Medical instrument removing constriction in blood vessel - has ceramic head at end of optical fibre heated by laser light from source at other end

摘要

A catheter (1,3,4,5) is used with an optical fibre (1) to which a laser light source (2) can be connected at one end. A ceramic head (3) at the other end is heated by the laser light to remove the tissue causing the restriction in the blood vessel. The ceramic head can be joined to the optical fibre by an adhesive (4) mixed with material that absorbs laser light to convert it to heat. Pref. a coating (5) of smooth plastics material covers the head to enable it to slide more easily. ADVANTAGE - Removes tissue causing obstruction so that vessel is left permanently widened.