TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a fiber probe that emits a pair of ring beams by changing its tip geometry, and an achieving method therefor.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a fiber probe obtained by forming two-angled conical end geometry on a single fiber end, by using a polishing method, in which the laser beam guided along the fiber to the fiber end is deflected into two circular rings.

The invention also relates to a laser ablation device which, emitting double ring beam at the tip, is used in treatment, without permanent damage and scar, of natural diseases like venous insufficiency, of subsequently-formed diseases like fistula or of hemorrhoids formed as damaging of vein in short distance and etc., also capable of counter-beaming in specific applications like hemorrhoids.

PRIOR ART

The valves within the veins are open when the blood flows towards the heart. When going in the opposite direction, the valves help to the normal motion of the blood by closing. In the patients having venous insufficiency, these valves do not function properly (in a healthy way). Therefore, accumulation occurs within veins. Varicose veins caused due to venous insufficiency are frequently encountered in the society. In the treatment of varicose veins which is a health problem affecting life standards adversely, a number of methods have been used.

Pressure socks designed as special for varicose veins can be used in treatment of varicose veins caused due to venous insufficiency. In this way, growth of varicose veins is prevented. However, in this case the patient will need to use a drug that regulates the blood pressure for a long time, so this method is not useful for the patient and can't be used in the treatment of advanced varicose veins.

Vein stripping method is a surgical method that requires anesthesia before the operation. Also, the recovery period is long. In sclerotherapy treatment, salt water or medication is injected into the vessels suffering from venous insufficiency. This method does not require incision and anesthesia before operation but it is a painful method.

Finally, various surgical methods like vein removal, bypass (replacement with non-congested vein) are disadvantageous because they require anesthesia, surgical incision, and they could leave pain, infection risk of incision area, wound and permanent damage. Classical treatments could cause many side effects. Recently, laser devices have been frequently used in the treatment of venous insufficiency.

In addition to varicose veins, hemorrhoids, fistulas and similar diseases are also commonly encountered. 80% of people faces hemorrhoids at least once in their lives. Hemorrhoids, as in varicose veins, occur as a result of vein enlargement in the perianal region. If the venous pressure within the hemorrhoids tissue increases, this tissue swells and begins to prolapse. As a result, it becomes a disease. The fistula is a disease which causes a rectal discharge around the rectum by bringing a gap between the skin and the intestines. As well as in the treatment of diseases such as hemorrhoids, fistulas and varicose veins, laser ablation devices are also preferred in the treatment of thyroid nodules and the treatment of tumors in the organs such as prostate, breast and liver because they do not cause any cuts, wounds and tissue loss and their healing (recovery) period is shorter.

Optical fibers have been frequently used in the health sector for lithotripsy, venous insufficiency and photo thermal tissue ablation. Laser ablation is a treatment method based on the treatment of damaged vessel within the vessel by applying appropriate laser energy by inserting a thin structure into the vein instead of removing the damaged vessels by surgery. The operation/implementation and recovery time of this treatment is much shorter than the other treatment methods. The patient can return immediately to his/her daily activities. It has a higher success rate than surgery and other classical methods and has less probability to recur.

Optical fiber cables are glass or plastic structures in which beams can easily pass through. Optical fibers supported by diagonal modes and spreading lines are called multimode fiber optics. Single-mode fibers are fibers supported by a single mode. It is difficult and complicated to make addition to optical fiber cables. The fiber ends to be joined must be carefully cut and then joined by melting it or mechanically.

Since the diameter of the optical fibers is flexible and compatible with the human tissue, they transmit the desired energy. There are three types of laser beams that are used for medical purposes: bare, radial, and side-firings. The bare optical fiber emits laser light in the same direction with the optical fiber that the side-pushing fiber vertically transmits the laser beam to its fiber axis so, it forms a circular beam. Radial fibers emit laser light homogeneously at 360 degrees so, they form a circular beam. Generally, radial fibers are used in the elimination of venous insufficiency. In the treatment of venous insufficiency, ring-shaped beams are the most ideal laser beam shape. The main reason to use the ring type beam is that the ring type beams transmit less ray towards the vessel walls. Double-ring optical fibers have advantages of, such as, reduction of intensity distribution and of temperature increase for each ring. While the first ring heats the vessel wall, second ring removes the heated surface. Although the advantages of the double ring over venous are known, there is little information about the production technique.

The document WO2011085299 mentions a radiotherapy method under fat tissue by means of a radiation energy source. The methods described as radiation-assisted tissue healing includes insertion of a portion of a device or of a part under the skin that will be treated, radiation transmission/exposure, and movement of device within the tissue area to reach all damaged-tissue. The device performing subcutaneous (under the skin) radiation therapy includes a portion that can be inserted under the skin and a handpiece that can be held and manipulated outside the body. In this preferred embodiment, the handpiece contains a hollow cannula containing at least one channel for the treatment and/or irrigation of the fat tissue, and a light guiding device in the body-wall region for the purpose of treating and liquefying of the fat tissue. A wide variety of fiber-optic configurations are available. For example, side-emitting, conical, radial emitting, drop-shaped, reflective lids can be used. Device contains at least one radiation source added to device part that permanently or removably attached to the handpiece. However, it is a device related to the removal of fat tissue, not developed to venous insufficiency and similar diseases.

At the document KR20130114403, waste material in the blood vessel can be melted by means of a fiber optic device with ring-shaped beam exit by adding a small optical system (a convex and concave shaped mirror or an aluminum covered attachment part added to the optical fiber end) to the existing optical fiber. However, in this patent document, it is not mentioned about two rings at specific diameters obtained by polishing method with specific angles, the rings in mentioned treatment method are obtained with an additional system added to the fiber optic tip.

According to patent document WO2012047309, this device consists of an optical fiber that includes two or more radiating parts in the distal region to provide 360° radial emission to vessel. According to the patent document, the device has two beam spreading zones. The beam propagation direction is determined by the angle of the fiber's conical parts. The fiber may be fused with the truncated cone. When it is not fused, the space inside can be filled with glue or liquid. The lateral surface of the fiber can be fused or glued with a glass dome. By combining (addition) two optical fibers formed at two different angles, desired reflection angles are obtained. Venous insufficiency and similar diseases are treated thanks to two or more ring-shaped beams having a diameter proportional to the reflection angle obtained by this method. However, the technique used in the production of this device has disadvantage when considered as economically.

As a result, due to that the production difficulties of the prior art solutions increase the final product cost and prevent the solution to be commonly used, the require for a dual ring laser device which can be manufactured easier and at lower cost lets the present invention to come up.

Objectives and Short Description of the Invention

The objective of invention is to present a laser probe which, emitting energy-dual ring beams around 15 W from an optical fiber's fiber tip formed by polishing and sanding method, is used treatment of diseases like venous insufficiency, of subsequently-formed diseases like fistula or of hemorrhoids formed as damaging of vein in short distance and etc., which does not require anesthesia or any preparation before operation, and which allows a treatment without permanent damage and scar, and to present a production method therefore.

Another objective of the invention is to present a fiber probe with two different conical angled surfaces where the rays guided through inside the fiber are reflected at fiber tip via a first conical shaped-end formed at a first specific angle at fiber's tip and a second conical shaped-end formed at different specific angle by starting from a certain portion of the first conical shaped-end.

Another objective of the invention is to present a truncated fiber end containing a flattened portion through, where laser beam guided through inside the fiber along the fiber axis to fiber end is guided along fiber axis to outside for allowing the laser beam to be used as counter strike at a certain energy level in addition to lateral strike.

Another objective of the invention is to present a laser ablation device-production method containing placing the untreated fiber surface on the first film surface that is used in the polishing system with a specific initial positioning angle to give a first form to the fiber end, taking the first tapered shape in this first positioning direction, placing the fiber end which completes first procedure then takes tapered-shape, on the second film surface, machining the second form until certain portion of first region with a certain second positioning angle, thereby forming the second region at the fiber end.

