摘要 |
A surgical instrument in the form of, for example, a two mm needle (10) has an open distal aspiration port (22, 22a, 36) for holding tissue to be fractured. An optical fiber (26) extends along the leng th of the needle and has its distal end positioned close to a metal target (24; 24A, 24a, 34). Pulses of laser energy are discharged from the distal end of the optical fiber to strike the tar- get. The target acts as a transducer converting the electromagnetic energy t o mechanical shockwaves that are directed onto tissue in an operating zone adjacent to the aspiration port. The mechanical shockwaves cause the tissue to fracture and the tissue togeth- er with irrigating fluid is drawn out through an aspirating passageway (20). A flexible tube (32) as the needle enhances access to various areas where tissue is to be fractured
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