The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 19, 2012
Filed:
Mar. 18, 2008
Jonathon D. Wells, Seattle, WA (US);
Mark P. Bendett, Kirkland, WA (US);
Matthias P. Savage-leuchs, Woodinville, WA (US);
James M. Owen, Redmond, WA (US);
Jonathon D. Wells, Seattle, WA (US);
Mark P. Bendett, Kirkland, WA (US);
Matthias P. Savage-Leuchs, Woodinville, WA (US);
James M. Owen, Redmond, WA (US);
Lockheed Martin Corporation, Bethesda, MD (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and process using a high-power, short-pulsed thulium laser to output infrared laser pulses delivered through an optical fiber, for cutting and ablating biological tissue. In some embodiments, the pulse length is shortened sufficiently to keep inside the stress-confined ablation region of operation. In some embodiments, the pulse is shortened to near the stress-confined ablation region of operation, while being slightly in the thermal-constrained region of operation. In some embodiments, the laser is coupled to a small low —OH optical fiber (˜100 μm diameter). In some embodiments, the device has a pulse duration of about 100 ns for efficient ablation; however in some embodiments, this parameter is adjustable.