Systems, devices and methods for imaging and surgery

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9333036-B2
Application number	US-201113574472-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 21, 2011
Priority date	Jan 22, 2010
Publication date	May 10, 2016
Grant date	May 10, 2016

Abstract

Provided herein are devices, systems and methods for treating a vocal fold pathology by forming a substantially planar void below the epithelium of the vocal fold using optical energy. Also provided are devices, systems, and methods for combined imaging and treating of a vocal fold pathology.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of treating a vocal fold pathology, comprising:
focusing pulsed laser light using a lens into a sub-epithelial focal volume of the vocal fold; wherein the pulse duration of the laser light is a nanosecond or less and wherein the pulsed light has a wavelength of between 600 nm and 2250 nm;
wherein the focused pulsed laser light ablates sub-epithelial tissue of the vocal fold in the focal volume to form a sub-epithelial void in the vocal fold and wherein tissue ablation caused by the laser light of the vocal fold tissue is confined to the sub-epithelial focal volume; and
directing a substance into the sub-epithelial void, wherein the substance is confined within the sub-epithelial void to treat the vocal fold pathology.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein a length and a width of the sub-epithelial void as measured substantially parallel to the surface of the vocal fold are each at least about 1 millimeter in length.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the length and the width of the sub-epithelial void are at least about 2 millimeters.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the sub-epithelial void is formed at a depth of between about 100 and 200 microns below the epithelial layer of the vocal fold.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sub-epithelial void is formed above a scar tissue in the vocal fold.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sub-epithelial void is formed within a scar tissue in the vocal fold.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pulsed laser light is provided by an optical energy source.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the optical energy source comprises a picosecond laser.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the optical energy source comprises a femtosecond laser.

10. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
applying optical energy to the vocal fold within the subject, wherein the optical energy is configured for imaging at least a portion of the vocal fold;
receiving light from the vocal fold; and
generating an image of the vocal fold based on the received light.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising forming the sub-epithelial void at a location based on the image.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the substance is a biomaterial.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the biomaterial comprises at least one of collagen, polymeric gel, fat, or hyaluronic acid.

Assignees

• Ben-Yakar Adela
• Hoy Christopher L
• Everett William Neil
• Kobler James B
• Anderson Richard Rox
• Farinelli William A
• Zeitels Steven M
• Univ Texas
• Gen Hospital Corp

Inventors

• Ben-Yakar Adela
• Hoy Christopher L
• Everett William Neil
• Kobler James B
• Anderson Richard Rox
• Farinelli William A
• Zeitels Steven M

Classifications

• A61B2018/2085

  Human Necessities · mapped topic

• A61B18/20 Primary

  using laser · CPC title

• A61B2017/00057

  Light · CPC title

• A61B2018/20351

  Scanning mechanisms · CPC title

• A61B2018/20361

  with redirecting based on sensed condition, e.g. tissue analysis or tissue movement · CPC title