Patent ID: 8864755

Claim:
An endovascular treatment method for causing closure of a varicose vein comprising: inserting into a varicose vein an optical fiber having a core through which a laser light travels, wherein: the core has a proximal portion surrounded directly by a first cladding layer and a distal portion disposed distally of the proximal portion and surrounded directly by a second cladding layer that is different than the first cladding layer; a sleeve is arranged around the distal portion of the core; and distal ends of the sleeve and the optical fiber core distal portion form an enlarged light emitting face, the first cladding layer positioned proximally of the second cladding layer, the second cladding layer extending proximally from the enlarged light emitting face; and applying the laser light through the enlarged light emitting face while longitudinally moving the inserted optical fiber, the application of the laser light causing closure of the varicose vein.