Cooled laser fiber and method for improved thermal therapy

1. An apparatus for delivering energy to a tissue, the apparatus comprising:

a housing extending from a proximal end to a distal end and defining a lumen therein;

an energy delivery component positioned within the lumen;

a first channel formed adjacent to the energy delivery component;

a second channel formed adjacent to the housing;

a first inlet in communication with the first channel; and

a second outlet in communication with the second channel;

wherein a fluid flow path enables a heat transfer fluid to flow from the first inlet to the first channel, along the second channel to the second outlet to transfer heat from the energy delivery component;

wherein the housing includes an outer non-stick coating formed from fluoropolymers or silicones.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the energy delivery component is an optical wave guide configured to emit energy from a diffusing tip of the energy delivery component.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising an energy source coupled to the energy delivery component, wherein the energy source is a laser.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the optical wave guide is formed as an optical fiber having a core, an outer cladding, and an outer protective jacket.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the optical wave guide includes an angular emitting element positioned over a portion of the diffusing tip to angularly direct energy delivered from the diffusing tip.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the housing is flexible and transparent to enable the energy delivery component to deliver energy through the housing.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the housing includes a penetrating tip portion having an embedded light-scattering particle portion within the tip portion for reducing forward propagation of light from the energy delivery component.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a coupling assembly coupled to the proximal end of the housing and defining the first inlet and the second outlet and configured to receive the energy delivery component.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a laser energy source to deliver energy to the energy delivery component and a heat transfer fluid supply to deliver the heat transfer fluid through the fluid flow path.

10. An apparatus for delivering energy to a tissue, the apparatus comprising:

a housing extending from a proximal end to a distal end and defining a lumen therein;

an energy delivery component positioned within the lumen;

a first channel formed adjacent to the energy delivery component;

a second channel formed adjacent to the housing;

a first inlet in communication with the first channel; and

a second outlet in communication with the second channel;

wherein a fluid flow path enables a heat transfer fluid to flow from the first inlet to the first channel, along the second channel to the second outlet to transfer heat from the energy delivery component;

wherein the housing further includes a structure positioned within the housing that separates the first channel from the second channel;

wherein the structure has a first cross-sectional shape and the housing has a second cross-sectional shape, wherein the first cross-sectional shape differs from the second cross-sectional shape.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first cross-sectional shape is circular and the second cross-sectional shape is selected from the group consisting of circular, pentagon, triangular, star, rectangular, and oval.

12. The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising at least one radially extending spacer extending between the energy delivery component and the structure or the structure and the housing.

13. An apparatus for delivering energy to a tissue, the apparatus comprising:

a housing extending from a proximal end to a distal end and defining a lumen therein;

an energy delivery component positioned within the lumen;

a first channel formed adjacent to the energy delivery component;

a second channel formed adjacent to the housing;

a first inlet in communication with the first channel; and

a second outlet in communication with the second channel;

wherein a fluid flow path enables a heat transfer fluid to flow from the first inlet to the first channel, along the second channel to the second outlet to transfer heat from the energy delivery component;

wherein the first channel and the second channel have a first cross-sectional area adjacent the proximal end of the housing and a second cross-sectional area adjacent the distal end of the housing, the first cross-sectional area is larger than the second cross-sectional area.

14. An apparatus for delivering energy to a tissue, the apparatus comprising:

a housing extending from a proximal end to a distal end and defining a lumen therein;

an energy delivery component positioned within the lumen;

a first channel formed adjacent to the energy delivery component;

a second channel formed adjacent to the housing;

a first inlet in communication with the first channel; and

a second outlet in communication with the second channel;

wherein a fluid flow path enables a heat transfer fluid to flow from the first inlet to the first channel, along the second channel to the second outlet to transfer heat from the energy delivery component;

wherein the distal end of the housing defines a fluid pathway and wherein the energy delivery component is configured to be advanced or retracted in the housing to close or open the fluid pathway.

15. An apparatus for delivering energy to a tissue, the apparatus comprising:

a housing extending from a proximal end to a distal end and defining a lumen therein;

an energy delivery component positioned within the lumen;

a first channel formed adjacent to the energy delivery component;

a second channel formed adjacent to the housing;

a first inlet in communication with the first channel; and

a second outlet in communication with the second channel;

wherein a fluid flow path enables a heat transfer fluid to flow from the first inlet to the first channel, along the second channel to the second outlet to transfer heat from the energy delivery component;

wherein the housing defines a plurality of perforations adjacent the distal end of the housing to allow fluid to pass from the housing to the tissue.

16. An apparatus for delivering energy to a tissue, the apparatus comprising:

a housing extending from a proximal end to a distal end and defining a lumen therein;

an energy delivery component positioned within the lumen;

a first channel formed adjacent to the energy delivery component;

a second channel formed adjacent to the housing;

a first inlet in communication with the first channel; and

a second outlet in communication with the second channel;

wherein a fluid flow path enables a heat transfer fluid to flow from the first inlet to the first channel, along the second channel to the second outlet to transfer heat from the energy delivery component;

wherein the housing further includes a reflective material positioned along a length of the housing to direct energy from the energy delivery component.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the reflective material is positioned around a portion of the housing along the length and located either on an inner surface of the housing or an outer surface of the housing.

18. An apparatus for delivering energy to a tissue, the apparatus comprising:

a housing extending from a proximal end to a distal end and defining a lumen therein;

a penetrating tip extending from the distal end of the housing;

a coupling assembly coupled to the proximal end of the housing, the coupling assembly defining a first inlet and a second inlet;

an optical wave guide positioned within the lumen to deliver energy;

a first channel formed adjacent to the optical wave guide;

a second channel formed adjacent to the housing;

wherein a fluid flow path enables a heat transfer fluid to flow from the first inlet to the first channel, along the second channel to the second outlet to transfer heat generated from the energy from the optical wave guide.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , further comprising a laser energy source to deliver energy to the optical wave guide and a heat transfer fluid supply to deliver the heat transfer fluid through the fluid flow path.

20. An apparatus for delivering energy to a tissue, the apparatus comprising:

a housing extending from a proximal end to a distal end and defining a lumen therein;

a structure positioned within the housing and concentric with a longitudinal axis of the housing;

a penetrating tip extending from the distal end of the housing;

a coupling assembly coupled to the proximal end of the housing, the coupling assembly defining a first inlet and a second inlet;

an optical wave guide positioned within the lumen to deliver energy, the optical wave guide extending along the longitudinal axis of the housing;

a first channel formed between the optical wave guide and the structure;

a second channel formed between the structure and the housing;

wherein a fluid flow path enables a heat transfer fluid to flow from the first inlet to the first channel, along the second channel to the second outlet to transfer heat generated from the energy from the optical wave guide.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 , further comprising a laser energy source to deliver energy to the optical wave guide and a heat transfer fluid supply to deliver the heat transfer fluid through the fluid flow path.