Laser surgery device and method

Abstract

Laser surgery devices and methods of performing laser surgery using laser surgery devices are described. The laser surgery device may rotate a laser fiber along a longitudinal axis of the laser fiber in a repeating pattern through a user-specified rotational pattern. The laser surgery device may be optionally attached to a surgical device to implement hands-free operation of the laser surgery device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A laser surgery device to rotate a laser fiber along a longitudinal axis of the laser fiber, the device comprising:
 an inner cylinder nested within an outer case, wherein:
 the inner cylinder is rotatably connected to the outer case; 
 a rotational axis of the interior cylinder is aligned with a central axis of the outer case; and, 
   the inner cylinder comprises an inner surface defining a laser fiber lumen, wherein:
 the laser fiber lumen forms a channel in which the laser fiber is detachably held; and, 
 a laser fiber tip protrudes from the laser fiber lumen at a device exit; 
   a motor and a power source operatively connected to the inner cylinder such that the inner cylinder rotates in a first direction and in a second direction when the motor is in operation;   a rotation speed control operatively connected to the motor; and,   a rotation sweep control operatively connected to the motor.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device rotates the laser fiber along the longitudinal axis of the laser fiber in a user-specified repeating pattern. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device rotates the laser fiber at an essentially constant rotational speed ranging from about 5°/second to about 360°/second. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the rotational speed may be increased or decreased during rotation of the laser fiber. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the user-specified repeating pattern comprises a clockwise rotation followed by a counterclockwise rotation through a sweep angle ranging from about 90° clockwise to about 90° counterclockwise relative to a downward vertical reference plane. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the sweep angle ranges from about 30° clockwise to about 30° counterclockwise relative to a downward vertical reference plane. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the range of the sweep angle may be increased or decreased during rotation of the laser fiber. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the inner surface further defines a control knob lumen, wherein:
 the control knob lumen opens to a device entry at one end of the control knob lumen and to the laser fiber lumen at the opposite end of the control knob lumen;   the laser fiber lumen opens to a device exit at one end of the laser fiber lumen and to the control knob lumen at the opposite end of the laser fiber lumen; and,   the control knob lumen is contoured to detachably hold a control knob.   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the motor is integrated into the inner cylinder and the outer case. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device releasably holds the laser fiber. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the inner cylinder rotates within the outer case. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the laser fiber is part of an endoscopic surgical laser comprising the laser fiber, a control knob, and a shielded laser fiber connecting the laser fiber to a laser source. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is a part of a cystoscope. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the inner cylinder comprises the inner surface defining a control knob lumen and the laser fiber lumen. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device holds the laser fiber and a control knob of the laser fiber in a fixed position in the inner cylinder, and the inner cylinder rotates with respect to the outer case. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the motor is integrated into the inner cylinder and the outer case to drive the inner cylinder in a repeating pattern. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the inner cylinder rotates in the first direction and then in the second direction in a repeating pattern when the motor is in operation. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the inner cylinder clamps onto the laser fiber. 
     
     
         19 . A laser surgery device to rotate a laser fiber along a longitudinal axis of the laser fiber, the device comprising:
 an inner cylinder within an outer case, wherein:
 the inner cylinder is rotatably connected to the outer case; 
 a rotational axis of the interior cylinder is aligned with a central axis of the outer case; and, 
   the inner cylinder comprises an inner surface defining a laser fiber lumen, wherein:
 the laser fiber lumen forms a channel in which the laser fiber is detachably held; and, 
 a laser fiber tip protrudes from the laser fiber lumen at a device exit; 
   a motor and a power source operatively connected to the inner cylinder such that the inner cylinder rotates in a first direction and in a second direction when the motor is in operation;   a rotation speed control operatively connected to the motor;   a rotation sweep control operatively connected to the motor; and,   wherein the device rotates the laser fiber in opposing directions along the longitudinal axis of the laser fiber in a user-specified repeating pattern.   
     
     
         20 . A laser surgery device to rotate a laser fiber along a longitudinal axis of the laser fiber, the device comprising:
 an inner cylinder within an outer case, wherein:
 the inner cylinder is rotatably connected to the outer case; 
 a rotational axis of the interior cylinder is aligned with a central axis of the outer case; and, 
   the inner cylinder comprises an inner surface defining a laser fiber lumen, wherein:
 the laser fiber lumen forms a channel in which the laser fiber is detachably held; and, 
 a laser fiber tip protrudes from the laser fiber lumen at a device exit; 
   a motor and a power source operatively connected to the inner cylinder such that the inner cylinder rotates in a first direction and in a second direction when the motor is in operation;   a rotation speed control operatively connected to the motor;   a rotation sweep control operatively connected to the motor; and,   the inner surface further defines a control knob lumen, wherein:
 the control knob lumen opens to a device entry at one end of the control knob lumen and to the laser fiber lumen at the opposite end of the control knob lumen; 
 the laser fiber lumen opens to a device exit at one end of the laser fiber lumen and to the control knob lumen at the opposite end of the laser fiber lumen; and, 
 the control knob lumen is contoured to detachably hold a control knob.