Laser lithotripsy device with suction

Abstract

A medical device is provided which comprises a suction conduit and an energy-transmitting conduit wherein at least some of the transmitted energy is directed to the distal region of the suction conduit. The device may include an optical apparatus for directing the energy. The device has applications in lithotripsy and tissue-removal in a patient.

Description

[0001] This application claims the priority to and the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60 / 120,666 filed on Feb. 19, 1999, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.[0002] The present invention relates to methods and devices for destroying and removing unwanted materials such as calculi, deposits and tissues (for example, polyps, tumor cells) from body lumens, and more particularly to laser lithotripsy treatment of urinary stones.BACKGROUND INFORMATION[0003] Open surgical intervention was once the standard treatment for the removal of calculi or stones, especially when such calculi are deposited in a body lumen other than the bladder. But other less invasive techniques have emerged as safe and effective alternatives. Lithotripsy, the crushing of stones that develops in the body into fragments that are easier to remove, is one such technique. Lithotripsy devices have been developed which utilize electrohydraulic probes, ultrasonic probes, electromechan...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

A common problem in intracorporeal lithotripsy treatment is the difficulty in restricting target movement.

For example, when using pulsed lasers such as the holmium yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Ho:YAG) laser, higher frequency pulsation and higher energy in each pulse produce quicker fragmentation of the stone, but also produce significant stone mobility, which decrea

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