Device for the treatment of the vaginal canal and relevant equipment

Abstract

The device for the treatment of the vaginal canal by a laser beam, comprises a vaginal canal wall retractor, associated to a system for directing the laser beam towards said wall.

1 . A device for treating the vaginal canal by a laser beam, comprising: a
 vaginal canal wall retractor defining a hollow volume;   a system for directing the laser beam towards said wall, said system including a mirror arranged in said hollow volume;   a laser beam scanning system arranged and controlled for directing a laser beam on said mirror and for moving said laser beam according to a pre-settable pattern.   
     
     
         2 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said vaginal canal wall retractor comprises expansion members defining said central hollow volume, wherein said mirror is positioned. 
     
     
         3 . A device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said expansion members are fixed with respect to one another and define a fixed hollow volume. 
     
     
         4 . A device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said mirror is arranged in fixed position within said hollow volume, in a proximity of a distal end of said hollow volume. 
     
     
         5 . A device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said expansion members comprise a frame formed by elongated and shaped linear elements. 
     
     
         6 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an outer protection skirt which at least partially surrounds said hollow volume.   
     
     
         7 . A device as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising:
 an outer protection skirt which at least partially surrounds said hollow volume, wherein said outer protection skirt at least partly surrounds said frame.   
     
     
         8 . A device as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said skirt has an aperture or at least a portion made of a material transparent to the laser radiation. 
     
     
         9 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said laser beam scanning system is reversibly connectable to said vaginal canal wall retractor. 
     
     
         10 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fume suction system into the vaginal canal.   
     
     
         11 . A device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said laser beam scanning system is controlled to move a laser beam according to a treatment pattern and to direct a moving laser beam towards said mirror arranged in said hollow volume, the movable laser beam being reflected by said mirror towards an exterior of said hollow volume. 
     
     
         12 . A laser apparatus comprising:
 a laser source;   a waveguide; and   a device comprising a vaginal canal wall retractor defining a hollow volume, a system for directing a laser beam towards said wall and a laser beam scanning system arranged and controlled for directing a laser beam on said mirror and for moving said laser beam according to a pre-settable pattern, said system including a mirror arranged in said hollow volume, said device being connected to said laser source through said waveguide.   
     
     
         13 . A laser apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said laser source is a pulsed source. 
     
     
         14 . A laser apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said laser source is a continuous source. 
     
     
         15 . A laser apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said laser source is controlled for renewing epithelium and stimulating a production of collagen in vaginal mucosa. 
     
     
         16 . A laser apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein emission pulses have a duration comprised between 0.1 and 10 ms and preferably between 0.2 and 2 ms. 
     
     
         17 . A laser apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said laser source emits at a wavelength comprised between 1000 nm and 12,000 nm and preferably equal to 10,600 nm. 
     
     
         18 . A laser apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said laser source has a power comprised between 2 and 100 W and preferably between 1 0 and 50 W. 
     
     
         19 . A laser apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said laser source and said device are controlled so as to generate a pulse treatment pattern with a spacing between consecutive scanning points comprised between 0 and 5,000 micrometers, preferably between 50 and 5,000 micrometers and even more preferably between 200 and 2,000 micrometers. 
     
     
         20 . A laser apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein a pulsed or continuous laser beam is controlled for remaining on same spots repeating an emission time up to 5 times a time of a single emission. 
     
     
         21 . A device as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said mirror is arranged in fixed position within said hollow volume, in a proximity of a distal end of said hollow volume. 
     
     
         22 . A device as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said expansion members comprise a frame formed by elongated and shaped linear elements. 
     
     
         23 . A device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said expansion members comprise a frame formed by elongated and shaped linear elements. 
     
     
         24 . A device as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 an outer protection skirt which at least partially surrounds said hollow volume.   
     
     
         25 . A device as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said skirt has an aperture or at least a portion made of a material transparent to the laser radiation.