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: The present disclosure provides a method and system for estimating the distance between an optical fiber end and a target. Treatments which use laser and optic fiber technology require high amounts of accuracy to ensure that the laser is aimed at the right target (stone, tissue, tumor etc.), to achieve the clinical objective of tissue ablation, coagulation, stone fragmentation, dusting and the like. Accordingly, it is important to know the distance between the target and end of the optical fiber (distal end) where the laser light is emitted, since the laser treatment parameters, such as energy, pulse width, laser power modulation, and/or repetition rate, are often determined based on the distance between the tip of the optical fiber to the target.

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: 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: 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 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 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: An optical fiber assembly includes a central optical fiber core having a longitudinal axis surrounded by a cladding layer along the longitudinal axis, a distal end portion and a proximal end portion; it further comprises a layer of a material at least partially surrounding the cladding layer; the layer of material may be light-sensitive; and, at least two electrodes may be embedded at least partially along the longitudinal axis within the layer of light-sensitive material. The light-sensitive material may be a photoresist material, and the photoresist material characteristics change proportional to the amount of light impinging on the photoresist material. These characteristics may include one or more of electrical resistance changes or voltage changes.

Abstract: A multiple cavity laser system includes: a controller configured to operate the system as well as a plurality of laser cavities, each of the laser cavities having an output end wherein, when activated by the controller, an output laser beam is emitted from the output end of each of the laser cavities. The output laser beams when activated are directed, either directly or indirectly, to a rotating mirror. The rotating mirror is operatively connected to the controller and a servo motor. The servo motor, under direction of the controller, redirects the output laser beams along a common optical axis and the output laser beams of the plurality of laser cavities are combined along the common optical axis.

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 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 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 multiple cavity laser system includes: a controller configured to operate the system as well as a plurality of laser cavities, each of the laser cavities having an output end wherein, when activated by the controller, an output laser beam is emitted from the output end of each of the laser cavities. The output laser beams when activated are directed, either directly or indirectly, to a rotating mirror. The rotating mirror is operatively connected to the controller and a servo motor. The servo motor, under direction of the controller, redirects the output laser beams along a common optical axis and the output laser beams of the plurality of laser cavities are combined along the common optical axis.

Abstract: Laser safety glasses for use in laser medical and cosmetic procedures on a patient include a pair of safety glasses wherein the safety glasses include a pair of lenses, one or more of the lenses being structured to absorb one or more predetermined wavelengths of laser energy light; a screen is mounted on at least one lens of the pair of lenses, the screen being operatively associated with a system one of internal or external to the glasses configured to generate and provide information regarding the medical or cosmetic procedure to a wearer of the laser safety glasses through the screen.

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: An optical fiber assembly includes a central optical fiber core having a longitudinal axis surrounded by a cladding layer along the longitudinal axis, a distal end portion and a proximal end portion; it further comprises a layer of a material at least partially surrounding the cladding layer; the layer of material may be light-sensitive; and, at least two electrodes may be embedded at least partially along the longitudinal axis within the layer of light-sensitive material. The light-sensitive material may be a photoresist material, and the photoresist material characteristics change proportional to the amount of light impinging on the photoresist material. These characteristics may include one or more of electrical resistance changes or voltage changes.

Abstract: A multiple cavity laser system includes: a controller configured to operate the system as well as a plurality of laser cavities, each of the laser cavities having an output end wherein, when activated by the controller, an output laser beam is emitted from the output end of each of the laser cavities. The output laser beams when activated are directed, either directly or indirectly, to a rotating mirror. The rotating mirror is operatively connected to the controller and a servo motor. The servo motor, under direction of the controller, redirects the output laser beams along a common optical axis and the output laser beams of the plurality of laser cavities are combined along the common optical axis.