METHOD FOR REMOVING AN ANIMAL ORGAN BY FACILITATING THE ATROPHY THEREOF

摘要

A method is provided for facilitating the atrophying of a tonsil or adenoid ("organ") to cause the gradual removal thereof from the patient. A laser is positioned adjacent the organ, the wavelength for the laser being in the 700 nm to 1100 nm range and having energy sufficient to cause coagulation of blood in at least a significant number of the organ vessels over a period of several minutes, but not so much energy as to kill significant tissue of the organ or to cause significant damage to tissue adjacent to the organ. The laser is then turned on to irradiate the organ with laser energy and the entire exposed area of the organ is painted or otherwise irradiated. Irradiation continues until a selected condition of the organ, tissue adjacent the organ and/or laser source occurs. The organ may be cooled, for example by irrigation, during irradiation, and the organ may be insulated from surrounding tissue and/or an exogenous chromophore may be applied to the organ, the former to minimize damage to surrounding tissue and the latter to enhance absorption of laser energy by the organ.