a tunnel extending through a workpiece such as a bone or a bone-like structure, and a method for using the same. The anchor includes a body and a plurality of barbs located in circumferentially spaced relation about the body. The barbs are formed of a material which may be elastically deformed from a normal configuration wherein the outer ends of the barbs extend radially outwardly of the body toward a configuration wherein the barbs are located generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body. A diametrical opening in the front portion of the anchor is provided for engagement by a length of cord-like material such that the anchor may be pulled into a bone tunnel, and an opening in the rear portion of the anchor is provided for attaching either a ligament, tendon or the like to the anchor, or for grasping a bone plug or similar rigid object attached to a free end of the ligament, tendon or the like.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an optical system for performing a laser photorefractive keratectomy operation on a cornea for vision correction. The optical system comprises a laser source emitting a laser beam. The optical system also includes a beam processing subsystem for receiving and processing the laser beam for generating a processed laser beam suitable for performing the keratectomy operation. The optical system further includes an energy delivery subsystem including a continuous energy-delivery control device which may include time-varying movable slits, rotating diaphragms, or combination of lens system with moving screen, for optically controlling the energy delivered to different areas of the cornea by the processed laser beam for performing the vision correction.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for locally generating hyperthermia-induced coagulation necrosis in tissue masses located deeply within the body of a subject. High energy laser radiation is introduced into the target tissue mass using an optical fiber inserted into a metallic cannula through which a suitable fluid is coaxially flowed. A combination of the fluid flow and the slow withdrawal of the cannula/fiber combination during therapy protects the optical fiber tip, thereby preserving its energy transmission characteristics. After establishment of a small fluid bolus in front of the fiber tip, fluid flow which is approximately proportionate to the laser energy employed has been found to be most effective in this regard.

Abstract: A laser-powered surgical tool comprises an elongate distal end portion suitable for laparoscopic surgery, and contains an extreme distal end portion by which a laser-powered tip is applied to tissue to generate incisions of predetermined but adjustable depth therein. The tissue being incised is held by suction in an optimum position for advancing the incision while, simultaneously, any gases and incidental fluids generated or released by the advancing incision are removed by suction applied immediately around the incision point as the incision proceeds.

Abstract: An ophthalmic apparatus for measuring and operating a subject's eye, which includes an ophthalmic operation apparatus, provides an alignment mechanism including a slit image projecting system for projecting an alignment slit image on the subject's eye, a slit image observing system for observing the slit image projected on the subject's eye, wherein a plurality of the slit image projecting system are arranged so as to project the slit image from at least two directions on the subject's eye, the directions putting the optical axis of the slit image observing system therebetween, and an alignment moving device by which an apparatus body including the slit image observing system is moved relatively to the subject's eye in three-dimensional direction.

Abstract: A disposable fiber optic sleeve for attachment at the forefront of a surgical instrument. The sleeve is an elongated tubular shape and incorporates multiple fiber optic bundles for transmission of visible light to enhance intraocular visualization. Additional bundles of optical fibers may provide for the application of laser beam and video transmission to intraocular tissue. The sleeve is constructed of inexpensive plastic materials and is designed to be disposable after a single or several uses.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for treating vascular lesions. In the preferred embodiment, an intracavity, frequency doubled Nd:YAG laser is used to generate output pulses having a duration of 0.5 to 10.0 milliseconds. This laser output is used to irradiate the lesions. The laser energy is absorbed in the blood of the vein, causing it to coagulate and collapse. The long pulse duration helps to minimize bleeding while controlling thermal damage to surrounding tissue.

Abstract: An ophthalmological surgery system and method for performing ablative photodecomposition of the corneal surface by offset image scanning. A mask having opaque and transparent portions corresponding to a desired type of correction, such as a hyperopic correction, intercepts a laser beam to provide a profiled beam. The mask is mounted for rotation about an axis and the image of the mask is offset from an intended center of rotation corresponding to an ablation center by an imaging lens which is radially offset from the center of rotation. The mask and lens rotate in unison to scan the image over the desired portion of the corneal surface. The invention enables wide area treatment with a laser having a narrower beam and makes optional the use of rotating mirrors and prisms.