Spectral detection of optical fiber flashing event

1 . A laser tissue ablation system, comprising:

an optical fiber including a distal end extendible from an endoscope body of an endoscope, the optical fiber configured to:

deliver therapeutic laser light from the distal end of the optical fiber toward a target site; and

receive return light into the distal end of the optical fiber;

a sensor configured to spectrally measure the return light; processor circuitry configured to:

form a first determination, from the spectral measurement of the return light, whether flashing event light is present in the return light, the flashing event light being generated when a flashing event occurs at the distal end of the optical fiber; and

generate, in response to the first determination, a flashing event data signal that indicates whether the flashing event has occurred; and

an actuator controllable by the processor circuitry, the actuator configured to automatically retract the optical fiber proximally with respect to the endoscope body by a specified distance in response to the first determination, the specified distance being sufficient to terminate the flashing event.

2 . The laser tissue ablation system of claim 1 , wherein the flashing event light is spectrally separated from the therapeutic laser light.

3 . The laser tissue ablation system of claim 1 , wherein:

the therapeutic laser light includes a first wavelength; and

the flashing event light has a spectral profile that includes wavelengths that are less than the first wavelength.

4 . The laser tissue ablation system of claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a wheel, the wheel having a center that is fixed in position with respect to the endoscope body, the wheel having a circumferential surface that contacts the optical fiber, the wheel being rotatable from a rotary actuator controllable by the processor circuitry.

5 . The laser tissue ablation system of claim 1 , further comprising an irrigation regulator coupled to the endoscope and configured to supply an irrigant to the target site at a controllable irrigation rate, the irrigation regulator being further configured to increase the irrigation rate in response to receiving data that corresponds to the flashing event data signal.

6 . The laser tissue ablation system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a spectrometer.

7 . The laser tissue ablation system of claim 6 , wherein the spectrometer and the processor circuitry are further configured to use the flashing event light to generate a spectral profile of the target site.

8 . The laser tissue ablation system of claim 7 , wherein the processor circuitry is further configured to use the spectral profile of the target site to determine a material composition of the target site.

9 . The laser tissue ablation system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises:

a dichroic beamsplitter configured to receive the return light, direct the therapeutic laser light along a first optical path, and direct the flashing event light along a second optical path; and

a light sensor configured to detect light from the second optical path.

10 . A laser tissue ablation system, comprising:

an optical fiber including a distal end extendible from an endoscope body of an endoscope, the optical fiber configured to:

deliver therapeutic laser light from the distal end of the optical fiber toward a target site; and

receive return light into the distal end of the optical fiber;

a sensor configured to spectrally measure the return light;

processor circuitry configured to:

form a first determination, from the spectral measurement of the return light, whether flashing event light is present in the return light, the flashing event light being generated when a flashing event occurs at the distal end of the optical fiber; and

generate, in response to the first determination, a flashing event data signal that indicates whether the flashing event has occurred;

an illumination light source disposed on a distal end of the endoscope body and configured to illuminate the target site with visible illumination to create an illuminated target site;

a video camera disposed on the distal end of the endoscope body and configured to capture a video image of the illuminated target site; and

a video display coupled to the processor circuitry and configured to display the video image of the illuminated target site,

the processor circuitry being further configured to suppress the video image in response to the first determination, such that the video display does not display the video image when the flashing event is occurring.

11 . The laser tissue ablation system of claim 10 , wherein the processor circuitry is further configured to:

form a second determination, from spectral measurement of the return light that indicates that the flashing event light is no longer present in the return light, that the flashing event has ceased; and

resume displaying the video image on the video display, in response to forming the second determination.

12 . A method for operating a laser tissue ablation system, the method comprising:

illuminating, with an illumination light source disposed on a distal end of an endoscope body, a target site with visible light illumination having a visible light illumination spectrum to create an illuminated target site;

capturing, with a video camera disposed on the distal end of the endoscope body, a video image of the illuminated target site;

delivering therapeutic laser light from a distal end of an optical fiber extending distally from the distal end of the endoscope body toward the target site, the therapeutic laser light having at least one therapeutic laser light wavelength;

receiving return light into the distal end of the optical fiber;

performing a spectral measurement of the return light to determine a measured light level in a detection spectral region that does not overlap with the visible light illumination spectrum and does not include the at least one therapeutic laser light wavelength;

comparing, with processor circuitry, the measured light level to a threshold light level;

determining, with the processor circuitry, that the measured light level exceeds the threshold light level; and

generating, with the processor circuitry, in response to the determination that the measured light level exceeds the threshold light level, a flashing event data signal that indicates that a flashing event has occurred at the distal end of the optical fiber.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

causing, with the processor circuitry, an actuator to retract the optical fiber proximally with respect to the endoscope body by a specified distance in response to the determination that the measured light level exceeds the threshold light level, the specified distance being sufficient to terminate the flashing event.

14 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

displaying, on a video display coupled to the processor circuitry, the video image of the illuminated target site; and

suppressing, with the processor circuitry, the video image in response to the determination that the measured light level exceeds the threshold light level, such that the video display does not display the video image when the flashing event is occurring.

15 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

supplying, with an irrigation regulator coupled to the endoscope, an irrigant to the target site at a controllable irrigation rate; and

increasing, with the irrigation regulator, the irrigation rate in response to the determination that the measured light level exceeds the threshold light level.

16 . A laser tissue ablation system, comprising:

an endoscope having an endoscope body;

an illumination light source disposed on a distal end of the endoscope body and configured to illuminate a target site with visible light illumination having a visible light illumination spectral range to create an illuminated target site;

a video camera disposed on the distal end of the endoscope body and configured to capture a video image of the illuminated target site;

a video display configured to display the video image of the illuminated target site;

an optical fiber extending from the endoscope body and configured to:

deliver therapeutic laser light from a distal end of the optical fiber toward the target site, the therapeutic laser light having at least one therapeutic laser light wavelength; and

receive return light into the distal end of the optical fiber;

a spectrometer configured to spectrally measure the return light;

processor circuitry configured to:

determine, from the spectral measurement of the return light, when a light level of the return light at at least one flashing event wavelength has increased over a threshold light level, the at least one flashing event wavelength being different from the at least one therapeutic laser light wavelength and being outside the visible light illumination spectral range; and

generate, in response to a determination that the light level has increased over the threshold light level, a flashing event data signal that indicates that a flashing event has occurred at the distal end of the optical fiber; and

an actuator controllable by the processor circuitry, the actuator configured to automatically retract the optical fiber proximally with respect to the endoscope body by a specified distance in response to the determination that the light level has increased over the threshold light level, the specified distance being sufficient to terminate the flashing event.

17 . The laser tissue ablation system of claim 16 , further comprising an irrigation regulator coupled to the endoscope and configured to supply an irrigant to the target site at a controllable irrigation rate, the processor circuitry being further configured to increase the irrigation rate in response to the determination that the light level has increased over the threshold light level.

18 . A laser tissue ablation system, comprising:

an endoscope having an endoscope body;

an illumination light source disposed on a distal end of the endoscope body and configured to illuminate a target site with visible light illumination having a visible light illumination spectral range to create an illuminated target site;

a video camera disposed on the distal end of the endoscope body and configured to capture a video image of the illuminated target site;

a video display configured to display the video image of the illuminated target site;

an optical fiber extending from the endoscope body and configured to:

deliver therapeutic laser light from a distal end of the optical fiber toward the target site, the therapeutic laser light having at least one therapeutic laser light wavelength; and

receive return light into the distal end of the optical fiber;

a spectrometer configured to spectrally measure the return light; and

processor circuitry configured to:

determine, from the spectral measurement of the return light, when a light level of the return light at at least one flashing event wavelength has increased over a threshold light level, the at least one flashing event wavelength being different from the at least one therapeutic laser light wavelength and being outside the visible light illumination spectral range; and

generate, in response to a determination that the light level has increased over the threshold light level, a flashing event data signal that indicates that a flashing event has occurred at the distal end of the optical fiber,

wherein the processor circuitry is further configured to suppress the video image in response to the determination that the light level has increased over the threshold light level, such that the video display does not display the video image when the flashing event is occurring.