US5125926A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Heart-synchronized pulsed laser system
Assignee: PLC Medical System Inc
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Filing: 1990-09-24
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Granted: 1992-06-30
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Expires: 2010-09-24
Abstract
Abstract A heart-synchronized pulsed laser system includes a laser; a device for sensing the contraction and expansion of a beating heart to be synchronized with the laser; a device, responsive to the device for sensing, for generating a trigger pulse; a control for positioning the leading edge of the trigger pulse during the contraction and expansion cycle of the heartbeat; a control for defining the width of the trigger pulse to occur during the heartbeat cycle; and a circuit responsive to the trigger pulse for firing the laser to strike the beating heart at the time indicated by the trigger pulse position and for the period indicated by the width of the trigger pulse.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert I. Rudko
- 👤 Stephen J. Linhares
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 23:01
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/201; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00681; A61B2017/00694; A61B2017/00703; A61B2017/00973; A61B2018/00636; A61B2018/00666
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
A heart-synchronized pulsed laser system for performing transmyocardial revascularization on a beating heart comprising: a laser; means for sensing a contraction and expansion of a beating heart to be synchronized with the laser; means, responsive to said means for sensing, for generating a trigger pulse having a width and a leading edge; means for positioning the leading edge of said trigger pulse only at a time during the contraction and expansion cycle of the heartbeat which would not cause fibrillation of the heart; means for defining the width of the trigger pulse to occur during the heartbeat cycle; and means, responsive to said trigger pulse, for firing said laser to strike the beating heart at the time indicated by the trigger pulse position and for a period indicated by the width of the trigger pulse.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
A heart-synchronized pulsed laser system for performing transmyocardial revascularization on a beating heart comprising: a laser; means for sensing a contraction and expansion of a beating heart to be synchronized with the laser; means, responsive to said means for sensing, for generating a trigger pulse having a width and a leading edge; means for positioning the leading edge of said trigger pulse only at a time during the contraction and expansion cycle of the heartbeat which would not cause fibrillation of the heart; means for defining the width of the trigger pulse to occur during the heartbeat cycle; and means, responsive to said trigger pulse, for firing said laser to strike the beating heart at the time indicated by the trigger pulse position and for a period indicated by the width of the trigger pulse.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The heart-synchronized pulsed laser system of claim 1 in which said laser includes a laser beam delivery system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The heart-synchronized pulsed laser system of claim 2 in which said laser delivery system includes an articulated beam delivery arm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The heart-synchronized pulsed laser system of claim 2 in which said laser delivery system includes a fiber-optic element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The heart-synchronized pulsed laser system of claim 1 in which said means for sensing the contraction and expansion includes means for sensing an ECG signal of the beating heart.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The heart-synchronized pulsed laser system of claim 5 in which said means for sensing the ECG signal of the beating heart is an ECG unit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The heart-synchronized pulsed laser system of claim 5 in which said means for generating generates a trigger pulse in response to an R wave of the ECG signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The heart-synchronized pulsed laser system of claim 5 in which said means for positioning sets the leading edge of said trigger pulse in the period between R and T waves of the ECG signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The heart-synchronized pulsed laser system of claim 5 in which said means for defining defines the pulse width of said trigger pulse in the period between R and T waves of the ECG signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The heart-synchronized pulsed laser system of claim 5 in which said means for generating includes a marker pulse circuit for detecting a specific time in a heartbeat cycle of the ECG signal and providing a marker pulse representative thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
54 words
The heart-synchronized pulsed laser system of claim 10 in which said means for generating further includes a trigger pulse circuit, responsive to said marker pulse circuit, for providing a trigger pulse the position of which in the heartbeat cycle is a function of said specific time in the cycle represented by said marker pulse.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
66 words
The heart-synchronized pulsed laser system of claim 11 in which said trigger pulse circuit includes means for delaying said marker pulse to locate it at a selected position relative to said pulse's initial position in the heartbeat cycle, and means for adjusting the duration of the marker pulse to a selected time to create said trigger pulse having a positioned leading edge and a defined width.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The heart-synchronized pulsed laser system of claim 1 in which said means for firing includes gate means for inhibiting delivery of said trigger pulse to said laser.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The heart-synchronized pulsed laser system of claim 13 in which said means for firing includes switch means for enabling said gate means to deliver said trigger pulse to said laser.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The heart-synchronized pulsed laser system of claim 13 in which said means for firing includes an arming circuit for further inhibiting delivery of said trigger pulse to said laser.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The heart-synchronized pulsed laser system of claim 15 in which said means for firing includes arming switch means for enabling said arming circuit to deliver said trigger pulse to said laser.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
125 words
A heart-synchronized pulsed laser method for performing transmyocardial revascularization on a beating heart, comprising: generating a trigger pulse in response to an ECG signal of a beating heart to be synchronized with a laser, said trigger pulse having a width and a leading edge; positioning the leading edge of the trigger pulse only at a time during the ECG heartbeat cycle which would not cause fibrillation of the heart; defining the width of the trigger pulse to occur within the duration of the heartbeat cycle of the ECG signal; and applying the trigger pulse to fire the laser and to strike the beating heart at the time indicated by the trigger pulse position and for a period indicated by the width of the trigger pulse.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
125 words
A heart-synchronized pulsed laser method for performing transmyocardial revascularization on a beating heart, comprising: generating a trigger pulse in response to an ECG signal of a beating heart to be synchronized with a laser, said trigger pulse having a width and a leading edge; positioning the leading edge of the trigger pulse only at a time during the ECG heartbeat cycle which would not cause fibrillation of the heart; defining the width of the trigger pulse to occur within the duration of the heartbeat cycle of the ECG signal; and applying the trigger pulse to fire the laser and to strike the beating heart at the time indicated by the trigger pulse position and for a period indicated by the width of the trigger pulse.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-06-30 | 1995-12-30 | 1996-06-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-06-30 | 1999-12-30 | 2000-06-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-06-30 | 2003-12-30 | 2004-06-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |