Patent GB439085A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US4658817A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method and apparatus for transmyocardial revascularization using a laser

Assignee: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
•
Filing: 1985-04-01
•
Granted: 1987-04-21
•
Expires: 2005-04-01
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A surgical carbon dioxide laser is disclosed which includes a handpiece for directing a laser beam to a desired location. Mounted on the forward end of the handpiece is a hollow needle precisely aligned along the laser path. This permits the laser to be used in surgical applications where the needle perforates a porton of tissue to provide the laser beam direct access to distal tissue. The needle is mounted to the handpiece in a manner which provides for forward and lateral adjustment of the needle relative to the laser beam path which insures co-axiality between the laser beam and the needle lumen. This is crucial for the safe use of the laser. The needle is adjusted such that the focal point of the laser beam is approximately at the tip of the needle. This provides maximum energy at the tip of the needle where it is required. This apparatus is particularly useful in transmyocardial devices utilized to provide ischemic endocardial tissue direct access to blood within the ventricular cavity. The device is inserted within the epicardium of the heart; the laser is then activated to vaporize a channel of tissue through the endocardium. This provides for perforation of the endocardium with minimal damage to the epicardium.

Inventors

  • 👤 Roger I. Hardy

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-22 23:04
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/201; A61B18/22; A61B18/24; A61B18/245; A61B17/00; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00243; A61B2017/00247; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00345; A61B2018/00351; A61B2018/00392; A61B90/00; A61B90/03; A61B2090/033; A61B2090/036

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.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3087486A Cited
US3538919A Cited
US3622743A Cited
US3693623A Cited
US3821510A Cited
US3982541A Cited
US4266548A Cited
US4269174A Cited
US4311138A Cited
US4336809A Cited
US4564011A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1990-04-20 1990-10-20 1991-04-21 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1994-04-20 1994-10-20 1995-04-21 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1998-04-20 1998-10-20 1999-04-21 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag