Laser accessory for surgical application

Claim 1

The combination comprising a CO2 laser, alternating current means for energizing said laser to cause same to emit successive pulses of laser energy substantially at 10.6 microns wavelength in timed relation to the frequency of said alternating current means, base support means, an elongated tubular member defining therethrough an unobstructed path for optical energy being directed to a body cavity location, the proximal end of said elongated tubular member being attached to said base support means, optical means including a totally reflective mirror for directing said CO2 laser energy along an optical path through said tubular member to said body cavity location, said optical path being essentially collinear with the axis of said elongated tubular member, a synchronous motor arranged to be energized by said alternating current means and attached to said base support means, said totally reflective mirror being in the form of a rotatable chopper disc operatively connected to said synchronous motor, said chopper disc having a plurality of regularly circumferentially spaced reflective portions successively positioned, during rotation of said disc, in said optical path in such a manner as to reflect said laser light when incident thereon along said optical path to said body cavity location, a source of visible light operatively associated with said base support means, beam-splitting means attached to said base support means and positioned so as to direct said visible light to said body cavity location along that portion of said optical path extending from said chopper disc to said body cavity location, the spaces between said reflective portions of said chopper disc serving to allow said visible light from said beam-splitting means to pass therethrough and travel along said portion of said optical path to said body cavity location, and to allow visible light reflected from an object or material at said body cavity location to travel in the opposite direction through said tubular member and to an observer''s location which is positioned outwardly of said disc and beam-splitting means, said rotatable chopper disc being so angularly positioned and phased relative to the shaft of said synchronous motor and said synchronous motor being rotated at such a frequency as to have the reflective portions of said chopper disc intercept each successive laser pulse and direct same at substantially full strength along said optical path to said body cavity location while, in effect, enabling a person at said observer''s location to view and monitor said body cavity location by visible light transmitted through said spaces and reflected from said object or material substantially free from flicker.