LEITUNGS- UND AUSSTRAHLUNGSSYSTEM FUER HOCHENERGIE-PULSIERENDES LASER-LICHT.

摘要

A fiber-optic waveguide, used for ablating lesions in blood vessels, is mounted within and guided by a catheter (72) having multiple lumens (76, 78) extending therethrough and parallel to each other. The waveguide (12) fits within at least one lumen and a guidewire (70), previously inserted in a blood vessel, extends through another lumen. The distal end of the waveguide can have a short section of larger diameter fiber fused to it to cause a laser beam transmitted through said fiber to expand as it emerges from the waveguide to provide a larger ablation area. The waveguide may also be connected to an energy source by means of an energy coupler. One or more balloons may be mounted to the distal end of the catheter in order to facilitate positioning the waveguide.