Surgical instrument for minimally invasive aspiration of tissue
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11833082-B2
Publication Date
2023-12-05
Expiration Date
Abstract
An apparatus for disruption of tissue. The apparatus includes a housing; a source of pulsed laser radiation; and an optical waveguide. The optical waveguide is configured to transmit the pulsed laser radiation from the source of pulsed laser radiation, and is coupleable to the source of pulsed laser radiation at a proximal end of the optical waveguide to receive the pulsed laser radiation from the source of pulsed laser radiation. The apparatus also includes a driving mechanism coupled to the optical waveguide for controllably changing the position of the optical waveguide relative to a distal end of the housing.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an apparatus for disruption of water-containing tissue that combines pulsed laser radiation delivered through an optical waveguide having a flexible optical fiber with coordinated fluidic sensing and control. The apparatus includes a source of pulsed laser radiation and an optical waveguide coupleable to the source at a proximal end to transmit pulsed laser radiation to the distal end of the housing. The pulse duration and the wavelength are selected to cause impulsive heat deposition on the water-containing tissue.
The apparatus further includes at least one of a flow rate sensor or a pressure sensor positioned within at least one fluidic channel. The at least one of the flow rate sensor or the pressure sensor is coupled to a control system to provide sensed flow rate or sensed vacuum pressure to the control system. A driving mechanism coupled to the optical waveguide oscillates the position of the optical waveguide relative to the distal end of the housing.
The driving mechanism is controlled by the control system to oscillate the position of the optical fiber as a function of a change in vacuum pressure or as a function of a relative change between pressure and flow rate. This links fluidic state changes to controllable oscillation of the optical fiber position. The oscillating position is thus used to manage tissue disruption while responding to changes detected by the flow rate and/or pressure sensing within the fluidic channels.
Claims Coverage
Independent inventive features are provided in a single independent apparatus claim, with additional dependent claims refining sensing, actuation, and laser timing behavior.
Pulsed water-matched laser delivered by flexible optical fiber
A source of pulsed laser radiation configured to provide pulsed laser radiation; an optical waveguide at least partially housed within the housing, including a flexible optical fiber coupleable to the source at a proximal end to receive the pulsed laser radiation and configured to transmit it at a wavelength selected to match an absorption peak of water, wherein the pulse duration and the wavelength are selected to cause impulsive heat deposition on the water-containing tissue.
Flow rate and/or vacuum pressure sensing coupled to a control system
At least one of a flow rate sensor or a pressure sensor positioned within at least one fluidic channel of the apparatus, coupled to a control system to provide sensed flow rate or sensed vacuum pressure to the control system.
Control-driven oscillation of flexible fiber position based on vacuum or pressure/flow changes
A driving mechanism coupled to the optical waveguide for controllably oscillating the position of the optical waveguide relative to a distal end of the housing, controlled by the control system to oscillate the position of the optical fiber as a function of a change in vacuum pressure or as a function of a relative change between pressure and flow rate.
The claimed combination is a pulsed laser delivered via a flexible optical fiber with fluidic sensing and control that drives oscillation of the fiber position based on vacuum pressure change or a relative pressure/flow change.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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