Optimization of BPH treatment using LEP (laser enucleation of prostate)

1. A method of treating a target tissue with a laser beam, said target tissue being immersed in a liquid medium within a body lumen, the method comprising:

providing a laser device for generating a laser beam;

providing an endoscope configured to be introduced into the body lumen, the endoscope having a distal end portion;

providing an optical fiber configured to be contained in the endoscope and having a distal delivery end for guiding the laser beam to the target tissue, wherein the distal delivery end protrudes a distance from the distal end portion of the endoscope;

providing a controller for causing the laser device to generate one or more laser pulses substantially along a longitudinal axis defined by the optical fiber delivery end;

the controller causing the laser device to provide one or more laser pulses, the one or more laser pulses being configured by the controller to have an energy sufficient to form one or more vapor bubbles in the liquid medium at the distal delivery end of the fiber;

the one or more pulses being selected by the controller:

first, causing a vapor bubble to be formed distally of the distal end portion of the endoscope and around the distal delivery end of the optical fiber;

second, causing a second vapor bubble to be formed distally of the first bubble, the second vapor bubble being distal of both the endoscope distal end portion and the optical fiber distal delivery end;

third, inflating the second bubble as the first bubble has begun to collapse to expand an amount sufficient to displace a substantial portion of the liquid medium from the space between the distal delivery end of the fiber and the target tissue, the one or more pulses being delivered to the target tissue through the inflated second bubble; and,

wherein the displacement of the second bubble away from the distal portion of the endoscope and the distal delivery end of the optical fiber reduces wear and/or injury to one or more of the endoscope and the optical fiber.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more laser pulses is more than one train of pulses, further comprising the step of the controller of selecting a repetition rate for delivery of the more than one laser pulses.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

selecting at least the following parameters through the controller: selecting the total energy of one or more pulses to be delivered to the target tissue, and selecting the distance from the delivery end to the target tissue.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising the steps of: measuring actual energy irradiated by the laser device; comparing the actual measured energy to a total energy selected by the controller; and, if the comparison demonstrates variance of the actual measured energy from the selected total energy, the controller adjusting the energy for any following pulses to achieve the selected energy delivered to the target tissue.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the step of measuring the actual energy delivered by the laser is performed by a photodetector in the light path of the laser radiation.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the step of the controller adjusting the energy is accomplished by a closed loop feedback circuit operatively connected to the controller.

7. The method of claim 3 , wherein the step of selecting the distance from the delivery end to the target tissue includes the further step of measuring the distance and selecting the measured distance.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the target tissue is a tissue, an organ or a formed stone within a human body.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of selecting and mounting on the laser device an optical fiber type to be used in irradiating the target tissue.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the type of optical fiber includes at least one of the parameters of: fiber diameter, fiber material, fiber numerical aperture and shape of the distal delivery end.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the controller intermittently recognizes parameters associated with the fiber type mounted on the laser device.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of automatically recognizing is performed by a RFID identification tag mounted on the delivery device and on the waveguide or optical fiber.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the controller indicates on a user interface associated with the controller if the optical fiber type is compatible with a treatment selected.

14. Apparatus for the treatment of a target tissue with a laser beam, said target tissue being immersed in a liquid medium within a body lumen, the apparatus comprising:

a laser device for generating a laser beam;

an endoscope configured to be introduced into the body lumen, the endoscope having a distal end portion;

an optical fiber configured to be contained in the endoscope and having a distal delivery end for guiding the laser beam to the target tissue, wherein the distal delivery end protrudes a distance from the distal end portion of the endoscope;

a controller for causing the laser device to generate one or more laser pulses substantially along a longitudinal axis defined by the optical fiber delivery end;

wherein the laser device is configured to provide one or more laser pulses, the one or more laser pulses being configured by the controller to have an energy sufficient to form one or more vapor bubbles in the liquid medium at the distal delivery end of the fiber;

the one or more pulses being configured by the controller to:

first, cause a vapor bubble to be formed distally of the distal end portion of the endoscope and around the distal delivery end of the optical fiber;

second, cause a second vapor bubble to be formed distally of the first bubble, the second vapor bubble being distal of both the endoscope distal end portion and the optical fiber distal delivery end;

third, inflate the second bubble as the first bubble has begun to collapse to expand an amount sufficient to displace a substantial portion of the liquid medium from the space between the distal delivery end of the fiber and the target tissue, the one or more pulses being delivered to the target tissue through the inflated second bubble; and,

wherein the displacement of the second bubble away from the distal portion of the endoscope and the distal delivery end of the optical fiber reduces wear and/or injury to one or more of the endoscope and the optical fiber.