Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
45 words
A surgical instrument comprising a surgical needle having an elongated hollow shaft and an end for cutting through tissue, said shaft adapted for the passage of a laser beam therethrough, and means for aligning said needle with respect to a body providing said laser beam.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
45 words
A surgical instrument comprising a surgical needle having an elongated hollow shaft and an end for cutting through tissue, said shaft adapted for the passage of a laser beam therethrough, and means for aligning said needle with respect to a body providing said laser beam.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The surgical instrument claimed in claim 1 whrein said instrument is adapted for mounting to said body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The surgical instrument claimed in claim 2 further comprising means to adjust said needle axially to position said end of said needle at about a focal point of said laser beam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
A surgical laser instrument comprising a laser body establishing a path for the passage of a laser beam therethrough, a surgical needle having an end for cutting through tissue and an elongated hollow shaft, means for mounting said needle with respect to said body, and means to align said hollow shaft with respect to the path of said laser.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
A surgical laser instrument comprising a laser body establishing a path for the passage of a laser beam therethrough, a surgical needle having an end for cutting through tissue and an elongated hollow shaft, means for mounting said needle with respect to said body, and means to align said hollow shaft with respect to the path of said laser.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The surgical instrument claimed in claim 4 further comprising means to adjust said hollow shaft axially relative to said laser body to position said end of the needle at about a focal point of said laser beam, said focal point established by said laser body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The instrument claimed in claim 5 further comprising a C0 2 laser source adapted to generate said laser beam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The instrument claimed in claim 5 wherein said instrument is adapted for use in transmyocardial revascularization.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The instrument claimed in claim 5 wherein said laser body includes a port adapted to permit introduction of a washing fluid into said body thereby permitting the shaft of said needle to be flushed with said washing solution.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
45 words
A method of cutting tissue comprising cutting through a first portion of said tissue by introducing a hollow pointed needle through said tissue, focusing a laser beam through said hollow needle, and further cutting through a second portion of said tissue with said laser beam.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
45 words
A method of cutting tissue comprising cutting through a first portion of said tissue by introducing a hollow pointed needle through said tissue, focusing a laser beam through said hollow needle, and further cutting through a second portion of said tissue with said laser beam.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method claimed in claim 9 further comprising establishing a focal point of said laser beam at about the tip of said needle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method claimed in claim 10 wherein said laser is a CO 2 laser.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method claimed in claim 9 wherein said tissue is heart tissue and said first portion of said tissue comprises epicardial tissue, said second portion of said tissue comprises endocardial tissue.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method claimed in claim 9 further comprising pivoting said needle and subsequently focusing said laser through said needle.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
47 words
A method of transmyocardial revascularization comprising inserting a hollow needle into the epicardium of a heart, focusing a laser through said needle, and cutting a perforation through the endocardium into the ventricular chamber of said heart, thereby providing a channel from said ventricular chamber into said endocardium.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
47 words
A method of transmyocardial revascularization comprising inserting a hollow needle into the epicardium of a heart, focusing a laser through said needle, and cutting a perforation through the endocardium into the ventricular chamber of said heart, thereby providing a channel from said ventricular chamber into said endocardium.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method claimed in claim 14 wherein said laser is a C0 2 laser.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method claimed in claim 14 further comprising pivoting said needle and subsequently focusing said laser through said needle to provide a second perforation through said endocardium.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
61 words
A surgical laser instrument comprising: a laser body having a path for the passage of a laser beam therethrough, a surgical needle having an end for cutting through tissue and an elongated hollow shaft for passage of the beam, and means for aligning said needle with respect to said body for focusing the laser beam at the end of said needle.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
61 words
A surgical laser instrument comprising: a laser body having a path for the passage of a laser beam therethrough, a surgical needle having an end for cutting through tissue and an elongated hollow shaft for passage of the beam, and means for aligning said needle with respect to said body for focusing the laser beam at the end of said needle.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 17 including means to mount said needle to said body comprising a cap fixed to said body, said cap including means to adjust said needle axially and laterally relative to said body.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 18 wherein said cap includes a cylindrical holder and a needle mount positioned axially within said holder and fixed in place by at least one set screw extending through said holder against said needle mount.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
43 words
A surgical laser comprising a laser body, a laser source adapted to generate a laser beam along a laser beam path through said laser body, and a hollow needle mounted to said laser body with said laser beam passing through said hollow needle.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
43 words
A surgical laser comprising a laser body, a laser source adapted to generate a laser beam along a laser beam path through said laser body, and a hollow needle mounted to said laser body with said laser beam passing through said hollow needle.