Patent ID: 6203537
Filing Date: 2001-03-20
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
An ablation apparatus including a catheter, said catheter comprising:an elongated, flexible body defining a distal end, a proximal end, and a local axis;a mass cap defining a proximal portion and a distal portion;resilient mounting means including a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end of said resilient mounting means being physically coupled to said distal end of said body of said catheter, and said distal end of said resilient mounting means being physically coupled to said mass cap, for holding said mass cap adjacent to said distal end of said body of said catheter, said resilient mounting means defining at least one of transparent and open regions lying between said distal end of said catheter body and said mass cap; said ablation apparatus further comprisingat least one laser light source for producing a light beam, and located near said distal end of said catheter body, and oriented so as to project its light beam parallel to said local axis, through said resilient mounting means, to a proximal portion of said mass cap; wherein:said mass cap in conjunction with said resilient mounting means makes a physically resonant system defining a fundamental resonant frequency; and further comprising:a laser light source driving arrangement, said laser light source driving arrangement including means for driving said at least one laser light source, for generating said laser light in pulses having a repetition rate which is near one of (a) said fundamental frequency and (b) a subharmonic of said fundamental frequency, and for, together with said ablation catheter, forming an ablation catheter system.