Abstract: A medical laser system is disclosed for ablating biological material. The system includes an Erbium:YAG gain medium capable of generating a pulsed output having a wavelength of 2.9 microns. The laser is optimized to generate a pulsed output having a repetition rate of at least 50 hertz and preferably at least 100 hertz. The output is delivered to the target tissue via an optical fiber. Preferably, a suction source is provided to aspirate the tissue as it is being ablated. The erbium laser system provides accurate ablation with minimal damage to surrounding tissue.

Abstract: A light-source includes a plurality of diode-laser bars. The diode-laser bars are arranged in a parallel array and arranged to emit laser-light in the same direction. The diode-laser bars are mounted on a planar surface of a common heat-sink and are spaced-apart from each other in the emission-direction. Each diode-laser bar has one optical waveguide associated therewith. The optical-waveguides collect laser-light emitted from the diode-laser bars with which they are associated and deliver the collected laser-light to an output-aperture of the light-source. In one arrangement the diode-laser bars are mounted such that the emission-direction is parallel to the planar surface of the heat-sink, and the optical-waveguides are shaped to extend over diode-laser bars adjacent those with which they are associated.

Abstract: A light-source includes a plurality of diode-laser bars. The diode-laser bars are arranged in a parallel array and arranged to emit laser-light in the same direction. The diode-laser bars are spaced-apart from each other in the emission-direction. Optical-waveguides are provided for collecting laser-light emitted from each of the diode-laser bars and delivering the collected laser-light to an output aperture of the light-source.

Abstract: A medical laser system is disclosed for ablating biological material. The system includes an Erbium:YAG gain medium capable of generating a pulsed output having a wavelength of 2.9 microns. The laser is optimized to generate a pulsed output having a repetition rate of at least 50 hertz and preferably at least 100 hertz. The output is delivered to the target tissue via an optical fiber. Preferably, a suction source is provided to aspirate the tissue as it is being ablated. The erbium laser system provides accurate ablation with minimal damage to surrounding tissue.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transurethral resection of the prostate, which includes inserting a transurethral incisional device through the patient's urethra, incising off at least one piece of targeted prostatic tissue using the incisional device, inserting a morcellation probe through the patient's urethra, morcellating the excised piece of targeted prostatic tissue with the morcellation probe, and aspirating the morcellated prostatic tissue through the morcellation probe and out of the patient.The morcellation probe of the present invention includes an elongated inner probe tube that defines an aspiration channel therein. The inner probe tube is slidably disposed inside an outer probe tube. The outer probe tube has a first aperture with a first cutting edge for cutting tissue. The inner probe tube has a second aperture or a spiral shaped groove defining a second cutting edge that moves relative to the first cutting edge to cut tissue drawn through the first aperture.

Abstract: An optical fiber delivery system having a semiconductor light source that produces an optical output. A plurality of first optical fibers each has an input end and an output end. The input ends are optically coupled to the semiconductor light source to receive the optical output, and the output ends are bundled together. An optical connector positions the input end of a second fiber, relative to the first fiber output ends, to receive the optical output from the first fibers. Either each of the first fibers, or the second fiber, have a tapered segment with a core and a cladding tapered down smoothly in diameter to reduce the spot size of optical output.

Abstract: A side firing fiber optic probe is disclosed. The delivery end of the probe is provided with an angled face oriented to totally internally reflect the treatment beam out of the side surface of the fiber in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof. The delivery end of the probe is further configured to reduce secondary reflections which occur as the light strikes the side surface of the fiber. This result can be achieved by modifying the shape of the cladding material which surrounds the fiber core. In one approach, the ratio of the diameters of the clad to the core is increased. Other specific cladding configurations for reducing reflections can be used. In a further alternative, the surface of a glass capillary which surrounds the fiber can be optically coupled to the fiber. Each of these approaches functions to reduce unwanted light leakage from the fiber.

Abstract: A composite optical fiber including a first optical fiber having a first core with a first diameter being optically fused to a second optical fiber having a second core with a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter. The first optical fiber has an output end with a tapered end section. The first core tapers down in diameter in the tapered end section from the first diameter and terminates at the output end with a third diameter that is smaller than the first diameter and substantially equal to or smaller than the second diameter. The second fiber has an input end that is optically fused to the output end of the first fiber. The composite optical fiber of the present invention is formed by heating the output end of the first optical fiber, and then pulling the output end of the first optical fiber to form the tapered end section. The output end of the first optical fiber is then optically fused to the input end of the second optical fiber.

Abstract: A medical laser system is disclosed for ablating biological material. The system includes an Erbium:YAG gain medium capable of generating a pulsed output having a wavelength of 2.9 microns. The laser is optimized to generate a pulsed output having a repetition rate of at least 50 hertz and preferably at least 100 hertz. The output is delivered to the target tissue via an optical fiber. Preferably, a suction source is provided to aspirate the tissue as it is being ablated.

Abstract: A medical laser system is disclosed for ablating biological material. The system includes an Erbium:YAG gain medium capable of generating a pulsed output having a wavelength of 2.9 microns. The laser is optimized to generate a pulsed output having a repetition rate of at least 50 hertz and preferably at least 100 hertz. The output is delivered to the target tissue via an optical fiber. Preferably, a suction source is provided to aspirate the tissue as it is being ablated. The erbium laser system provides accurate ablation with minimal damage to surrounding tissue.