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EP0164751A2
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A pulsed laser system and method of operation
Assignee: BRITT CORP
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Filing: 1985-06-12
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-06-12
Abstract
Abstract A pulsed laser system (500) capable of operating in a plurality of modes for delivering a burst of laser pulses to a target (506) wherein the pulse width of the laser pulses are automatically controlled in response to the mode selected. A special calibration procedure allows the system to determine the pulse width and pulse repetition rate when the laser (200) is producing a predetermined power output level as measured by a power meter at the target site. Using calibrated pulse width and pulse repetition rate, the pulse width and pulse repetition rate of the laser pulses to be delivered to the target (506) for any particular treatment burst can be determined.
Inventors
- 👤 Dale G. O'harra Ii
- 👤 John J. Mcdonald
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 21:20
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/09; H01S3/097; A; A61; A61F; A61F9/00; A61F9/007; A61F9/008; A61F9/00821; A61F9/00823; B; B23; B23K; B23K26/00; B23K26/02; B23K26/06; B23K26/062; B23K26/0622; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00132; A61B2017/00137; A61B2017/00154; A61B2017/00172; A61B2017/00181; A61B2017/0019; A61B2017/00194; A61B2017/00199; A61B2017/00681; A61B2017/00725; A61B2017/00973; A61B18/00; A61B2018/00636; A61B2018/00666; A61F2009/00855; A61F2009/00861; A61F2009/00863
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
73 words
A pulse laser system operable in a plurality of modes, and responsive to operator selected input parameters including mode selection for delivering laser pulses to a target said laser system comprising: a laser capable of being pulsed in response to periodic input control signals; and a control circuit responsive to said operator selected input parameters for providing said input control signals and for automatically determining the pulse width of said input control signals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
73 words
A pulse laser system operable in a plurality of modes, and responsive to operator selected input parameters including mode selection for delivering laser pulses to a target said laser system comprising: a laser capable of being pulsed in response to periodic input control signals; and a control circuit responsive to said operator selected input parameters for providing said input control signals and for automatically determining the pulse width of said input control signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
76 words
The pulse laser system of Claim 1 wherein said control circuit comprises: a microprocessor controller; a counter circuit coupled to said microprocessor controller comprising a first counter for generating pulse repetition signals; a second counter coupled to said first counter for generating a pulse with a predetermined pulse width in response to each of said pulse repetition signals; and a third counter coupled to said first counter for determining the exposure time of said control signals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The pulse laser system of Claim 2 wherein said control circuit further comprises: limiting circuit means coupled to the output of said second counter for controlling the maximum repetition rate and maximum pulse width of said control signals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
The pulse laser system of Claim 3 wherein said limiting circuit means further comprises: a first multivibrator circuit capable of providing output pulses at a rate less than or equal to a predetermined maximum; and a second multivibrator circuit capable of providing a pulse of pulse width less than or equal to a predetermined maximum in response to each of said outppat pulses.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
81 words
The pulse laser system of any of Claims 1 to 4 waerein said control circuit further comprises: calibration means for determining the pulse width and repetition rate of said control signals when the laser pulses delivered to the target site are se at a predetermined calibration power level; and 'means responsive to the calibrated pulse widt and repetition rate for determining the pulse wid h and repetition rate of a burst of laser pulses associated with any other predetermined pexer level.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
The pulse laser system of any of Claims 1 to 5 -herein said control circuit further comprises: means for determining the energy delivered to said target during a burst of laser pulses including: means for sampling said laser pulses; and means responsive to said sampling for providing a voltage to said microprocessor which voltage is related to the power of said laser pulses.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
71 words
The pulse laser system of Claim 6 wherein said system further comprises: means for setting the spot size of said laser pulses impinging on said target; means for providing an output signal related to the spot size; and wherein said control circuit further comprises means responsive to said output signal related to the spot size and said energy determination for determining the energy density of said laser pulses on said target.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The pulse laser system of Claim 7 wherein said spot size setting means comprises: a zoom lense assembly; and wherein said output signal means comprises a potentiometer rotatably coupled to said zoom lense assembly.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
9-. The pulse laser system of any of Claims 1 to 8 wherein said laser comprises: a laser tube capable of being pulsed; and a power switching circuit coupled to said laser tube for providing pulsed drive signals for said laser in response to said input control signals.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The pulsed laser system of Claim 9 wherein said laser tube is air cooled.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
61 words
A method of operating a pulse laser system capable of operation in a plurality of modes, particularly according to any of Claims 1 to 10, comprising: selecting a mode of operation; generating periodic control signals in response to said mode selection to control said laser system output, said generating step further comprising automatically setting the pulse width of said control signals.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
90 words
The method of Claim 11 wherein said generating step further comprises the steps of: setting a first counter with a preselected repetiton rate signal associated with a pulse repetition rate for said laser output; setting a second counter with a preselected pulse width signal associated with a pulse width for said laser output; preloading a third counter with an exposure time count signal associated with an exposure time for said laser output; and counting down from said exposure time count signal in response to the output of said first counter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of operating the pulse laser system of Claim 12 in an aiming mode comprising: repeatedly reloading said third counter with an exposure time count before said count reaches zero.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of operating the pulse laser system of Claim 12 in a perforation mode wherein the step of setting the second counter comprises the step of automatically setting said counter with a pulse width signal associated with a pulse width greater than or equal to a predetermined minimum.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
98 words
The method of operating the pulse laser system of Claim 12 in a coagulation mode wherein said method comprises: selecting a desired power level; automatically setting said second counter with a pulse width signal associated with a predetermined maximum laser output pulse width and adjusting said repetitive rate signal to cause the laser ouput repetition rate to drop to not less than a predetermined minimum to attain said power level; and automatically adjusting the pulse width signal to lower said pulse width when said pulse repetition rate reaches said predetermined minimum until said desired power level is reached.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of Claim 14 wherein said predetermined minimum is substantially 120 microseconds.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of Claim 15 wherein said predetermined maximum laser output pulse width is substantially 30 microseconds and said predetermined minimum laser output repetition rate is substantially 50 pulses per second.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of Claim 15 or 17 wherein said method further comprises the step of calibrating said laser output including: determining the laser output pulse width and repetition rate from the signals set in said first and second counters when said laser output is set to a predetermined power output level.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
68 words
The method of any of Claims 11 to 18 wherein said method further comprises: the step of determining the energy delivered to said target by said laser output pulses; generating a signal proportional to the spot size of said laser output on said target; and determining the energy density of said laser output pulses on said target in response to said energy determination and said spot size signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of Claim 19 wherein said energy determination step further comprises: sampling said laser output; generating a signal in response to said sampling step which signal is related to the power in said laser output; and multiplying by the time said laser output is present.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
137 words
A pulsed laser system capable of operating in a plurality of modes in response to selection by an operator for delivering a burst of laser pulses to a target, said laser system comprising: a laser capable of being pulsed; switching means for providing drive signals to said laser to generate said burst in response to a series of control signals; means for generating said control signals and for controlling the repetition rate, pulse width and exposure time thereof; power control means movable between an off position and on position for activating said laser by enabling said generating means to apply said control signals to said switching means in said on position; and repeat means for automatically repeating said burst of laser pulses at a predetermined interval while said power control means is held in said on position.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
137 words
A pulsed laser system capable of operating in a plurality of modes in response to selection by an operator for delivering a burst of laser pulses to a target, said laser system comprising: a laser capable of being pulsed; switching means for providing drive signals to said laser to generate said burst in response to a series of control signals; means for generating said control signals and for controlling the repetition rate, pulse width and exposure time thereof; power control means movable between an off position and on position for activating said laser by enabling said generating means to apply said control signals to said switching means in said on position; and repeat means for automatically repeating said burst of laser pulses at a predetermined interval while said power control means is held in said on position.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The pulsed laser system of Claim 21 wherein said power control means comprises a foot pedal.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The pulsed laser system of Claim 21 or 22 wherein said laser system is radiation cooled.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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