Laserscope, Inc.

Mark V Ortiz

Dirk J Kuizenga

Scott A Davenport

Steven C Murray

Linda Chen

John H Fair

A system and method for distributing an output beam from a laser system on a body which provides for a uniform fluence level throughout an entire treatment region. A first structure receives the laser beam and aims it along a propagation axis. A scanner scans the propagation axis of the laser beam at a controlled scan velocity, so that the laser beam essentially continuously scans a treatment pattern on the body. The treatment pattern can consist of an essentially straight line, or a ring, or other pattern which can be easily fitted together with other patterns to fill in a treatment area. The method includes the steps of:

Method and system for scanning a laser beam for controlled distribution

A laser system provides output wavelengths at near 1.06 and near 1.44 micron from an Nd:YAG gain medium, along with a frequency doubled output of the 1.06 micron line. This system is based on a laser resonator with a plurality of turning mirrors, each transmissive at a selective subset of the characteristic wavelengths of Nd:YAG and reflective at a selected output wavelength. The mechanism is coupled with the turning mirrors for selectively positioning one of the plurality of turning mirrors in the optical path, directing the beam on an output coupler having a fixed position with respect to a string of components for delivering the output beam to a surgical site. Also, the mechanism can selectively remove the turning mirror from the optical path. In this case, the beam is supplied to a frequency doubling alternate resonator design and output at the second harmonic of the 1.06 micron line is generated.

Multiple frequency medical laser

Power output and power conversion efficiency of an intracavity non-linear optical laser is substantially increased by reducing the effect of thermal focussing per unit of pump energy enabling a stable resonator cavity at high input powers by utilizing a closely coupled reflector, multi-gain media configuration, and various pump source filters and/or semiconductor laser diode pumping.

High-powered intracavity non-linear optic laser

A crystalline slab laser system with an intracavity non-linear optic comprising one of a group of KTP and its isomorphs provides high power frequency summing or doubling. The optical path of the laser travels through the slab shaped gain media in a zigzag pattern.

Crystalline slab laser with intracavity non-linear optic

A mechanism for distributing the output beam from a laser system in a treatment pattern that comprises a plurality of optical fibers, having input ends and output ends. At the input ends, the fibers are secured in a scan configuration for receiving an output beam from a laser. At the output ends, the fibers are configured in a treatment configuration for distributing the output beam in a treatment pattern. A scanner coupled with the laser system directs the beam in a scan pattern at the input ends of the fibers which matches the scan configuration. The treatment configuration secures the output ends of the optical fibers so that the output end of one optical fiber sequentially receiving the beam from the scanner is non-adjacent the output end of a next optical fiber sequentially receiving the beam from the scanner.

System for controlled distribution of laser dosage

A laser system using non-linear crystals for second harmonic generation and solid state gain media is operated under data processor control so that a plurality of pump power modes are available. The data processor modulates the pump power in a low power mode, and supplies continuous pump power in combination with Q-switching in a high power mode. Alternatively, modulation may be used in both low power and high power modes, with the parameters of the modulation adjusted under program control. Second harmonic generation without a Q-switch in high power modes can be achieved as well. The data processing control of pump power allows optimization of pump energy consumption and the generation of waste heat so that the laser resonator may be air-cooled in many environments. Also other design objectives can be achieved for specific laser applications using the program controlled data processor to drive the pump power source.

Frequency doubled solid state laser having programmable pump power modes

A laser system generates suitable laser power for use in photodynamic therapy, and particularly photodynamic therapy using dyes which undergo desired photodynamic reactions at 659 mm, i.e., Purpurin. The laser system generates a red output power of greater than 4 watts. For the therapeutic applications, a means for delivering the red beam to therapeutic sites is provided. The laser system provides for a frequency doubled solid-state laser system in which the non-linear birefringent crystal used to provide frequency doubling is mounted adjacent a flat mirror whereby losses due to walkoff of the beam caused by the crystal are minimized. The laser resonant cavity defined by one flat and one other mirror, which may be stabilized by means, such as thermal lensing in the solid-state gain medium, inside the cavity. A frequency doubled Nd:YAG rod in such cavity tuned to 1.319 microns with a KTP frequency doubling crystal for generates an output beam at 0.659 microns via type II phase matching required for photodynamic therapy in conjunction with a suitable PDT compound or dye.

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Mark V Ortiz