A composite gravel energy system and method
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202611278247.9
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2026-08-21
- Publication Date
- 2026-10-27
- Estimated Expiration
- 2046-08-21
AI Technical Summary
[0005]本申请实施例提供一种复合碎石能量系统及方法,以解决相关技术靶区高温水蒸气聚集易引发的黏膜热损伤的问题
[0018]在完成等离子体能量释放后,还原为中性状态的惰性气体,凭借其优异的流动性和热交换能力,主动将激光碎石过程中产生的热能(包括激光未被吸收部分、等离子体复合释放的热量、以及高温水蒸气的潜热)迅速带离碎石区域。这一机制解决了传统单一液相冷却介质无法有效处理聚集在人体自然腔道或空腔脏器上方的高温气相介质的根本缺陷。由于单位质量惰性气体的比热容高于生理盐水,可高效清除空腔器官液相和气相区域的热量,并通过负压通道快速排出,使靶区温度始终稳定在43℃的安全阈值以下,实现真正的气液两相协同热管理。液气双相高效的热交换,大幅度降低单纯液相降温的流量和流速,从而降低腔形或管形器官内压力及由此产生的逆向感染;降低介质流速从而消除含石涡流对器官内膜的摩擦损伤进一步降低逆向感染的机会。
Smart Images

Figure CN122767965B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application relates to the field of thermal laser therapy and cooling technology, and in particular to a composite lithotripsy energy system and method. Background Technology
[0002] Thermal laser lithotripsy is currently the primary method for treating kidney stones. Composite-frequency laser lithotripsy systems transmit multiple laser wavelengths simultaneously through a single optical fiber, utilizing the physical properties of each wavelength to break up the stones. In existing technologies, the most common dual-frequency combination is a 532nm laser and a 1064nm laser. The 532nm laser (green light) experiences less attenuation when transmitted through water and saline solution, generating plasma in the target area and initially breaking up the stone surface through a photo-explosion effect; the 1064nm laser (infrared light) has a greater penetration depth, allowing for further fragmentation of deeper layers of the stone.
[0003] However, existing 532nm+1064nm dual-frequency laser lithotripsy systems have inherent limitations in practical clinical applications. First, when laser energy is transmitted through saline solution, it interacts with water molecules and suspended particles in the liquid, generating a large amount of stray plasma. This stray plasma not only scatters and absorbs subsequent laser energy, significantly reducing the effective energy reaching the stone surface, but more importantly, the optical fiber develops microcracks during high-frequency vibration, leading to rapid fiber breakage within the body. The conversion rate of the 1940nm high-power laser into lithotripsy energy is extremely low. For example, with a 30-watt output power, at a relative spatial position of less than 2mm, only less than 4%-9% is converted into lithotripsy energy, with the vast majority being converted into enormous heat, causing the instantaneous temperature at the laser target point to reach thousands of degrees Celsius. Although saline solution at around 23°C is continuously infused during the procedure to attempt cooling, this method only cools the liquid phase and cannot effectively handle the large amount of high-temperature water vapor generated after the laser vaporizes the liquid. Furthermore, the large amount of injected cooling water leads to high-pressure damage to organs and retrograde bacterial infection. These high-temperature water vapors accumulate in the gas phase space above the body's natural cavities, making them difficult to be carried away by liquid convection. When they come into contact with relatively cool mucous membrane tissues, they liquefy instantly and release a large amount of latent heat of phase change, easily causing severe mucosal thermal damage. Medical research shows that the threshold for tissue thermal damage is 43°C, and irreversible damage can occur if the exposure time exceeds 120 seconds.
[0004] In summary, existing 532nm+1064nm dual-frequency laser lithotripsy systems suffer from low energy conversion efficiency, leading to fiber breakage. Furthermore, using only 2100nm or 1940nm wavelengths requires high-power lasers to achieve effective lithotripsy, generating significant heat and causing the accumulation of high-temperature water vapor, posing a significant risk of thermal injury to patients. Therefore, improving the conversion efficiency of laser energy to mechanical fragmentation energy without compromising lithotripsy effectiveness, thereby reducing the required laser power, minimizing heat generation, and effectively removing heat from the gas phase region, is a pressing technical challenge in the field of laser lithotripsy. Summary of the Invention
[0005] This application provides a composite lithotripsy energy system and method to solve the problem of mucosal thermal damage caused by the accumulation of high-temperature water vapor in the target area in related technologies.
[0006] In a first aspect, this application provides a composite crushed stone energy system, comprising: Multi-wavelength laser generator, used to generate lasers of various wavelengths; A laser delivery control system, connected to the multi-wavelength laser generator, is used to control the laser output parameters of the multi-wavelength laser generator; A hybrid medium delivery fiber optic conduit has an internal fiber optic channel and at least one medium delivery channel, wherein the fiber optic channel is used to transmit the various laser wavelengths to the lithotripsy target area. A media delivery control system, connected to the mixed media delivery fiber optic conduit, is used to control the delivery ratio and flow rate of the mixed media; The mixed medium includes a gaseous medium and a liquid medium, wherein the gaseous medium is an inert gas.
[0007] In some embodiments, the gaseous medium comprises a mixture of argon and helium.
[0008] In some embodiments, the various wavelengths of laser light include at least 532nm and 2100nm wavelength laser light.
[0009] In some embodiments, the multi-wavelength laser generator is a laser or group of lasers capable of outputting at least two different wavelengths.
[0010] In some embodiments, the system further includes a wavelength division multiplexer, through which multiple lasers of different wavelengths are combined into the same optical fiber and transmitted to the target area via the optical fiber channel.
[0011] In some embodiments, the various lasers of different wavelengths are delivered through their respective optical fibers, or the same wavelength laser is distributed to multiple optical fibers for delivery, and all optical fibers are integrated within the same hybrid medium delivery optical fiber conduit.
[0012] In some embodiments, the hybrid medium delivery fiber optic conduit is a single-lumen conduit containing an optical fiber, and the hybrid medium is pre-mixed before entering the conduit and then delivered through a single channel; Alternatively, the mixed medium delivery fiber optic conduit is a multi-lumen conduit, in which the gaseous medium and the liquid medium are delivered separately through their respective independent channels and mixed at the end of the conduit or at the target area.
[0013] In some embodiments, the hybrid medium delivery fiber optic conduit extends axially to form a fiber optic channel, a liquid medium delivery channel, and a gas medium delivery channel; The far end of the optical fiber channel extends beyond the far end of the liquid phase medium transport channel, and the far end of the liquid phase medium transport channel extends beyond the far end of the gas phase medium transport channel.
[0014] In some embodiments, the media delivery control system includes: At least one medium pump is provided for pumping the gaseous medium and the liquid medium; Pressure sensors and flow control valves are used to monitor and adjust the output flow rate and velocity of various media in real time.
[0015] Secondly, this application provides a composite crushing energy method applied to the system described in the first aspect, comprising the following steps: The gaseous medium containing inert gas and the liquid medium are transported to the lithotripsy target area through the mixed medium transport optical fiber duct via the medium transport control system. The multi-wavelength laser generator is activated to generate laser light that is transmitted to the rock fragmentation target area. The mixed medium is excited by laser energy to generate plasma, which generates mechanical explosive energy and acts on the stones. The reduced inert gas is used to remove the gaseous or liquid thermal energy generated by the laser from the lithotripsy target area.
[0016] This application provides a composite lithotripsy energy system. When traditional dual-frequency lasers operate in saline solution, the laser energy is easily absorbed by water molecules, and the stray plasma generated by the laser breaking down the liquid expands too rapidly, resulting in severe energy dissipation. This leads to a very low percentage of effective mechanical fragmentation energy reaching the stone surface and also easily causes the optical fiber to be non-selectively destroyed. In this application, after continuously introducing inert gas into the lithotripsy area, the inert gas easily absorbs the laser energy and converts it into a plasma state. The gas resistance encountered by this plasma during expansion is much less than that of the liquid, and its energy is more effectively confined within the focusing area, forming a more persistent, concentrated, and higher-density shock wave than in a liquid environment. This mechanism significantly increases the proportion of energy converted into mechanical lithotripsy energy at the same laser output power, thereby significantly improving lithotripsy efficiency. Under this premise, the laser output power can be significantly reduced.
[0017] The addition of an inert gas medium achieves a plasma energy compensation effect: the initial plasma is excited by a 532nm laser, which efficiently absorbs the 2100nm laser energy and converts it into a shock wave. Simultaneously, the inert gas itself is ionized, contributing additional explosive energy. This multi-energy synergy significantly increases the lithotripsy effect per unit laser energy. Therefore, to achieve the same clinical lithotripsy results, the required laser output power can be significantly reduced compared to traditional frequency laser + liquid medium solutions. This reduction in laser power directly decreases the Joule heat conducted to surrounding tissues during laser energy transmission and action, mitigating the risk of thermal damage at its source.
[0018] After the plasma energy is released, the inert gas, reduced to a neutral state, actively and rapidly removes the heat generated during laser lithotripsy (including unabsorbed laser energy, heat released from plasma recombination, and latent heat of high-temperature water vapor) from the lithotripsy area due to its excellent fluidity and heat exchange capacity. This mechanism solves the fundamental deficiency of traditional single-phase liquid cooling media in effectively handling high-temperature gaseous media accumulated above natural cavities or hollow organs in the human body. Because the specific heat capacity per unit mass of inert gas is higher than that of physiological saline, it can efficiently remove heat from both the liquid and gaseous phases of hollow organs and rapidly discharge it through a negative pressure channel, keeping the target area temperature consistently below the safe threshold of 43°C, achieving true gas-liquid two-phase synergistic thermal management. The efficient heat exchange between the liquid and gas phases significantly reduces the flow rate and velocity of simple liquid-phase cooling, thereby reducing the pressure within cavitary or tubular organs and the resulting retrograde infection; reducing the medium flow velocity eliminates frictional damage to the organ lining caused by stone-containing eddies, further reducing the chance of retrograde infection. Attached Figure Description
[0019] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.
[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the composite crushed stone energy system provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the elevation structure of the hybrid medium transport optical fiber duct provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the radial cross-sectional structure of the hybrid medium transport fiber optic conduit provided in the embodiments of this application. Figure I ; Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the elevation structure of the hybrid medium transport fiber optic duct provided in the embodiments of this application. Figure II ; Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the elevation structure of the hybrid medium transport fiber optic duct provided in the embodiments of this application. Figure III .
[0021] In the diagram: 1. Multi-wavelength laser generator; 2. Laser delivery control system; 3. Fiber optic conduit for mixed media delivery; 301. Fiber optic channel; 302. Liquid media delivery channel; 303. Gas media delivery channel; 4. Media delivery control system; 401. Pressure sensor; 402. Flow regulating valve; 403. Media pump; 5. Endoscope. Detailed Implementation
[0022] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.
[0023] This application provides a composite lithotripsy energy system that can solve the problem of mucosal thermal damage caused by the accumulation of high-temperature water vapor in the target area in related technologies.
[0024] In a first aspect, this application provides a composite crushed stone energy system, comprising: Multi-wavelength laser generator 1, used to generate lasers of various wavelengths; The laser delivery control system 2 is connected to the multi-wavelength laser generator 1 and is used to control the laser output parameters of the multi-wavelength laser generator 1. The hybrid medium delivery fiber optic conduit 3 is provided with a fiber optic channel 301 and at least one medium delivery channel. The fiber optic channel 301 is used to transmit lasers of various wavelengths to the lithotripsy target area. The media delivery control system 4 is connected to the mixed media delivery fiber optic conduit 3 and is used to control the delivery ratio and flow rate of the mixed media. The mixed medium includes a gaseous medium and a liquid medium, with the gaseous medium being an inert gas that is easily plasma-ionized and has a high specific heat capacity.
[0025] In some embodiments, the gaseous medium includes a mixture of argon and helium.
[0026] Argon, due to its low ionization energy, is preferentially broken down by a 532nm laser to form an initial plasma. This plasma then efficiently absorbs the laser energy at a wavelength of 2100nm, generating more shock wave blast energy. Helium, with its highest specific heat capacity, can more efficiently absorb and carry away the high-temperature water vapor and conductive heat generated by the laser. Mixing these two gases in a specific ratio significantly improves the conversion efficiency of laser energy to mechanical energy through the easy ionization of argon, while simultaneously solving the problem of removing high-temperature gas phase heat through the high heat capacity of helium. This achieves a synergistic effect of plasma enhancement and gas phase heat removal.
[0027] In some embodiments, the lasers of various wavelengths include at least 532nm and 2100nm wavelength lasers.
[0028] In existing dual-frequency laser lithotripsy systems (such as the 532nm+1064nm combination), the 1064nm laser has a low absorption coefficient in water, and mainly breaks up stones through slow burning via thermal effects. Its energy is poorly converted into shock waves by plasma absorption, limiting its lithotripsy efficiency. While a single 1940nm wavelength laser is strongly absorbed by water and has a high lithotripsy threshold, it requires high power (typically >20W) to produce effective lithotripsy, posing a significant risk of thermal damage.
[0029] This application combines a 532nm laser with a 2100nm laser. The 532nm laser has a low breakdown threshold in a gaseous environment, initially exciting the inert gas to generate the initial plasma. The 2100nm laser is located near the strong absorption peak of water, and its wavelength highly matches the absorption spectrum of the plasma. The initial plasma's absorption efficiency for this wavelength laser is much higher than its absorption efficiency for the 1064nm laser. This combination forms a relay absorption chain with energy level matching—the 532nm laser is responsible for "igniting" and generating the plasma, while the 2100nm laser is efficiently absorbed by the plasma and converted into shock wave energy, rather than being converted into useless Joule heat. This increases the proportion of mechanical explosion energy converted under the same input electrical power by several times compared to the traditional 532nm+1064nm combination. Thus, while ensuring the stone-breaking effect, the required laser output power can be significantly reduced to a safe range, reducing the total heat generation at the source.
[0030] In some embodiments, the multi-wavelength laser generator 1 is a laser or group of lasers capable of outputting at least two different wavelengths.
[0031] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 As shown, the system also includes a wavelength division multiplexer, which combines multiple lasers of different wavelengths into the same optical fiber and transmits them to the target area through optical fiber channel 301.
[0032] In some embodiments, multiple laser beams of different wavelengths are transmitted independently, such as... Figure 4 As shown, the two wavelength lasers of 532nm and 2100nm correspond to two independent optical fiber channels 301, and each optical fiber channel 301 is evenly arranged along the circumference of the wall of the mixed medium transport optical fiber guide tube 3; the liquid medium and the gas medium share the same medium transport channel, so as to realize the synchronous transport of the gas-liquid medium to the lithotripsy target area after premixing.
[0033] In some embodiments, such as Figure 5 As shown, the same wavelength laser adopts a multi-fiber split transmission structure, with all optical fibers integrated and assembled inside the same hybrid medium transport optical fiber conduit 3, and all optical fibers are evenly distributed along the circumference of the conduit; for example, a single wavelength laser with a rated total power of 40W can be evenly distributed to four circumferentially arranged optical fibers for output, thereby achieving power splitting.
[0034] In the embodiment where a wavelength division multiplexer is used to combine multiple lasers of different wavelengths into the same optical fiber and transmit them to the target area via an optical fiber channel, this configuration ensures strict coaxiality of the 532nm laser and the 2100nm laser in spatial transmission. This allows the initial plasma cloud excited by the 532nm laser to coincide with the subsequent high-energy infrared laser in spatial position, improving the absorption and conversion efficiency of the plasma for infrared laser energy. It avoids energy waste caused by multiple optical path deviations and ensures that the laser energy can be concentrated on the stone target. At the same time, the single-fiber transmission scheme saves the radial space inside the conduit to the maximum extent, providing more layout space for the gas phase and liquid phase medium delivery channels, which is conducive to optimizing the medium flow rate and pressure control, thereby enhancing the thermal management effect of the target area.
[0035] In embodiments where multiple lasers of different wavelengths are delivered through their respective optical fibers, or where lasers of the same wavelength are distributed across multiple optical fibers with each fiber circumferentially uniformly arranged within a hybrid medium delivery fiber optic conduit, this multi-fiber distributed architecture effectively disperses the power density at the end face of a single fiber, reducing the risk of microcracks or meltdowns caused by high-energy-density focusing and extending the lifespan of consumables. The circumferentially uniform arrangement allows the laser energy to form a ring-shaped or multi-point distributed energy field in the stone target area, which, compared to a single-point light source, acts more evenly on the stone surface, promoting overall stone disintegration rather than localized burning, further improving lithotripsy efficiency. Furthermore, the multi-fiber structure provides system redundancy; even if individual fibers experience loss, the remaining fibers can still maintain basic system functions, enhancing the continuity and safety of the surgical procedure. The multiple fibers also share the heat load during transmission, and combined with the gas-liquid hybrid medium cooling within the conduit, effectively prevents overheating of the conduit body, ensuring the stability and reliability of the entire laser delivery system, thereby synergistically achieving the dual goals of efficient lithotripsy and low-temperature safe surgery.
[0036] In some embodiments, the distal ends of the optical fiber channel 301, the liquid medium delivery channel 302, and the gas medium delivery channel 303 form a stepped extension structure, with the axial spacing between them controlled at 3-5 mm. The distal extension length of the optical fiber is greater than that of the liquid medium delivery channel 302, and the distal extension length of the liquid medium delivery channel 302 is greater than that of the gas medium delivery channel 303. Simultaneously, the gas medium delivery channel 303 is positioned at the top of the catheter body, with the liquid medium delivery channel 302 located below it, and the optical fiber can be arranged side-by-side with the liquid medium delivery channel 302. This spatial layout, combined with the stepped extension lengths, fully considers the influence of gravity on the distribution of the gas and liquid two-phase media during surgery in a supine or prone position, thereby achieving synergistic cooling and safety protection at multiple levels.
[0037] Firstly, to prevent liquid medium from flowing back into the gas phase medium delivery channel 303, the distal extension length of the liquid phase medium delivery channel 302 is greater than that of the gas phase medium delivery channel 303. That is, the liquid outlet is further forward, and the gas outlet is relatively further back, with the two offset axially by 3-5 mm. During the procedure, the liquid saline is pumped in at a higher pressure, with its outlet pressure significantly higher than that of the inert gas. The gas pressure must be controlled within a safe range, and the flow rate should not be too high. When the liquid is ejected from the more forward distal end, a local high-pressure zone is formed in front of its outlet. This high-pressure zone is mainly concentrated around the fiber optic end and the stone target point. Because the gas outlet is located 3-5 mm behind, far from the high-pressure zone in front of the liquid outlet, the high-pressure liquid is unlikely to flow back and into the low-pressure gas phase medium delivery channel 303. Meanwhile, since the gas phase medium delivery channel 303 is located at the top of the conduit, while the liquid phase medium delivery channel 302 is below it, even if a small amount of liquid splashes due to turbulence or reflection, it will naturally settle downwards under gravity and will not surge upwards into the gas outlet. This effectively prevents liquid from flowing back into the gas pipeline and forming a liquid embolism, ensuring that the gas phase medium delivery channel 303 remains unobstructed, and that the inert gas can be continuously and stably delivered to the target area, avoiding cooling interruptions due to equipment failure.
[0038] Secondly, regarding preventing the formation of large bubbles at the liquid outlet, the spatial misalignment between the gas outlet (located behind and above the liquid outlet, while the liquid outlet is located below and in front) prevents the gas from directly impacting the liquid outlet. The liquid, ejected from the front, forms a stable forward-moving column or stream; the gas, flowing from the rear and above, moves in a direction largely consistent with the liquid jet, both towards the distant target. Because the gas density is much lower than the liquid, and the gas outlet is located above, the outflowing inert gas tends to diffuse naturally along the top or outside of the liquid jet, rather than forcibly cutting downwards into the root of the liquid jet. This avoids violent collisions between the gas and liquid at the outlet, preventing the gas from breaking into numerous tiny bubbles that mix into the liquid column. Simultaneously, since the gas does not directly eject from behind the liquid outlet, it also prevents the formation of large, obstructive bubbles at the outlet. The liquid outlet thus remains unobstructed, forming a continuous and stable liquid jet, ensuring sufficient absorption of the heat generated by the laser and effective flushing of debris.
[0039] Secondly, regarding promoting gas-liquid two-phase stratified flow and synergistic cooling, during the operation, the patient is in a supine or prone position, and the orientation of the body's natural cavities (such as the ureter and renal pelvis) is relatively fixed relative to the direction of gravity. The gas phase medium delivery channel 303 is located at the top, allowing the extremely light inert gas to naturally accumulate upwards or at the highest point of the cavity due to buoyancy after flowing out of the catheter; the liquid phase medium delivery channel 302 is located at the bottom, allowing the outflowing saline solution to naturally settle downwards or at the lowest point of the cavity under gravity. This creates a natural stratified flow state of "gas above, liquid below". The stepped extension structure further enhances this layered effect: the liquid outlet is positioned further forward, prioritizing the delivery of liquid to the laser application point most in need of cooling. The liquid forms a continuous flow in the lower part of the cavity, absorbing most of the sensible heat and flushing away debris. The gas outlet is positioned relatively further back and higher, with the inert gas diffusing backward or outward along the space above the cavity. On one hand, its extremely low thermal conductivity forms a thermal buffer curtain on the tissue surface above the liquid, blocking the conduction of high-temperature heat to the mucous membrane above. On the other hand, its high specific heat capacity actively absorbs and carries away the high-temperature water vapor generated by the laser. This water vapor also accumulates above the cavity under buoyancy, rapidly cooling and dissipating after sufficient contact with the inert gas. The gas and liquid phases are naturally separated in space, each exerting its advantages without interfering with the other, achieving true synergistic cooling rather than mutual inhibition or mixing.
[0040] In some embodiments, the hybrid medium delivery fiber optic conduit 3 is a single-lumen conduit containing an optical fiber, and the hybrid medium is pre-mixed before entering the conduit and then delivered through a single channel. The advantage of this hybrid delivery method is that the structure is simpler, requiring only one interface to complete the delivery of gas and liquid dual media, occupying less space in the working channel of the endoscope 5, and making the operation more convenient. It is suitable for routine lithotripsy procedures where the gas-liquid ratio requirements are not so stringent.
[0041] In some embodiments, the mixed-media delivery fiber optic conduit 3 is a multi-lumen conduit, in which the gaseous and liquid media are delivered separately through their respective independent channels and mixed at the conduit tip or target area. The gas and liquid media are completely isolated before entering the human body, preventing premature mixing or mutual interference within the conduit. This allows doctors to more precisely and independently control the flow rate, pressure, and timing of liquid and gas injection, making it suitable for complex lithotripsy surgeries requiring fine adjustment of the gas-liquid ratio.
[0042] The two structures can be flexibly selected according to different equipment configurations, surgical habits, and the number of working channels of the endoscope.
[0043] In some embodiments, the media delivery control system 4 includes: At least one medium pump 403 is used for pumping gaseous and liquid media; Pressure sensor 401 and flow regulating valve 402 are used to monitor and regulate the output flow rate and velocity of each medium in real time. Pressure sensor 401 is used to detect the pressure of the medium inside the pipeline in real time, and flow regulating valve 402 is used to regulate the output flow rate and velocity of the liquid cooling medium and the inert gas cooling medium according to the detected pressure. The sensor monitors the internal pressure of the pipeline in real time. Once the pressure is too high or too low, the regulating valve will automatically adjust its opening to control the flow rate and velocity of the liquid and gas. This prevents damage to the urinary tract due to excessive pressure and avoids insufficient cooling and unclear vision due to insufficient pressure. Doctors can also manually set the ratio and flow rate to adapt to stones of different sizes and locations and different laser powers, making the entire medium delivery process safe and controllable.
[0044] Secondly, this application provides a composite crushing energy method, applied to the system as described in the first aspect, comprising the following steps: S1: The gaseous medium containing inert gas and the liquid medium are transported to the lithotripsy target area through the mixed medium transport fiber optic conduit 3 via the medium transport control system 4.
[0045] In practice, the doctor inserts endoscope 5 through a natural body cavity (such as the urethra or ureter) or a minimally invasive puncture channel into the location of the stone, such as the renal pelvis or ureter. Then, the mixed-media delivery fiber optic catheter 3 is inserted along the working channel of endoscope 5, ensuring the gas phase delivery channel inside the catheter is positioned above the patient's body. Since patients are mostly in a supine or prone position with a clear direction of gravity, rotating or adjusting the axial angle of endoscope 5 allows the gas phase delivery channel inside the catheter to point towards the back or upper side of the body, while the liquid phase delivery channel naturally lies below.
[0046] After the media delivery control system 4 is started, at least one media pump delivers the gaseous and liquid media to the target area through their respective independent channels or premixed media through a single channel. The gaseous media is an inert gas, preferably a mixture of argon and helium, and the liquid media is physiological saline or medical coolant.
[0047] The system monitors and adjusts the output flow rate and velocity of each medium in real time through flow regulating valves and pressure sensors. The flow ratio of the gas and liquid phases is dynamically adjusted according to the laser output power: when the laser power increases, the proportion of helium is increased simultaneously to improve the thermal scavenging capacity; when it is necessary to enhance the plasma explosion effect, the proportion of argon is increased. Throughout the delivery process, the pressure sensor monitors the internal pressure of the pipeline in real time at a sampling frequency of no less than 10 Hz. The regulating valve automatically adjusts its opening based on the pressure feedback to ensure that the delivery pressure remains stable within the preset safety threshold, preventing damage to the urinary tract mucosa due to excessive pressure and avoiding insufficient cooling or unclear vision due to excessively low pressure.
[0048] S2: Start the multi-wavelength laser generator 1 to generate laser light that is transmitted to the rock fragmentation target area.
[0049] The surgeon uses endoscope 5 to observe the shape, size, and location of the stone in real time, and sets the laser output parameters accordingly. Specifically, a 532nm wavelength laser is first activated to excite the initial plasma in the gaseous medium of the target area, followed by a 2100nm wavelength laser, which is absorbed by the initial plasma and converted into shock wave energy. The two wavelengths are output in an intermittent alternation or staggered pulse sequence. During lithotripsy, the surgeon can adjust the output power, frequency, and pulse sequence of each wavelength laser in real time through the laser delivery control system 2 according to the stone fragmentation and the clarity of the field of vision.
[0050] S3: Laser energy is used to excite the mixed medium to generate plasma, which generates mechanical explosive energy and acts on the stones.
[0051] After the laser energy is transmitted to the target area via optical fiber, the 532nm laser first breaks down the argon gas component in the target area, generating initial plasma. Since the ionization energy of argon gas is significantly lower than that of water molecules and other components in saline solution, its breakdown threshold under the action of 532nm laser is much lower than that of the liquid phase environment. Therefore, the initial plasma can be formed rapidly at a relatively low laser energy.
[0052] Subsequently, a 2100nm wavelength laser reaches the target area. Its wavelength highly matches the absorption spectrum of the initial plasma, and the absorption coefficient of the initial plasma for this wavelength laser is much higher than that for the 1064nm laser. The initial plasma efficiently captures the 2100nm laser energy, causing the plasma temperature to rise sharply and its volume to expand rapidly, generating a strong shock wave and cavitation explosion effect. When acting on the surface of the stone, it generates tensile and shear stresses, causing the stone to develop microcracks from the inside and disintegrate layer by layer, eventually breaking into fine particles that can be flushed out with the liquid.
[0053] S4: The reduced inert gas is used to remove the gaseous or liquid thermal energy generated by the laser from the lithotripsy target area.
[0054] After the plasma energy is released, the ionized argon and helium gases are reduced to a neutral state. At this point, the high specific heat capacity and excellent fluidity of the inert gases are used to actively remove the gaseous and liquid thermal energy generated during the laser treatment from the lithotripsy target area.
[0055] Specifically, due to its extremely high specific heat capacity, the helium component can efficiently absorb and carry away the heat from the following sources when flowing through the target area: (1) Joule heat from the laser not being absorbed by the stone and directly deposited in the medium; (2) composite heat released by plasma recombination; and (3) latent heat of phase change carried by the high-temperature water vapor generated by the laser vaporization of the liquid.
[0056] Because the gaseous medium delivery channel is located at the top of the conduit and the liquid medium delivery channel is located at the bottom, with the distal end of the optical fiber extending longer than the liquid medium delivery channel and the distal end of the liquid medium delivery channel extending longer than the gaseous medium delivery channel, a stepped spatial layout is formed. The inert gas naturally flows along the space above the cavity in the target area, fully mixing with the water vapor accumulated above and rapidly cooling down. It is then discharged from the body through the working channel of endoscope 5 or a dedicated negative pressure suction channel. Simultaneously, the liquid medium forms a continuous flow in the lower part of the cavity, continuously absorbing the conductive and convective heat generated by the laser acting on the stone, and flushing away stone fragments, thus completing the stone fragmentation process.
[0057] In the description of this application, it should be noted that the terms "upper," "lower," etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application. Unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installed," "connected," and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication between two elements. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in this application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.
[0058] It should be noted that in this application, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used merely to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.
[0059] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, enabling those skilled in the art to understand or implement this application. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this application. Therefore, this application is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features claimed herein.
Claims
1. A composite crushed stone energy system, characterized in that, include: A multi-wavelength laser generator (1) is used to generate lasers of various wavelengths; A laser delivery control system (2) is connected to the multi-wavelength laser generator (1) and is used to control the laser output parameters of the multi-wavelength laser generator (1). A hybrid medium delivery fiber optic conduit (3) is provided with a fiber optic channel (301) and at least one medium delivery channel, wherein the fiber optic channel (301) is used to transmit the various lasers of different wavelengths to the lithotripsy target area. The media delivery control system (4) is connected to the mixed media delivery fiber optic conduit (3) and is used to control the delivery ratio and flow rate of the mixed media; The mixed medium includes a gaseous medium and a liquid medium, wherein the gaseous medium is an inert gas; The gaseous medium includes a mixture of argon and helium. The various wavelengths of laser light include at least 532nm and 2100nm wavelength laser light.
2. The composite crushed stone energy system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The multi-wavelength laser generator (1) is a laser or laser group capable of outputting at least two different wavelengths.
3. The composite crushed stone energy system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The system also includes a wavelength division multiplexer, through which multiple lasers of different wavelengths are combined into the same optical fiber and transmitted to the target area via the optical fiber channel (301).
4. The composite crushed stone energy system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The various lasers of different wavelengths are transmitted through their respective optical fibers, or the laser of the same wavelength is distributed to multiple optical fibers for transmission, and each optical fiber is integrated into the same hybrid medium transmission optical fiber conduit (3).
5. The composite crushed stone energy system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The hybrid medium delivery fiber optic conduit (3) is a single-lumen conduit containing optical fibers, and the hybrid medium is pre-mixed before entering the conduit and then delivered through a single channel; Alternatively, the mixed medium delivery fiber optic conduit (3) is a multi-lumen conduit, in which the gaseous medium and the liquid medium are delivered through their respective independent channels and mixed at the end of the conduit or at the target area.
6. The composite crushed stone energy system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The mixed medium transport fiber optic conduit (3) extends axially to form a fiber optic channel (301), a liquid medium transport channel (302), and a gas medium transport channel (303). The far end of the optical fiber channel (301) extends beyond the far end of the liquid medium transport channel (302), and the far end of the liquid medium transport channel (302) extends beyond the far end of the gas medium transport channel (303).
7. The composite crushed stone energy system as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The medium delivery control system (4) includes: At least one medium pump (403) is used to pump the gaseous medium and the liquid medium; The pressure sensor (401) and the flow regulating valve (402) are used to monitor and regulate the output flow rate and velocity of each medium in real time.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Multiple wavelength laser workstation
CN101128160A
Multiple wavelength laser workstation
CN102201641A