Patent ID: 6464693
Filing Date: 2002-10-15
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A myocardial revascularization system comprisinga laser energy source, an outer guide member providing access to a patient's heart, said guide member having a distal end, an optical fiber that is coupled to receive laser energy pulses from said source and is slidably located within said guide member, said fiber having a distal end that is extendible from said distal end of said guide member, a drive motor connected to said fiber to automatically move said distal end of said optical fiber with respect to said distal end of said guide member, and a controller that controls said drive motor to automatically move said fiber in synchronism with firing of said laser energy, wherein said controller has an input that receives signals indicating the patient's heart beat cycle and synchronizes laser firing and fiber movement to the patient's heart beat cycle, such that said laser is fired and said fiber is moved only during a safe period of the heart beat cycle.