Patent ID: 6440124
Filing Date: 2002-08-27
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
An apparatus for disrupting occlusive material in a body lumen, comprising:an elongated lumen having an intermediate section and a distal section, the intermediate section having at least one opening in a side thereof, and the distal section having an opening at a distal end thereof, the elongated lumen of a construction sufficient to deliver a fluid therethrough to the body lumen; and at least one first optical fiber and at least one second optical fiber housed within the elongated lumen, a distal end of the first optical fiber disposed within the distal section, and a distal end of the second optical fiber disposed in a vicinity of the opening of the intermediate section, each of the first and second optical fibers of a construction sufficient to deliver pulsed energy from the distal end thereof to form a bubble in fluid within the body lumen, the pulsed energy from about 100 &mgr;J to about 500 &mgr;J per pulse; wherein the delivery of energy is sufficient to provide a power of from about 0.5 W to about 2 W and the delivery of fluid is sufficient to avoid substantial thermal damage to the body lumen during the delivery of energy.