US 6,981,971 B2
Medical laser device
Tiziano Caldera, Cambs (United Kingdom); Robert Min, New York, N.Y. (US); and Peter Klein, West Newbury, Mass. (US)
Assigned to Diomed Inc., Andover, Mass. (US)
Filed on Jun. 14, 2002, as Appl. No. 10/172,633.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/369256, filed on Mar. 27, 2002.
Claims priority of application No. 0114687 (GB), filed on Jun. 15, 2001.
Prior Publication US 2003/0078568 A1, Apr. 24, 2003
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 18/18 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 606—15 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A medical laser device comprising:
an introducer sheath having a proximal end and a distal end, a portion of said introducer sheath being insertable into a blood vessel, said introducer sheath having graduated markings along said portion thereof, said graduated markings being exposed as said introducer sheath is withdrawn from the blood vessel;
an optical fiber having a proximal end and a distal tip, said optical fiber being insertable into and movable along said introducer sheath; and
a first indicator on said optical fiber that indicates a position of said distal tip of said optical fiber relative to said introducer sheath when said optical fiber has been inserted into said introducer sheath;
wherein location of said first indicator adjacent said proximal end of said introducer sheath indicates to a user that said distal tip of said optical fiber does not project beyond said distal end of said introducer sheath; and
wherein said introducer sheath may be withdrawn from the blood vessel at a desired rate by controlling exposure of said graduated markings.