US5733277A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical fibre and laser for removal of arterial or vascular obstructions
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1995-04-17
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Granted: 1998-03-31
•
Expires: 2015-04-17
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method of ablating obstructing vascular or arterial material is provided including a pre-polished optical fiber for providing a specific laser light path focal point inserted within a catheter having a protective shield. The optical fiber may be controlled for axial and rotational movement via an optical rotary coupler and a rotary axial stepper to provide rotation speed of up to 5,000 rpm and incremental axial movement from between 1 micron to 1 millimeter. A laser light source is provided for adjustment of the wavelength of the laser light emitted from the end face of the optical fiber to correspond to the absorption characteristics of the material to be ablated.
Inventors
- 👤 Allan L. Pallarito
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 01:42
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/22; A61B18/24; A61B17/00; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22072; A61B2017/22074; A61B2017/22075; A61B2017/22078
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
An optical fiber and laser apparatus for removal of arterial and vascular obstructions, said apparatus comprising: (a) a laser light source capable of generating a laser light for the ablation of an arterial or vascular obstruction; (b) a rotatable optical fiber exiting from said laser light source; (c) means for rotating said optical fiber; (d) means for longitudinally stepping said optical fiber, said means for longitudinally stepping including a longitudinal stepper motor; and (e) a catheter for receiving said optical fiber, said catheter having a protective shield, wherein said optical fiber directs said laser light from said laser light source to an arterial or vascular obstruction while rotating or longitudinally stepping or simultaneously rotating and longitudinally stepping said optical fiber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
An optical fiber and laser apparatus for removal of arterial and vascular obstructions, said apparatus comprising: (a) a laser light source capable of generating a laser light for the ablation of an arterial or vascular obstruction; (b) a rotatable optical fiber exiting from said laser light source; (c) means for rotating said optical fiber; (d) means for longitudinally stepping said optical fiber, said means for longitudinally stepping including a longitudinal stepper motor; and (e) a catheter for receiving said optical fiber, said catheter having a protective shield, wherein said optical fiber directs said laser light from said laser light source to an arterial or vascular obstruction while rotating or longitudinally stepping or simultaneously rotating and longitudinally stepping said optical fiber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for rotating said optical fiber includes an optical rotary device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said optical rotary device rotates at 0 to 5000 rotations per minute.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said optical rotary device includes a removable annulus for interchanging variously polished optical fibers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said longitudinal stepper motor advances or retracts said optical fiber longitudinally at increments from between 1 micron and 1 millimeter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said optical fiber includes a flat polished end face.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said optical fiber includes an angle polished end face.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said optical fiber includes an angle concave polished end face.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said optical fiber includes a concave polished end face.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said optical fiber includes a convex polished end face.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said optical fiber includes an angle convex polished end face.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said catheter includes a means for limiting oscillation of said optical fiber during rotation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said means for limiting oscillation includes a plurality of nubs located at the interior of said catheter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further including a computerized monitoring and guidance system connected to the means for rotating and to the means for longitudinally stepping, said computerized monitoring and guidance system controlling and calculating desired movements of said optical fiber in response to data regarding the obstruction.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
183 words
A method of ablating obstructing vascular or arterial material, said method comprising the steps of: (a) inserting an optical fiber and laser apparatus into an arterial or vascular structure, said apparatus comprising (i) a laser light source capable of generating a laser light for the ablation of an arterial or vascular obstruction, (ii) a rotatable optical fiber exiting from said laser light source, (iii) means for rotating said optical fiber, (iv) means for longitudinally stepping said optical fiber including a longitudinal stepping motor; and (v) a catheter for receiving said optical fiber; (b) rotating said optical fiber at a predetermined rate or longitudinally stepping said optical fiber using a longitudinal stepping motor at a predetermined increment or simultaneously rotating said optical fiber at a predetermined rate and longitudinally stepping said optical fiber at a predetermined increment; and (c) generating a laser light through said optical fiber with said laser light source while rotating or longitudinally stepping or simultaneously rotating and longitudinally stepping said optical fiber, whereby said optical fiber directs said laser light to an arterial or vascular obstruction for the ablation thereof.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
183 words
A method of ablating obstructing vascular or arterial material, said method comprising the steps of: (a) inserting an optical fiber and laser apparatus into an arterial or vascular structure, said apparatus comprising (i) a laser light source capable of generating a laser light for the ablation of an arterial or vascular obstruction, (ii) a rotatable optical fiber exiting from said laser light source, (iii) means for rotating said optical fiber, (iv) means for longitudinally stepping said optical fiber including a longitudinal stepping motor; and (v) a catheter for receiving said optical fiber; (b) rotating said optical fiber at a predetermined rate or longitudinally stepping said optical fiber using a longitudinal stepping motor at a predetermined increment or simultaneously rotating said optical fiber at a predetermined rate and longitudinally stepping said optical fiber at a predetermined increment; and (c) generating a laser light through said optical fiber with said laser light source while rotating or longitudinally stepping or simultaneously rotating and longitudinally stepping said optical fiber, whereby said optical fiber directs said laser light to an arterial or vascular obstruction for the ablation thereof.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-03-30 | 2001-09-29 | 2002-03-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-03-30 | 2005-09-29 | 2006-03-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-03-30 | 2009-09-29 | 2010-03-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |