Malleable energy wand for maze procedure
An apparatus for treating a biological tissue of a patient in situ includes an optical fiber for guiding a coherent waveform of a selected wavelength to a fiber tip. The wavelength is selected to have a low absorption in water. The fiber tip is contained within a guide member having a discharge bore to define an unobstructed light pathway. The guide member is adapted to be slidable along a tissue surface in atraumatic sliding engagement with the discharge bore opposing the surface. The guide member is carried on an elongated flexible member.
1. An apparatus for treating an atrial tissue of a patient in situ, comprising:
a. an optical fiber for guiding a coherent waveform of a selected wavelength to a fiber tip for discharge of light energy from said fiber tip in a direction of energy discharge, said wavelength selected to have a low absorption in water;
b. said fiber tip contained within a guide member having a discharge bore for said direction of energy discharge to define an unobstructed light pathway from the fiber tip through a discharge end of said discharge bore, said guide member having a smooth, curved surface adapted to be placed against a surface of said tissue and to be slidable along said surface of said atrial tissue; and in atraumatic sliding engagement and with said discharge bore opposing said atrial tissue said fiber tip spaced from said discharge end in a substantially fixed spacing;
c. said guide member carried on an elongated flexible member.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a wand with a handle at a proximate end and said guide member at a distal end.
3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein at least a portion of a length of said flexible member is malleable.
4. An apparatus according to claim 3 including controls on said handle for changing a shape of said flexible member.
5. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a fluid pathway in fluid flow communication with said guide member to admit a bio-compatible flushing fluid to said guide member.
6. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said guide member is a guide tip formed of a material substantially transparent to said wavelength.
7. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said wavelength is selected from a range of about 790 nm to about 850 nm.
8. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said guide member includes a lumen for passage of a fluid through said guide member.
9. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said wavelength is about 805 nm.
10. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said guide member is fixed in a fixed position relative to said flexible member.
11. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a handle connected to said flexible member.
12. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said wavelength is selected from a range of about 470 nm to about 900 nm.
13. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said wavelength is selected from a range of about 1050 nm to about 1150 nm.