Abstract: The present invention is a turn limiter for a catheter with a twistable tip. The catheter having a flexible wall for use in complex twisting anatomy contains a torque wire or a torquable guide wire lumen. The torque wire or torquable guide wire lumen extends through the length of the catheter and is attached to the catheter at or near the distal end thereof. The proximal end of the torque wire protrudes from the proximal end of the catheter and is attached to a turn limiter. Rotation of the turn limiter imparts a torque to the torque wire or torquable guide wire lumen. The turn limiter allows limited rotation of the proximal end of the torque wire or torquable guide wire lumen without axial dislocation. The turn limiter may have a feature for indicating the amount of torque applied to the torque element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coupling laser energy into an optical fiber employs a laser with a concave reflector and a planar reflector, a plano-convex focusing lens and an optical fiber array. A divergent laser beam is emitted from the laser and is focused to a beam waist by the plano-convex lens. Within the beam waist exists a soft focal plane wherein the laser energy is relatively homogeneous across the beam's cross section. An optical fiber array is placed within the beam waist such that the soft focal plane substantially matches the size and shape of the proximal end of the optical fiber array. Thus, laser energy is coupled to the optical fiber array at the soft focal plane within the beam waist at a fluence level below the fluence damage threshold of the optical fiber array and in a relatively homogeneous fashion across the cross section of the optical fiber array.

Abstract: A coupler for efficiently coupling a laser light source to a fiberoptic catheter. The coupler contains coding for determining information about the catheter, such as the size of the optical fiber catheter which it is coupling.

Abstract: A device for terminating a surgical apparatus such as a fiber optic catheter is disclosed. A fiber optic catheter having an outer body, an inner body disposed within the outer body to form an outer lumen therebetween and an inner lumen within the inner body, and optical fibers within the outer lumen is terminated at its distal end with a two-piece tip. An outer band of the tip has one end between the outer body and the optical fibers, while an inner band contacts the ends of the inner body and the optical fibers. The terminal faces of the optical fibers may be angled to increase the surface area illuminated or ablated by the fiber optic catheter. The inner and outer bands may be flared outwardly to increase the surface area affected even more. The inner body may also be extended beyond the terminal face to aid tracking of the catheter. The inner body and inner band may be eccentric to the outer body and outer band so that the catheter may be rotated to ablate a larger vascular area.

Abstract: A coupler for efficiently coupling a laser light source to a fiberoptic catheter. The coupler contains coding for determining information about the catheter, such as the size of the optical fiber catheter which it is coupling.

Abstract: A coupler for efficiently coupling a laser light source to a fiberoptic catheter. The coupler contains coding for determining information about the catheter, such as the size of the optical fiber catheter which it is coupling.