Diode Laser System with Optical Waveguide for BPH Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current laser systems for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are cumbersome, require extensive maintenance, and often result in significant bleeding and tissue perforation due to inefficient power conversion and complex cooling systems, limiting their mobility and effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A diode laser system with a modular design using optical waveguides for endoscopic application, capable of converting electric current directly into usable laser light, eliminating the need for flash-lamps and water cooling, and allowing for adjustable power and pulse duration to minimize bleeding and tissue damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If traditional laser systems with flash-lamps and water cooling are used, then laser radiation can be generated for tissue treatment, but the systems become cumbersome, require extensive maintenance, and have inefficient power conversion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the flash-lamp pumping mechanism and water cooling system from the laser generator, replacing them with electrically pumped diode lasers that generate laser radiation directly. This eliminates the inefficient energy conversion path and complex cooling infrastructure while maintaining laser output capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/optical pumping system (flash-lamps) with an electrical pumping system (electric current directly into laser-active substance), and replaces the water cooling mechanical system with passive heat dissipation or air cooling, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture.
2Productivity
If high power laser radiation is used for effective tissue removal, then treatment effectiveness increases, but bleeding and tissue perforation risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs pulsed laser radiation delivery through the optical fiber, where laser energy is delivered in controlled pulses rather than continuous wave. This allows sufficient energy for tissue vaporization while providing cooling intervals that prevent excessive heat accumulation, thereby reducing bleeding and perforation risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an optical fiber to deliver laser energy locally to the treatment site within the body cavity. The laser energy is concentrated at the distal end of the fiber where it is needed, allowing precise control of energy delivery to the target tissue while minimizing collateral thermal damage to surrounding structures.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If complex cooling systems are implemented to manage laser heat, then laser operation is sustained, but system mobility and ease of operation are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the water cooling system entirely from the laser generator design, replacing it with alternative heat management approaches that do not require liquid cooling infrastructure. This enables the system to be more compact and mobile while still sustaining continuous or pulsed laser operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enables efficient, mobile, and minimally invasive treatments with reduced maintenance, effective tissue removal, and minimal side effects, suitable for treating BPH and other medical applications with high effectiveness and precision.
Implementation Method 1
a diode laser device for the generation of laser radiation... which is capable of converting electric current directly into usable laser light
Implementation Method 2
transmitted through an application system based on an optical waveguide
Implementation Method 3
capable of converting electric current directly into usable laser light, eliminating the need for flash-lamps and water cooling, and allowing for adjustable power and pulse duration to minimize bleeding and tissue damage
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a system for medicinal treatment, in particular for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia BPH, for use in the event of tumor resection or for use in thoracic surgery. The system comprises a diode laser device for producing a laser beam and to an application system based on optical wave guides that can be endoscopically introduced into a patient. Said system is designed in such a manner that the laser beam, produced by the diode laser device is guided through the application system and is emitted by said application system so that biological tissue can be treated in a selective manner with the emerging laser beam.