摘要:
A process is disclosed for thermally obliterating biological tissues by laser radiation introduced into the tissue by means of an optical waveguide. The laser radiation is scattered by means associated with the radiation output surface of the optical waveguide. A biocompatible, medium to highly visquous liquid which does not substantially absorb the laser radiation but scatters it, is injected into the tissue, forming a scattering fluid deposit around the radiation output surface which is not separated from the tissue and which allows the tissue to be heated in a controlled manner.
摘要:
A light delivery catheter (2), for use in PDT treatments, includes a hollow sheath (4) with a balloon (24) at its distal end. Target tissue (33) at a target site on a hollow body organ, such as a blood vessel, is inoculated with an appropriate photosensitizing agent. A light guide (14) extends along the sheath and has a light-radiating portion or light source (20) at its end within the balloon. The balloon is positioned at the target site and target tissue is irradiated causing destruction of the target tissue. The balloon defines perfusion channels (30) when the balloon is inflated so that during use fluid can continue passing through the blood vessel. The light irradiating the vessel wall is preferably of generally equal intensity. This can be achieved in whole or in part in several different ways.
摘要:
An optical working shaft system. The system includes a working shaft for insertion into a working tube of at least one of an endoscope and a catheter. The working shaft has a distal end defining a distal area in a vicinity thereof, and further includes: a device for radiating optical beams through the distal end; and a fluid for scattering the beams at least in the distal area. The fluid is operatively associated with the device for radiating such that, at least in the distal area, a path of the beams extends inside the fluid, the fluid further being effective as a coolant for removing waste heat generated by a scattering of the beams in the distal area.
摘要:
The present invention provides improved balloon catheter apparatuses for use in therapies requiring delivery of uniform light to a treatment area. The improved apparatus comprises a balloon having a defined treatment window where the window is delineated using a reflective material. The apparatus may further include a fiber optic cable that terminates in a diffusion tip where the diffusion tip is longer than the treatment window. The present invention further provides improved therapeutic methods that use the improved balloon catheters of the present invention.
摘要:
A light delivery system for use in irradiating vascular tissue includes a balloon catheter with a working lumen for receiving an optical fiber therein and an inflation/flushing lumen adapted to receive a liquid at a proximal end and leading to a space defined within the balloon member attached to a distal end of the catheter. The balloon member has a pattern of holes or pores in the wall thereof through which the saline may flow when the balloon is inflated, causing any blood or other absorbing substances that may interfere with good radiant energy transmission to be flushed away from the treatment site.
摘要:
Methods and devices are disclosed in which a dielectric structure is operatively coupled to phototherapeutic instrument to reflect light without substantial heating. The invention is particularly useful in light diffusive tip assemblies for phototherapy that have components which increase in temperature after prolonged exposure to light, such as metallic plugs or coatings typically located at the end cap of the diffusive tip assembly to terminate light propagation, and also metallic structures incorporated into phototherapeutic instruments to facilitate radiographic or fluoroscopic imaging during a therapeutic procedure.
摘要:
A novel method for reducing an arteriosclerotic lesion is disclosed in which the electromagnetic energy directed at the lesion is selectively absorbed by a lesion component, e.g. cholesterol. The resulting decomposition of said lesion component leads to reduction of the lesion with minimal risk of damage to blood constituents and adjacent healthy blood vessel tissue. Preferably, monochromatic electromagnetic energy is generated by a laser and is conducted to the vicinity of the lesion by at least one optical fiber.
摘要:
In an apparatus used to irradiate body tissue with high-intensity laser light, a probe with at least one waveguide is used which can be coupled with a laser light source and which at its light-exiting section, which can be inserted in the body tissue, is equipped with a diffuser element which consists of a base material that is highly transparent to the laser light and, dispersed therein, scattering particles that deflect the light rays, and with a first cover tube that surrounds the waveguide at a distance, that connects to a coolant source, that is open at its distal end and that, at least in the region of the diffuser element, is made of a transparent and good heat-conducting material, a device for modifying beam intensity is situated in the path of the laser beam before the input coupling point, with the waveguide in the region of the light-exiting section being surrounded by a reflector and/or absorber that has at least one light outlet in the region of the target radiation surface.
摘要:
A photodynamic therapy balloon catheter is provided which has an elongated light-emanating optical fiber, an inner tubular member, a balloon member surrounding the inner tubular member, and fluid material provided between the inner tubular member and the balloon member. Light-reflective material is included in any one or a plurality of the inner member, fluid material, and balloon member in any combination to provide a uniform illumination for activating treatment fluids located on an elongated treatment site within a living body.
摘要:
A diffusing tip is provided for diffusing light from a light-emitting end of an optical fiber in a radial distribution pattern relative to the axis of the tip and along a length of the tip. The tip has an inner core and an outer covering which define a light guide. The outer covering is modified on its interior surface adjacent to the core such that light transmitted down the light guide is removed from the core upon encountering a surface modification on the interior surface. The light so removed is transmitted to the outer surface along the length of the tip, where it can be used to irradiate a selected object or material. The diffusing tip preferably provides light in a substantially uniform intensity distribution for the substantially uniform irradiation of a selected object or material.