An instrument for penetrating body tissue has a rigid hollow shaft having at its distal end a penetrating point, which is at least partly transparent and which is conical, beveled or tapered; a hollow sleeve may surround the shaft. The instrument includes or can be associated with lighting and viewing elements. There may be provided a helical element at the penetrating point, having surfaces converging outwardly to a line. In another embodiment, the point comprises plural, flat, angularly related surfaces converging to a line, the point being at least partly transparent, as by being of opaque material having one or more openings closed by a transparent window. In a further embodiment, the point has a conical distal end and has along its side at least one and preferably two blade members which is/are at or rearwardly of the apex or distal end of the conical tip, and have surfaces converging to a linear edge coaxial with the axis of the point.

Instrument for the penetration of body tissue

A laser microsurgical method and apparatus are disclosed for safely treating occluded body lumens with laser energy. The disclosed method involves the use of pulsed laser energy from an argon-ion laser to destroy the tissue of luminal occlusions, such as atheromatous plaque and the like, with substantially no thermal necrosis of the surrounding tissue. A flexible catheter and associated laser microsurgical system is also disclosed which provides for aiming of the fibers to transmit the laser beam at the distal end of the catheter and rotational positioning of the catheter to permit coverage of virtually the entire cross-sectional area of the lumen. A lens system at the distal end of each laser fiber minimizes beam divergence and directs the beam toward the central axis of the catheter. A further embodiment of the catheter of the invention provides an array of laser fibers which are optically scanned with laser energy to cover the cross-sectional area of the lumen. The system is designed to minimize the possibility of damage to or perforation of the surrounding tissue of the lumen.

Method of and apparatus for laser treatment of body lumens

A deflectable guidewire for a catheter includes a core extending from the proximal end of the guidewire toward the distal end thereof; a hollow sheath for encasing the core; the hollow core including a deflecting region at the distal end of the guidewire, the deflecting region having a first side and a second side, the first side being on an opposite side of a plane extending axially through the hollow means than the second side; the first side of the deflecting region being able to be compressed a greater distance than the second side of the deflecting region; the core being fixed to the hollow sheath at the distal side of the deflecting region; and a control handle mounted at the proximal end of the core and the hollow sheath for applying tension to the core with respect to the hollow sheath so that the tension causes the first side of the deflecting region to compress a greater amount than the second side, thus deflecting the deflecting region In one embodiment, the core may include laser conducting optical fibers Other features of the present invention include arranging the optical fibers in the catheter in such a way that bending stresses are distributed evenly throughout the fibers when the catheter is bent One method of doing this is to arrange the fibers in rows or layers wherein each row or layer is twisted in a direction that is opposite to the direction of the adjacent rows or layers It has also been found that flexibility is increased without unacceptable transmission losses by using optical fibers having a diameter of about fifty microns

Guidance and delivery system for high-energy pulsed laser light

A needle endoscope includes a hollow needle of about 18-gauge, a lens system within the needle, an image transmitting bundle of flexible fiber-optic rods within the needle, a plurality of illumination transmitting fiber-optic rods within the needle, an operative channel within the needle, and apparatus to shift the image transmitting bundle with respect to the lens system and needle to provide focus adjustment for focusing the endoscope on objects at various distances from the end of the needle. The channel is adapted to receive an electrode having an end which, when extended beyond the needle, can be microscopically viewed and supervised through the needle during application of radiofrequency pulses to the spinal cord's nerve tracts or nerve cells, for example. Both medical and industrial uses are contemplated.

Focusing fiber-optic needle endoscope

A new and improved laparoscopic trocar and sleeve assembly in which the trocar is provided with a transparent tip and accommodates a light telescope for supplying a video console so that while the trocar is being surgically inserted through the abdominal wall and into the abdominal cavity, visualization on the video console will be possible to avoid injury to blood vessels in the abdominal cavity wall or injury to any of the internal organs located in the abdominal cavity Once clear visualization is established, conventional laparoscopic procedures can be carried out safely

Visually directed trocar for laparoscopic surgical procedures and method of using same

Microscope adapted to be inserted into the spaces in a living body for direct examination of the interior surfaces thereof and having a magnifying objective lens system, a fiber optical viewing system, eyepiece means for observing the magnified image formed on the rear end surface of said fiber optical viewing system by transmitting the image of the object focused on the forward end surface of said fiber optical viewing system transmitting at high degree of magnification by means of said objective lens system through said fiber optical viewing system to the rear end surface thereof, and fiber optical illuminating system, wherein an optical means having inclined forward end surface is located in front of said magnifying objective lens system so that the optical means easily penetrates into the part to be examined by the microscope, the image of the object contacting the inclined forward end surface of said optical means being focused by means of said objective lens system on the forward end surface of said fiber optical viewing system at high degree of magnification.

Nagashige Takahashi

Papers

Optical viewing instrument