Patent ID: 7620290

Claim:
A laser handpiece, comprising: a shaped fiber optic tip, the shaped fiber optic tip being constructed to deliver electromagnetic radiation supplied from a source of electromagnetic radiation to a vicinity outside of the shaped fiber optic tip and the shaped fiber optic tip having an interior coupled to a source of positive pressure to provide pressure to the interior of the shaped fiber optic tip, wherein the electromagnetic radiation and the positive pressure are emitted to the vicinity with the electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength and energy distribution suitable for cutting or ablating one or more of hard tissue and soft tissue, wherein a spatial energy distribution of electromagnetic radiation emitted from the shaped fiber optic tip has an energy peak in an area other than along an optical axis of the shaped fiber optic tip; and a source of negative pressure coupled to the interior of the shaped fiber optic tip; a sidewall surrounding and defining the interior whereby the interior extends through the shaped fiber optic tip in a direction parallel to the optical axis; material injecting apertures disposed in the sidewall for delivering an aqueous environment under influence of the positive pressure into the interior whereby the material is delivered into the interior in a fashion to cause it to move at least partially transversely to the optical axis and distally within the interior; and a material evacuator disposed proximally of the material injecting apertures for applying negative pressure to the interior under influence of the source of negative pressure to remove material therefrom; wherein the source of electromagnetic radiation is coupled to the interior and is configured to direct the electromagnetic energy through the interior distally in a direction parallel to the optical axis.