LASER RESECTOSCOPE WITH MECHANICAL CUTTING MEANS AND LASER COAGULATING MEANS

摘要

A resectoscope (20) and a method of use for removing organic tissue, e.g., the prostate gland, from the body of a living being. The resectoscope (21) includes an elongated member (24) having a distal end (34) adapted to be introduced into the body of the being at the situs of organic tissue to be removed via a tubular sheath (26). The resectoscope (20) includes a laser (38) for producing a laser beam adjacent the distal end (34) of the elongated member (24) to penetrate several millimiters through the surface of the tissue to coagulate. A rotatable cutter (42), e.g., a pair of angled offset planar blades (130, 132), is disposed at the distal end (34) of the elongated member (24) and is arranged to be rotated at a high rate of speed by an associated drive assembly (37) to cut the coagulated tissue. A lumen (50) is provided to carry an irrigation liquid to the situs of the tissue. A suction lumen (54) is provided to carry the tissue removed by the cutter (42) so that it can be retrieved for histological examination. A viewing system (36) is also provided and extends through the resectoscope (20) in order to enable the operator to view the lasing and cutting of the tissue.