Patent ID: 8291915

Claim:
A method comprising: inserting an optical fiber transluminally through a lumen of a vein; positioning a distal end of the optical fiber at a treatment site in the lumen of the vein; approximating the distal end of the optical fiber and an inner wall of the vein, at the treatment site; applying light energy from the optical fiber to the inner wall of the vein at the treatment site, and thereby shrinking the vein at the treatment site; and inserting a tubular member transluminally into the vein; wherein applying light energy comprises applying light energy from the distal end of the optical fiber while the distal end of the optical fiber is positioned within the tubular member; the tubular member comprises a first material portion and a second material portion located in a distal region of the tubular member, the second material portion being transmissive of light energy; and applying light energy comprises passing light energy from the distal end of the optical fiber through the second material portion of the tubular member.