Method of laser-assisted prostatectomy and apparatus for carrying out the method

United States Patent m

Leach

[54] METHOD OF LASER-ASSISTED

PROSTATECTOMY AND APPARATUS FOR
CARRYING OUT THE METHOD

[76] Inventor: Gary E. Leach, 2630 Winrow Ct,

Rowland Heights, Calif. 91748 [21] Appl. No.: 81434 [22] Filed: Jan. 25,1993

[51] Int CI.' A61B 17/36

[52] U.S.C1 606/15; 604/21;

128/898; 607/89

[58] Field of Search 606/7, 13-15;

607/88, 89; 604/20-22, 43; 128/898, 4, 6

[56] References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

4,445,892 5/1984 Hussein et al 606/15

5,048,508 9/1991 Store et al 128/4

5,053,033 10/1991 Clarke 606/15

5,083,549 1/1992 Cho et al 604/21

5,207,672 5/1993 Roth et al 606/7

5,217,454 6/1993 Khoury 606/14

Primary Examiner—Stephen C. Pellegrino
Assistant Examiner—M. Peffley

[57] ABSTRACT

A method of laser-assisted prostatectomy which is based on the use of special laseroscope with continuous flow of the flushing and cooling liquid is provided. The

IIIH

USO0532O617A

[ii] Patent Number: 5,320,617 [45] Date of Patent: Jun. 14,1994

method consists of inserting the above laseroscope into the patient's urethra with the laser fiber tip positioned at the prostate gland area, inserting a balloon catheter through the laseroscope to the urinary bladder neck, inflating the balloon of the catheter, initiating an inflow of washing and cooling liquid to the operating area, which is isolated from the urinary bladder by the balloon catheter, inserting a laser fiber into the laseroscope, firing the laser fiber and directing a laser beam laterally from the laser fiber onto the prostatic gland for directing the laser beam to the required area. The method is carried out by means of an apparatus comprising a tubular sheath (10) with three guide tubes, i.e., a guide tube (13) for an optical lens system (12), a second guide tube (14) for a laser fiber (16), and a third or auxiliary guide tube (18) for interchangeably inserting: a cleaning brush (19), which may rotate and reciprocate in the guide tube (18) for cleaning the operating tip of the laser fiber (16); an ultrasonic probe (40) for measuring the degree and depth of ablation of the prostatic tissue; and a balloon catheter (42) for the occlusion of the bladder neck. Spaces (15a) and (156) between the inner surface of the sheath (10) and the outer surfaces of the guide tubes form mutually isolated channels for the continuous supply and removal of the flushing and cooling liquid.

15 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets