JOHN LEWIS RINK
Pilots at Mason St, San Francisco, CA

4950268, Aug 21, 1990

Nov 1, 1988

7/265565

John L. Rink - San Francisco CA

Xintec Corporation - Oakland CA

A61N 506

606 12

A control apparatus for a pumped rod-type laser includes an arc lamp disposed to illuminate the lasing medium, such as a NdYAG crystalline rod. The apparatus includes a full wave rectifier to power the arc lamp, and a MOSFET switching circuit to turn on and off the arc lamp power at controlled times during each half cycle of the power waveform so that the laser medium is pumped and optically discharged once during each half cycle of the power supply. The laser power output is measured by a photodetector during each half cycle, and the photodetector output is integrated and compared with a manually set, variable laser output power level. When the actual laser power reaches the preset power level, the comparator initiates turning off the MOSFET switching circuit power for that respective half cycle of the power waveform. The full wave rectified power supply also permits the use of 110 VAC utility power. The apparatus also includes safety circuits that permit laser operation only when the internal cooling system is operating, when the current to the arc lamp is below a maximum level, and when the temperature created by the laser illumination on a target is below a variable preset level, and the like.

5057099, Oct 15, 1991

May 14, 1990

7/523473

John L. Rink - San Francisco CA

Xintec Corporation - Oakland CA

A61N 506

606 12

A method for carrying out surgical procedures using a laser and a laser surgical tool includes the provision of a temperature control device associated with the laser which monitors the temperature of the surgical tool and delivery system and governs the laser power output to achieve a desired temperature level. The temperature control device may be used either to prevent heating of the surgical tool and delivery system beyond it structural tolerance, or to maintain a predetermined temperature level which is optimized for a particular surgical or medical procedure. The delivery system may comprise an optical fiber, and the surgical tool may comprise the output end of the optical fiber which is free of any additional surgical cutting implement.

4925265, May 15, 1990

Apr 11, 1988

7/180950

John L. Rink - San Francisco CA
Dan L. Rink - Oakland CA
Garrett Lee - Piedmont CA

Xintec Corporation - Oakland CA

G02B 632

350 9618

An apparatus for selectively directing a laser beam into a plurality of optical fibers and for selectively shifting the laser beam among the fibers includes a connector member having a plurality of passages extending longitudinally therethrough, the passages being disposed in a nominal common plane. The input end of each optical fiber extends through a respective passage, with the axes of the input ends spaced closely together and oriented parallel to the axis of a laser beam directed toward the input ends. The laser beam passes through a positive lens having a focal plane coincident with the input ends of the optical fibers. An axially translatable shaft extends generally perpendicular to the nominal plane and to the beam axis, and is coupled to drive means to shift the axial position of the shaft selectively, rapidly, and reiteratively. A plurality of transparent, planar refracting panels are secured to the shaft in close axial spacing, the refracting panels oriented at differing tangential angles with respect to the shaft and disposed to be translated through the beam axis as the shaft translates to refract the laser beam parallel to the beam axis and offset therefrom sufficiently to direct the beam into an input end of a selected optical fiber.

5092865, Mar 3, 1992

Aug 20, 1990

7/569984

John L. Rink - San Francisco CA

Xintec Corporation - Oakland CA

A61B 506

606 12

A control apparatus for a pumped rod-type laser includes an arc lamp disposed to illuminate the lasing medium, such as a NdYAG crystalline rod. The apparatus includes a full wave rectifier to power the arc lamp, and a MOSFET switching circuit to turn on and off the arc lamp power at controlled times during each half cycle of the power waveform so that the laser medium is pumped and optically discharged once during each half cycle of the power supply. The laser power output is measured by a photodetector during each half cycle, and the photodetector output is integrated and compared with a manually set, variable laser output power level. When the actual laser power reaches the preset power level, the comparator initiates turning off the MOSFET switching circuit power for that respective half cycle of the power waveform. The apparatus also includes safety circuits that permit laser operation only when the internal cooling system is operating, when the current to the arc lamp is below a maximum level, and when the temperature created by the laser illumination on a target is below a variable preset level, and the like. A further safety circuit detects the presence of laser radiation in the area surrounding the laser to shut it off when laser light escapes from the system.

5382785, Jan 17, 1995

Nov 15, 1993

8/153310

John L. Rink - San Francisco CA

Diolase Corporation - Berkeley CA

G01J 132

250205

A laser diode operating system utilizes the photodiode mounted in the housing of the laser diode, and monitors the photodiode signal to check for a clear laser beam delivery path and a target proximate to the output of the beam path. Upon initial power-up of the system, a brief laser pulse is emitted, and laser light reflected retrograde in the delivery path is received by the photodiode. If the photodiode signal exceeds a first threshold level, due to occlusion of the delivery path, further operation of the system is prevented until the delivery path is cleared. During operator use, the photodiode signal is compared with a second threshold level, and operation is interrupted if the signal fails to exceed the second threshold level. During interruption of operation mode, the laser diode is pulsed briefly and reiteratively to ascertain if a target object is proximate to the laser diode output. If the reflected light level indicates that a target object is proximate, the system will restore continuous operating mode while continuing to monitor the photodiode current.

4994060, Feb 19, 1991

Mar 20, 1989

7/325955

Dan L. Rink - Oakland CA
John L. Rink - San Francisco CA
Garrett Lee - Piermont CA

Xintec Corporation - Oakland CA

A61B 1736

606 28

A laser heated cautery cap assembly includes a catheter assembly adapted to be introduced into a lumen, such as an arterial opening. The catheter assembly includes at least one optical fiber connected to a laser light source adapted to produce short output bursts. A cautery cap at the catheter distal end includes a transparent substrate member disposed to receive the laser energy from the optical fiber(s). The substrate member preferably is formed of a crystalline solid having a smooth, curved outer surface, with a central guidewire bore extending therethrough. One end of the bore is provided with a tapering counterbore, and the opposite end of the substrate member is an input surface disposed to receive laser energy from the optical fiber. A nose piece includes a central guidewire bore coaxial with the substrate member bore, the nose piece including a tapered proximal end dimensioned to fit within the counterbore of the substrate. The substrate counterbore and bore surfaces, and major portions of the curved outer surface are coated with a highly reflective material, and another portion of the outer surface is coated with a material which absorbs the laser energy and is heated thereby.

5269778, Dec 14, 1993

Sep 26, 1991

7/765988

John L. Rink - San Francisco CA
Howard S. Cohen - Berkeley CA

A61N 506

606 12

A laser for medical includes an optically pumped laser medium, and the output of the laser is directed through an optical fiber delivery system to a tissue target. The flashlamp is driven by a pulsed power signal that is selectively variable to produce laser pulses of predetermined temporal width and pulse energy, and these values can be selected in accordance with the type of tissue being treated and the tissue effect desired. The laser may be operated to produce relatively brief pulses of high energy, which create a localized plasma at the surface of the target tissue. The plasma effect blocks any significant penetration of the laser beam into the tissue, and each laser pulse causes the ablation of a small portion of the tissue target. Thus thermal necrosis of adjacent and underlying tissue minimized. At the opposite extreme, the laser may be operated to produce relatively long pulses of low or moderate energy, so that the laser beam penetrates the tissue to create such effects as deep coagulation, deep thermal heating and necrosis, and the like.

5366456, Nov 22, 1994

Feb 8, 1993

8/014814

John L. Rink - San Francisco CA
Kwok H. Ngai - San Francisco CA
King J. J. Yu - Oakland CA
Herrick Tam - San Francisco CA

Xintec Corporation - Oakland CA

A61B 1736

606 16

The present invention relates generally to a laser cutting scalpel for use in medical and other applications, and more particularly, to such an apparatus wherein the transmitted radiation is delivered at an angle to the incident radiation source and tool. The invention is capable of coagulating, cutting or vaporizing tissue and may be useful in a wide range of surgical and non-surgical applications. The device has a firing tip which has an insert with a highly polished mirrored surface lying at a specific angle with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the optical fiber. Thus impinging laser radiation is reflected to the side and delivered at approximately a right angle to the fiber. The invention also features one or more cooling vents located in the firing tip itself resulting in a device less prone to failure during operation. The device can be positioned accurately with respect to depth of insertion of the fiber.

5498260, Mar 12, 1996

May 26, 1993

8/067566

John L. Rink - San Francisco CA
Marilyn M. Chou - Piedmont CA

Xintec Corporation - Oakland CA

A61N 506

606 16

The present invention relates generally to a family of fiber optic laser delivery devices for use in medical and other applications, and more particularly, to such an apparatus wherein the transmitted radiation is delivered through and at various angles to the central axis of a fiber optic waveguide by an internally reflective surface. The invention is capable of coagulating, cutting or vaporizing tissue and may be useful in a wide range of surgical and non-surgical applications. A novel method for coagulating and then vaporizing or otherwise removing the coagulated tissue is also disclosed.

2011019, Aug 4, 2011

Mar 4, 2009

12/920821

John L. Rink - San Francisco CA, US
Marilyn M. Chou - Oakland CA, US
Jasen Eric Petterson - San Francisco CA, US
Mark H.K. Chim - Oakland CA, US

A61B 18/22

606 12, 606 11

Apparatus and methods are described for laser ablation of tissue. The apparatus and methods utilize a laser source coupled to a fiberoptic laser delivery device and a laser driver and control system with features for protection of the laser delivery device, the patient, the operator and other components of the laser treatment system. Advantageously, the laser source may utilize laser diodes operating at approximately 975 nm, 1470 nm, 1535 nm or 1870 nm wavelengths with a laser power output of at least 60 watts, preferably greater than 80 watts and most preferably 120-150 watts or higher. The invention, which has broad medical and industrial applications, is described in relation to a method for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) by contact laser ablation of the prostate (C-LAP).