Multi-faceted Optical Fiber Tip for Lateral Laser Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current high-power medical laser devices face issues with stability, durability, and efficiency due to degradation from tissue contact, leading to increased treatment time and risk of damage to optical components, while also causing undesirable effects like tissue destruction and optical component damage.
Innovation Solution
A waveguide assembly with a multi-facetted tip and a protective, reinforced cap oriented at a predetermined angle, which delivers high-power electromagnetic radiation laterally and reduces contact with tissue, enhancing durability and reducing energy loss, allowing for faster and safer tissue ablation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high power laser sources are used for vaporizing tissue, then tissue ablation efficiency is improved, but damage to optical components and surrounding healthy tissue increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical fiber tip is segmented into multiple facets (e.g., 4 facets) instead of a single continuous surface. Each facet directs laser energy at a specific angle, distributing the high power load across multiple contact points with tissue while reducing concentrated stress on any single point, thereby preventing optical component damage and collateral tissue damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical fiber tip is configured with an asymmetric multi-facetted geometry where each facet has different orientation angles relative to the fiber axis. This asymmetric configuration enables precise control of laser beam direction and distribution, allowing the high power laser energy to be delivered laterally at controlled angles while protecting surrounding healthy tissue through geometric precision.
2Productivity
If the optical fiber tip is close or in contact with tissue, then tissue ablation is effective, but stability and durability of the optical fiber deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous fiber tip surface is divided into multiple discrete facets separated by grooves. This segmentation creates mechanical reinforcement at the groove locations, preventing fiber tip degradation and maintaining structural stability during contact with tissue, while still enabling effective ablation through the faceted surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the fiber tip have different properties: the facets are designed for laser energy delivery and tissue contact, while the grooves between facets provide mechanical support and structural reinforcement. This local differentiation allows the fiber to maintain both effectiveness in ablation and stability during prolonged use.
3Loss of time
If lateral laser delivery is implemented, then treatment time is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective cap and the laser delivery waveguide are merged into a single integrated component. The cap itself is shaped with the multi-facetted geometry and serves dual functions: protecting the optical fiber and directing laser energy laterally. This integration simplifies the overall device structure while enabling rapid lateral laser delivery for reduced treatment time.
Solution Approach 2:
The waveguide assembly is designed with multi-functionality: the same component structure serves for laser delivery, tissue protection, and lateral beam direction control. The faceted cap geometry simultaneously protects the fiber tip and directs laser energy laterally, eliminating the need for separate components and reducing overall device complexity despite the advanced functionality.
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 solution provides a stable, durable, and efficient method for delivering high-power laser radiation, minimizing tissue damage and optical component degradation, resulting in faster procedures with reduced stress on patients and physicians, and enabling effective tissue removal with minimal energy loss.
Implementation Method 1
Laser ablation is used in a wide range of medical applications for the purpose of vaporizing tissue in order to remove mass of unwanted tissue or an obstruction
Implementation Method 2
waveguide assembly for delivering electromagnetic radiation to a tissue
Implementation Method 3
a cap that covers the multi-facetted tip... The cap is a protective and reinforced cap fused to the optical fiber's tip
Implementation Method 4
the slant angles of the optical fiber's core, and the orientation of the cap's axially-extended portion
Implementation Method 5
delivers high power electromagnetic radiation in lateral direction with respect to the elongated axis of the optical fiber, determined by the multiple-facetted tip
Data Source
AI summary
Improved device and method for safe, accurate, efficient surgical procedures are disclosed. A preferred device is a waveguide assembly for delivering electromagnetic radiation to a tissue comprising a waveguide with a multi-facetted tip and a cap over the 5 multi-facetted tip. Preferably the waveguide is an optical fiber. The cap is a protective, reinforced cap fused to the optical fiber's tip as an integral part of it and comprises an axially-extending portion oriented at a predetermined angle relative to the elongated axis of the optical fiber. A method of manufacturing special waveguide caps is provided. The optical fiber assembly delivers high power electromagnetic radiation in lateral direction 10 with respect to the elongated axis of the optical fiber, determined by the multiple-facetted tip, the slant angles of the optical fiber's core, and the orientation of the cap's axially-extending portion. A method for removing unwanted tissue like in benign prostatic hyperplasia treatments is also provided.