Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
54 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 lasser beam therethrough, and means for axially adjusting said needle with respect to a body providing said laser beam to align said needle with said laser beam.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
54 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 lasser beam therethrough, and means for axially adjusting said needle with respect to a body providing said laser beam to align said needle with said laser beam.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The surgical instrument claimed in claim 1 wherein 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
69 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 for axially adjusting said hollow shaft with respect to the path of said laser beam to align said shaft with said laser beam.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
69 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 for axially adjusting said hollow shaft with respect to the path of said laser beam to align said shaft with said laser beam.
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 CO 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
Dependent Claim
81 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 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 for focusing the laser beam at the end of said needle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
81 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 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 for focusing the laser beam at the end of said needle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus claimed in claim 9 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 14
Independent Claim
76 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 to form a first perforation wherein said tissue is heart tissue and said first portion of said tissue comprises epicardial tissue and said second portion of said tissue comprises endocardial tissue.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
76 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 to form a first perforation wherein said tissue is heart tissue and said first portion of said tissue comprises epicardial tissue and said second portion of said tissue comprises endocardial tissue.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method in claim 11 further comprising pivoting said needle and subsequently focusing said laser through said needle to form a second perforation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method claimed in claim 11 further comprising establishing a focal point of said laser beam at about the tip of said needle.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method claimed in claim 13 wherein said laser is a CO 2 laser.
Claim 19
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 20
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 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method claimed in claim 14 wherein said laser is a CO 2 laser.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method claimed in claim 15 further comprising pivoting said needle and subsequently focusing said laser through said needle to provide a second perforation through said endocardium.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
67 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; further cutting through a second portion of said tissue with said laser beam to form a first perforation; and pivoting said needle and subsequently focusing said laser beam through said needle to form a second perforation.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
67 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; further cutting through a second portion of said tissue with said laser beam to form a first perforation; and pivoting said needle and subsequently focusing said laser beam through said needle to form a second perforation.