Patent ID: 6231568
Filing Date: 2001-05-15
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A surgical device for forming a channel within vascular tissue comprising:an optical fiber having a proximal end for optically coupling to a source of laser energy and a distal end for transmission of laser energy;a housing;a hollow guide having a distal end attached to said housing;a needle operably associated with said hollow guide and defining an open bore received within said hollow guide through which said optical fiber is received;an actuator operably connected to said needle for selectively extending said needle from said hollow guide relative to said distal end of said guide while said distal end of said fiber remains retracted within said bore; anda laser control device operably connected to said optical fiber transmitting said laser energy from said distal end only after said needle has entered the tissue to be treated;said actuator including a needle control device that mechanically selectively extends said needle a predetermined distance from said hollow guide in a reciprocal manner; andsaid needle control device including a microprocessor for preselecting said distance said needle extends from said hollow guide relative to said distal end of said guide.