Claims
- 1. A contact laser delivery probe comprising:
- an optical fiber having an input end for receiving laser radiation and an opposed delivery end for delivering the radiation to a tissue site; and
- an outer support member surrounding said fiber and including at least one groove formed in the outer surface thereof, said groove extending axially from a point proximal to the delivery end of the fiber to a point distal thereto, said groove for venting vapor and debris from the tissue site generated during irradiation of the tissue.
- 2. A probe as recited in claim 1 further including a radially extending groove.
- 3. A probe as recited in claim 1 wherein the support member extends beyond the delivery end of the fiber and wherein the end of the support member includes a radially extending groove for venting debris.
- 4. A probe as recited in claim 1 wherein the depth of the groove is tapered, with the maximum depth being located adjacent the delivery end of the fiber.
- 5. A probe as recited in claim 1 wherein the support member extends beyond the delivery end of the fiber and wherein the end of the support member includes an annular channel in communication with said groove.
- 6. A contact laser delivery probe as recited in claim 1 wherein said outer support member includes a pair of said grooves, said grooves being formed on opposite sides of the support member.
- 7. A contact laser delivery probe comprising:
- an optical fiber having an input end for receiving laser radiation and an opposed delivery end for delivering the radiation to a tissue site; and
- an outer support member surrounding said fiber and including a means for venting vapor and debris from the tissue site generated during irradiation of the tissue, said venting means being defined by a region of reduced thickness in said outer support member, said region extending axially from a point proximal to the delivery end of the fiber to a point distal thereto.
- 8. A contact laser delivery probe as recited in claim 7 wherein the thickness of said outer support member in said region is at a minimum adjacent the delivery end of the fiber.
- 9. A contact laser delivery probe as recited in claim 7 wherein said outer support member includes a pair of said axially extending regions of reduced thickness formed on opposite sides of the support member.
CROSS REFERENCE TO OTHER RELATED APPLICATIONS
This is a continuation of co-pending application Ser. No. 07/577,866 filed on Sept. 4, 1990, now abandoned, which is in turn a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07/447,256, filed Feb. 7, 1990, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (8)
Foreign Referenced Citations (4)
Number |
Date |
Country |
2852653 |
Jun 1980 |
DEX |
3232007A1 |
Sep 1981 |
DEX |
8904568.8 |
Apr 1989 |
DEX |
7915008 |
Jun 1979 |
FRX |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
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Parent |
577866 |
Sep 1990 |
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Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
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Parent |
477256 |
Feb 1990 |
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