Iradion Laser, Inc.

Surgilase, Inc.

Other

Clifford E Morrow

Otto J Gregory

Wendelin Weingartner

Gong-En Gu

Mary B Bauman

Poonam Bhardwaj

Poonam Bhardwag

In at least one illustrative embodiment, a laser may include a ceramic body defining a chamber containing a laser gas. The chamber may include first and second slab waveguide sections extending along parallel first and second axes and a third slab waveguide section extending along a perpendicular third axis. Respective first ends of the first and second slab waveguide sections may be positioned adjacent opposite ends of the third slab waveguide section. The laser may also include first and second end mirrors positioned at respective second ends of the first and second slab waveguide sections, a first fold mirror positioned near an intersection of the first and third axes at a 45-degree angle to both the first and third axes, and a second fold mirror positioned near an intersection of the second and third axes at a 45-degree angle to both the second and third axes, such that the first, second, and third slab waveguide sections waveguide recirculating light that is polarized orthogonal to a plane defined by the first, second, and third axes.

Flat-folded ceramic slab lasers

A laser may comprise a ceramic body including a first wall and a second wall opposite the first wall, a first mirror positioned at first ends of the first and second walls, a second mirror positioned at second ends of the first and second walls opposite the first ends, the first and second walls and the first and second mirrors defining a slab laser cavity within the ceramic body. The laser may further comprise a first electrode positioned outside the laser cavity and adjacent to the first wall of the ceramic body and a second electrode positioned outside the laser cavity and adjacent to the second wall of the ceramic body, wherein a laser gas disposed in the laser cavity is excited when an excitation signal is applied to the first and second electrodes. In some embodiments, the first and second mirrors may form a free-space multi-folded resonator in the slab laser cavity. In other embodiments, the first and second mirrors may form a free-space unstable resonator in the slab laser cavity. In still other embodiments, the first and second mirrors may form a waveguide unstable resonator in the slab laser cavity.

Ceramic slab, free-space and waveguide lasers

A laser may comprise a ceramic body defining a chamber therein containing a laser gas. The ceramic body may include a plurality of parallel walls that partially define a first section of the chamber, the first section of the chamber defining a waveguide. The ceramic body may further include a plurality of oblique walls that partially define a second section of the chamber, the second section of the chamber being shaped to modify a transverse profile of a laser beam traveling through the second section of the chamber. The laser may further comprise a plurality of electrodes positioned outside the ceramic body and adjacent to the plurality of parallel walls such that only laser gas within the first section of the chamber is excited when an excitation signal is applied to the plurality of electrodes.

Ceramic gas laser having an integrated beam shaping waveguide

An RF excited gas laser including an offset V-shaped laser cavity. The laser includes a first and second ceramic body portions with the laser cavity at least partially defined by the ceramic body portions. At least one internal gas reservoir is also at least partially defined by the first and second body portions, with the internal gas reservoir being in gas communication with laser cavity by way of at least one gas communication slot. The RF laser further includes at least two electrode slots formed in the exterior of the ceramic body portions and an electrode at least partially received in the electrode slots.

RF laser

The present application discloses a method and apparatus for making a low cost and highly efficient hollow waveguide for transmitting electromagnetic radiation. The waveguide is made from a solid substrate monolithic hollow tube with a reflectivity enhancing dielectric film formed directly over the inner surface. The film can be formed by native chemical reactions, with the material of the monolithic, hollow tube. The present application also discloses a method of polishing and cleaning the inner surface of the hollow tube. One of the problems identified with the hollow metallic waveguide has been the poor surface finish on the inner wall of the hollow tube which results from the processes used to fabricate the metallic tube into final form. The coated reflectivity enhancing dielectric films more or less duplicate the surface roughness in the as formed tube thus seriously affecting the performance of the waveguide especially at the shorter wavelengths. The interior surface of the as received metal tubes can be significantly improved by chemically polishing and cleaning the tube and thereby improving the transmission characteristic of the wave guides for both infrared and visible wavelengths.

Monolithic hollow waveguide method

Method for making monolithic hollow waveguide

Monolithic hollow waveguide and method and apparatus for making the same

An apparatus comprising a continuous wave (CW) laser and a transverse electrode atmospheric (TEA) pulsed laser, the continuous wave laser and transverse electrode atmospheric pulsed laser each producing laser beams, the laser beams from each of the lasers being provided to an optical mixer for combing the two laser beams into an output beam. The output beam can be either laser beam individually, or a combined coaxial beam wherein the CW laser beam and TEA pulsed laser beam are superimposed on each other. Preferably, the two lasers are CO.sub.2 lasers. The CW laser can also be operated in a pulsed mode. The device is particularly useful for medical and surgical treatment and provides effects not possible before.

Method and apparatus for combining continuous wave laser with TEA pulsed

Laser power is delivered at normal intensities or powers to the end of a laser guide such as an articulated arm from a laser console where the beam enters an attached attenuating unit. Inside the attenuator, the beam encounters a dual wavelength beam splitter that transmits an attenuated beam at, for example, 20 times reduction of power. The attenuated beam may be delivered to an area of medical treatment. The beam splitter is also reflective and reflects the remaining power to a power sensor where the thermal energy is absorbed and measured. The power of the attenuated beam is related to the power of the measured reflected beam. The beam splitter is coated to allow maximum transmission of a visible guide beam that always travels coaxially to the operating laser energy being attenuated. A signal from the power sensor is provided to a preferably battery powered read-out device that provides the surgeon with real time accurate readings of delivered power.

Method and apparatus for attenuation and measurement of laser power at

Apparatus for combining two laser beams each having a power level into a common colinear laser beam having a power level that is the sum of the power levels of the two laser beams comprising a support, a polarization selective device disposed on the support having a first surfaces upon which a first of the laser beams impinges for transmitting the first laser beam with substantially full power transmission along an axis and having a second surface upon which the second laser beam impinges for reflecting the second laser beam with substantially full power along the axis, resulting in a common colinear beam along the axis, and suitable optical and/or mechanical devices disposed on the support for providing the first and second laser beams to the polarization selective device, the first and second laser beams being substantially orthogonally polarized with respect to each other.

Growing community of inventors

North Kingstown, RI, United States of America

Clifford E Morrow