Importance

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Abstract

A method and apparatus for locally delivering an active agent to a selected site in a body lumen using a liquid core laser catheter having a flexible tube for insertion into the lumen, a conduit housed within the tube for coupling a flow of light transmissive liquid from an external source to the site, and an optical fiber housed within the tube for coupling laser energy from an external source to the site. In one embodiment, the conduit has a sidewall capable of internally reflecting light into the liquid in the conduit so that the liquid waveguides the laser energy through the conduit to the site. The method comprises preparing a solution of the active agent, the solution being optically transparent to the laser energy, inserting the flexible tube into the lumen, directing the flexible tube to the site, flowing the light transmissive liquid through the conduit, deflecting the flow of liquid to the selected site, introducing and admixing a flow of the active agent solution into the flowing liquid, and thereafter, transmitting laser energy from an external source to the site, with an amplitude sufficient to create rapid displacement of the flowing liquid thereby producing a hydraulic wave which drives the active agent into the site. In another embodiment, an optical fiber within the conduit transfers laser energy to the distal tip of the catheter whereupon it impacts and is absorbed by light absorptive liquid flowed through the conduit, thereby creating a hydraulic wave adjacent the optical fiber tip.

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First Claim