Electronic controller for use with a surgical laser system

Abstract

The present invention is an electronic controller for use with a laser system which includes a mechanical triggering device and which generates a beam of light energy in the infrared spectrum. The electronic controller includes a laser modulator which turns the laser system on and off at a frequency rate of two hundred cycles per second and a trigger/reset circuit which is electrically coupled to the mechanical triggering circuit. The trigger/reset circuit provides a trigger signal in its triggered state and a reset signal in its untriggered state. The electronic controller also includes a clock circuit which is electrically coupled to the triggering circuit and which provides clock signals in response to the trigger signal and a one-shot monostable, multivibrator circuit having an RC timing circuit which is electrically coupled to the clock circuit and which controls the pulse width of its output signal in a range of 0.005 seconds and 0.1 seconds in response to the clock signals. The electronic controller further includes a counter which is electrically coupled to the one-shot monostable, multivibrator circuit and which counts each of the clock signals and a comparator which is electrically coupled to the counter in order to compare the number of the counted clock signals to a selected number and to the clock circuit and which is electrically coupled to the clock circuit, so that, when the number of the counted clock signal equals said selected number, the comparator provides a clock inhibit signal in order to inhibit the clock circuit from providing any more clock signals.