Selective laser vaporization of materials

Abstract

A system may include a laser configured to output laser light with a wavelength between 600-780 nm, and a radiation delivery device. The radiation delivery device may be configured to output the laser light to a mesh or suture implant so that the mesh or suture implant is exposed to the laser light. The mesh or suture implant is attached to a patient and surrounded at least partially by tissue of the patient. The mesh or suture implant is vaporized by exposure to the laser light while tissue exposed to the laser light is not damaged by the laser light.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method to vaporize at least a portion of a mesh or suture material, the method comprising:
 activating a laser to output laser light having a wavelength between about 600 nm to 1300 nm to a lens, such that the lens directs the laser light from the laser onto tissue and a portion of the mesh or suture material, thereby vaporizing at least a portion of the mesh or suture material.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the laser comprises one of a red diode laser or an infrared diode laser. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the mesh or suture material comprises a portion of a surgical vaginal mesh implant that has been implanted into a vagina. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue exposed to the laser light is not damaged while the mesh or suture material is vaporized. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a single pulse of the laser vaporizes the mesh or suture material so that a portion of the mesh or suture material is separated from another portion of the mesh or suture material. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a single pulse of the laser destroys the structure of the mesh or suture material without thermal damage occurring to adjacent tissue. 
     
     
         7 . A method comprising:
 activating a laser to output laser light having a wavelength from 600 nm-1300 nm such that the laser light irradiates both (1) tissue; and (2) multiple legs of the mesh or suture material and the multiple legs of the mesh or suture material are vaporized.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 dying the mesh or suture materials a predetermined color; and   adjusting the laser to output a wavelength between about 600 nm to 1300 nm.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the dying occurs prior to the mesh or suture materials are implanted into a patient, and wherein the adjusting the laser comprises adjusting the laser to output a wavelength between about 780 nm to 1300 nm. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein a single pulse of the laser destroys the structure of the mesh or suture material without thermal damage occurring to adjacent tissue. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein a lens focuses the laser light to only focus on a single leg of the mesh or on a single suture. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the lens is adjustable such that a diameter of a beam of the laser light is configured to be adjusted. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the laser is configured to output laser light at a wavelength between 600-780 nm. 
     
     
         14 . A system comprising:
 a laser configured to output laser light with a wavelength between 600-1300 nm; and   a lens configured to output the laser light to a mesh or suture implant so that the mesh or suture implant is exposed to the laser light,   wherein the lens is coupled with the laser such that, while the laser is outputting the laser light at a wavelength between 600-1300 nm, the collimating lens is configured to direct the laser light output by the laser to tissue and a mesh or suture implant so that the mesh or suture implant is vaporized by exposure to the laser light when exposed to the laser light, wherein the portion of the mesh or suture material comprises a portion of a surgical vaginal mesh implant that has been implanted into a vagina.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the laser is a red diode laser that is configured to output laser light with a wavelength between 600-780 nm. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein lens comprises a collimating lens configured to focus the laser light on the mesh or suture implant. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising an optical fiber, and an attaching member to attach the optical fiber to the collimating lens.