US 11,957,622 B2
Laser induced collagen crosslinking in tissue
Sinisa Vukelic, New York, NY (US); and Gerard A. Ateshian, New York, NY (US)
Assigned to The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York, New York, NY (US)
Filed by The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York, New York, NY (US)
Filed on Jan. 12, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/096,307.
Application 18/096,307 is a continuation of application No. 17/183,041, filed on Feb. 23, 2021, granted, now 11,559,433.
Application 17/183,041 is a continuation of application No. 15/893,264, granted, now 10,940,042, issued on Mar. 9, 2021, previously published as PCT/US2016/058353, filed on Oct. 23, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/380,713, filed on Aug. 29, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/358,035, filed on Jul. 3, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/245,805, filed on Oct. 23, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2023/0248570 A1, Aug. 10, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61F 9/008 (2006.01); A61B 18/00 (2006.01); A61B 18/04 (2006.01); A61B 18/20 (2006.01); A61B 18/26 (2006.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01); A61N 1/44 (2006.01); A61N 5/06 (2006.01); A61N 5/067 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 9/008 (2013.01) [A61B 18/042 (2013.01); A61B 18/203 (2013.01); A61B 18/26 (2013.01); A61B 90/361 (2016.02); A61N 1/44 (2013.01); A61N 5/062 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00702 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00785 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00791 (2013.01); A61B 2018/20359 (2017.05); A61B 2018/20553 (2017.05); A61B 2018/205545 (2017.05); A61B 2018/263 (2013.01); A61F 2009/00851 (2013.01); A61F 2009/00872 (2013.01); A61F 2009/00882 (2013.01); A61F 2009/00897 (2013.01); A61N 5/067 (2021.08)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of inducing cross-linking in a cartilage, the method comprising:
irradiating the cartilage with pulses of focused infrared light, without a photosensitizer present in or on the cartilage,
wherein the pulses of focused infrared light have an average power output from 10 mW to 100 mW, a pulse energy from 0.1 nJ to 10 nJ and a pulse width from 50 to 150 femtoseconds,
wherein the pulses of focused infrared light cause ionization of water molecules without causing optical breakdown of molecules of the cartilage, and
wherein the pulses of focused infrared light excite the water molecules without directly forming covalent bonds in collagen contained in the cartilage.
 
4. A system for treating cartilage, the system comprising:
an infrared laser configured to output pulses of infrared light having an average power output from 10 mW to 100 mW, a pulse energy from 0.1 nJ to 10 nJ and a pulse width from 50 to 150 femtoseconds; and
focusing optics configured to focus the pulses of infrared light output by the infrared laser, wherein the infrared laser and the focusing optics are configured to generate pulses of focused infrared light that (a) cause ionization of water without causing optical breakdown of molecules of the cartilage, and (b) excite water molecules without directly forming covalent bonds in collagen contained in the cartilage.