Laser fiber apparatus having a contact tip and adjacent diffuser element and surgical methods for using same

摘要

An improved laser fiber assembly is provided which is capable of both effecting direct ablation of tissue or of effecting deep tissue coagulation. The fiber assembly is preferably provided with an orbicular tip for effecting direct ablation in a contact mode. Adjacent the orbicular tip is a cylindrical diffuser element which effects a cylindrical shaped emission pattern when the .orbicular tip is not in contact with tissue. The diffuser element is preferably protected with a covering, such as a teflon tubing element. Alternative embodiments use one or more cylindrical-segment diffuser elements in place of the cylindrical element. The fiber assembly is useful in a wide variety of surgical situations, and is particularly useful for treatment of benign prostatitis hyperplasia. The method of the invention includes the steps of bringing the tip of the dual action fiber assembly into contact with tissue to be ablated or adjacent tissue to be treated for deep tissue coagulation.