Means for tissue removal using laser technology

Claim 2

Means for removing tissue from the eye comprising: (a) fiber optic means for transporting pulses of laser energy having a wavelength corresponding to peaks of water absorption, said pulses of laser energy capable of creating fragmented residue from said tissue; (b) irrigation means for lubricating said residue, said irrigation means further cooling the area surrounding the tissue to be removed; (c) aspiration means for removing the tissue fragmented by said laser pulses; and (d) holding means to combine said fiber optic means, said irrigation means and said aspiration means.

Claim 3

The means for removing tissue of claim 1 wherein said holding means comprises: tubular insertion means, said tubular insertion means comprising a tube having two open ends, one of said open ends providing an irrigation port, an aspiration port and a fiber optic port, said second open end adapted for connection to a handpiece, said tube comprising a plurality of chambers for conducting a fiber optic lead, an aspiration lead and an irrigation lead; a handpiece for connection to said tubular insertion means; first connection means to connect said irrigation means to an irrigation source; second connection means to connect said aspiration means to an aspiration source; and third connection means to connect said fiber optic means to a light source.

Claim 4

Means for photoablating tissue from the eye comprising: (a) fiber optic means for transporting laser energy in the form of pulses, with a wavelength of one of the absorption peaks of water, said laser energy capable of fragmenting the tissue to be removed; (b) window means for transmission of said laser energy pulses comprising a synthetic sapphire optical window; (c) irrigation means for providing lubricant to the area surrounding said tissue to be photoablated; (d) aspiration means for removing said photoablated tissue; (e) insertion means for grouping said fiber optic means, said window means, said irrigation means and said aspiration means in a tubular bundle, said insertion means insertable into the eye through a corneal incision; and (f) holding means to manually operate said insertion means near to said eye.

Claim 5

Means for photoablating tissue from the eye comprising: (a) fiber optic means for transporting laser energy in the form of pulses, with a wavelength of one of the absorption peaks of water, said laser energy capable of fragmenting the tissue to be removed; (b) window means for transmission of said laser energy pulses comprising a synthetic sapphire optical window; (c) irrigation means for providing lubricant to the area surrounding said tissue to be photoablated; (d) aspiration means for removing said photoablated tissue; (e) insertion means for grouping said fiber optic means, said window means, said irrigation means and said aspiration means in a tubular bundle, said insertion means insertable into the eye through a corneal incision; and (f) holding means to manually operate said insertion means near to said eye.

Claim 6

The means of photoablating tissue of claim 3 wherein said insertion means comprises: a tube having two open ends, one of said open ends providing an irrigation port, an aspiration port and a fiber optic port, said second open end adapted for connection to said holding means, said tube further comprising a plurality of chambers for conducting a fiber optic lead, an aspiration lead and an irrigation lead.

Claim 7

The means for photoablating tissue of claim 4 wherein said holding means comprises a handpiece for connection to said insertion means, first connection means for connection of said irrigation means to an irrigation source, second connection means to connect said aspiration means to an aspiration source and third connection means to connect said fiber optic means to said light source means.

Claim 8

Means for removing tissue from the eye comprising: (a) fiber optic means for transporting light to the tissue to be removed, said fiber optic means comprising a strand of zirconium fluoride; (b) light source means for transportation of pulses of laser energy along said fiber optic means, said light source means comprising an Erbium:YAG laser, said light source means connected to said fiber means within said laser; (c) window means for transmitting said light source means for removal of said tissue, said window means comprising a synthetic sapphire attachment to the end of said fiber optic means; (d) irrigation means for lubricating said tissue to be removed, said irrigation means adjacent said fiber optic means; (e) aspiration means for removal of said eye tissue material, said aspiration means adjacent said fiber optic means; (f) tubular means to hold said fiber optic means, said window means, said irrigation means and said aspiration means in one bundle; (g) insertion means for placing said tubular means inside a corneal incision in the eye; and (h) handpiece means for holding said tubular means during removal of said tissue.

Claim 9

Means for removing tissue from the eye comprising: (a) fiber optic means for transporting light to the tissue to be removed, said fiber optic means comprising a strand of zirconium fluoride; (b) light source means for transportation of pulses of laser energy along said fiber optic means, said light source means comprising an Erbium:YAG laser, said light source means connected to said fiber means within said laser; (c) window means for transmitting said light source means for removal of said tissue, said window means comprising a synthetic sapphire attachment to the end of said fiber optic means; (d) irrigation means for lubricating said tissue to be removed, said irrigation means adjacent said fiber optic means; (e) aspiration means for removal of said eye tissue material, said aspiration means adjacent said fiber optic means; (f) tubular means to hold said fiber optic means, said window means, said irrigation means and said aspiration means in one bundle; (g) insertion means for placing said tubular means inside a corneal incision in the eye; and (h) handpiece means for holding said tubular means during removal of said tissue.

Claim 10

The means for removing tissue of any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said fiber optic means further comprises light source means capable of transmitting pulses of laser light having a wavelength in the range of about 2.8-3.0µm.

Claim 11

The means for removing tissue of claim 7, wherein said light source means transmits said pulses of light with an energy per unit area of fiber optic means of at least 0.7 joule/cm².

Claim 12

The means for removing tissue of claim 7 or claim 8, wherein said pulses are directed at said tissue at a pulse width of about 200 microseconds.

Claim 13

The means for removing tissue of any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein said pulses are directed at said tissue at a pulse rate of about 10 nanoseconds per pulse.