MEDICAL LASER TREATMENT DEVICE AND METHOD UTILIZING TOTAL REFLECTION INDUCED BY RADIATION

摘要

A device is provided for improved surgical procedures to remove unwanted or hyperplasic tissue from a patient. In particular, laser ablation, urological treatments, benign prostatic hyperplasia treatments and other applications benefit from the device. Specially prepared optical waveguide tips allow for enhanced irradiation of desired tissues with light sources including laser diodes, bright LEDs or lamps. The refractive indices of the waveguide materials and the surrounding medium are such that a significant fraction of the optical radiation, being transported in the waveguide, is coupled out of the waveguide into the surrounding medium through a peripheral surface at or near the distal end. The optical radiation is chosen to have an appropriate wavelength and sufficient power density, so that the surrounding medium will be changed in the vicinity of at least a part of the peripheral surface area. The changes of the surrounding medium result in a change of its refractive index such that the optical radiation is redirected. Device is particularly useful for treatments within a patient where entry and/or treatment space is limited/restricted.