OPTICAL SURGICAL SYSTEM AND METHOD

摘要

The optical delivery system and method utilizes the combination of a thermally and optically conductive surgical blade with a light source. The light source, which can be a laser or a high power incoherent light source, provides light of a wavelength that is readily absorbed by the blood at the incision site so that photocoagulation is induced to reduce bleeding. The surgical blade is made from a material that transmits light to the incision site without significant absorption of energy which might heat the blade, thus, the only heating of the blade results from contact with the heated blood. Shaping and direction optics can be integrated into the blade to focus, expand, or steer the incoming light beam.