Inventors:
KELLY B. MORAN - Wilbraham MA, US
David S. Turk - Broadview Heights OH, US
International Classification:
A61B 18/18
Abstract:
A method and device is provided for high power BPH laser treatments in a doctor's office or clinic setting wherein only local anesthetics are employed, making the treatments administrable in a doctor's office or a clinic, and allowing the patient to remain conscious throughout the procedure so that the doctor can interact with the patient while administering the treatment. The BPH treatments can be administered in a single short duration, i.e., each session lasting for not more than about 45 minutes and having a lasing time within the range of about 10 minutes to about 20 minutes, thus limiting the amount of discomfort and anxiety a patient might experience. The relatively high power treatment coupled with the relatively short treatment time allows doctors to assess the results of the treatment session within minutes after completing the procedure. The high power BPH laser treatments are ablative in nature wherein laser radiation is provided, generally in a pulsed mode, at preselected power output levels of at least about 100 Watts at wavelengths of 980 m and/or 1460 nm. The device includes a stable high power laser source and an optical fiber optically connected to the laser source that is capable of carrying high power laser radiation. The device is mobile and/or portable and can be operated with a standard 110/220 volt alternating current (AC) power source.