Restless Leg Syndrome Treatment
The present invention describes a method of treating restless leg syndrome by eliminating venous reflux in an underlying vein. The malfunctioning vein can be removed or ablated by inserting a catheter into the vein that transmits sufficient energy to coagulate or ablate the lining of the vein causing it to permanently close, eliminating the source of venous reflux and the symptom of restless leg syndrome.
1 . A system for endovenous treatment of restless leg syndrome comprising the following:
A laser having a wavelength between about 1.2 and about 2.7 um;
A fiber optic laser delivery device having a proximal end and a distal end, for delivery of laser energy from the distal end of the fiber optic laser delivery device to the inside wall of a vein; and
A pullback device which retracts the fiber optic laser delivery device through the vein at a rate of between about 0.1 mm/sec and about 10.0 mm/sec while simultaneously delivering laser energy therefrom, wherein collagen in the vessel wall can be heated and shrunk in the absence of blood.
2 . The system of claim 1 in which the pullback device retracts the fiber optic laser delivery device through the vein at a rate of between about 0.5 mm/sec and about 5.0 mm/sec.
3 . The system of claim 1 further comprising an introducer catheter, wherein the fiber optic laser delivery device can be introduced to the vein.
4 . The system of claim 3 in which the introducer catheter comprises an elongated lumen portion having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the fiber optic laser delivery device is introduced to the introducer catheter through the proximal end and is introduced to the vein through the distal end.
5 . The system of claim 1 where a laser energy emitting tip is prevented from making vein wall contact through the use of a coating around the tip of the fiber that creates a space between the emitting tip of the fiber and the vein wall.
6 . The system of claim 1 in which a pulsed laser is used, the pulse width between 1 and 5000 microseconds.
7 . The system of claim 1 in which a pulsed laser is used, the pulse width between 20 and 500 microseconds.