US5109387A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Dye laser system and method
Assignee: Candela Corp
•
Filing: 1990-12-26
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Granted: 1992-04-28
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Expires: 2010-12-26
Abstract
Abstract A dye laser system and method for operation thereof. The dye laser includes a laser cavity capable of lasing in response to an energy source, a circulation path for pumping a dye solution to the laser cavity, and a regeneration medium containing saturated dye solution at equilibrium with the concentration of the dye solution in the circulation path located in the circulation path so that the dye solution is regenerated by circulation through the regeneration medium. According to another aspect, there is provided a system and method for restoring dye solution degraded by use in dye laser. The system and method include a circulation path for conveying degraded dye solution to a regeneration medium containing a saturated dye solution at equilibrium with the concentration of the dye solution in the circulation path connected to the circulation path so that the dye solution in the circulation path may be regenerated by circulation through the regeneration medium.
Inventors
- 👤 Jerome M. Garden
- 👤 Abnoeal D. Bakus
- 👤 William D. Smeltzer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 22:09
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/02; H01S3/022
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A dye laser comprising: an energy source; a laser cavity for containing a dye solution and adapted to produce laser light in response to energy received from said energy source; a circulation path for pumping dye solution to said laser cavity; and a regeneration medium adapted to absorb impurities and containing dye in equilibrium with the dye solution, said regeneration medium located in said circulation path whereby dye in said recirculation path may be regenerated by circulation through said regeneration medium.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
A dye laser comprising: an energy source; a laser cavity for containing a dye solution and adapted to produce laser light in response to energy received from said energy source; a circulation path for pumping dye solution to said laser cavity; and a regeneration medium adapted to absorb impurities and containing dye in equilibrium with the dye solution, said regeneration medium located in said circulation path whereby dye in said recirculation path may be regenerated by circulation through said regeneration medium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The dye laser apparatus of claim 1 in which said regeneration medium is composed of a material selected from a group consisting of: activated charcoal, an ion-exchange resin, and a lipid/polar interface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The dye laser apparatus of claim 1 in which said dye is dissolved in a solvent selected from a group consisting of: ethylene glycol, methanol, water, ethanol and DMSO.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The dye laser apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a bubble filter located in said circulation path.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The dye laser of claim 1 in which said circulation path is a closed recirculation path.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The dye laser apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a reservoir connected to said circulation path.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The dye laser apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a pump connected to said circulation path and operable to pump dye through said laser cavity and said regeneration medium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The dye laser apparatus of claim 1 in which said regeneration medium comprises a charcoal filter saturated with dye.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The dye laser apparatus of claim 1 in which said regeneration medium includes a quantity of dye therein substantially in excess of the quantity of dye in the dye solution in the rest of the circulation path.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The dye laser apparatus of claim 9 in which said regeneration medium contains approximately twelve times the amount of dye contained in the dye solution in the rest of the circulation path.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The dye laser apparatus of claim 10 in which said regeneration medium contains approximately 51/2 grams of dye and the dye solution in the rest of the circulation path contains approximately 400 mg of dye.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
80 words
An improved dye laser system comprising: a laser cavity for containing a dye solution and adapted to produce laser light in response to an energy source; a closed recirculation path for drawing dye in solution through said laser cavity; and a regeneration medium saturated with dye in equilibrium with the dye solution in said recirculation path, said regeneration medium located in said closed circulation path whereby dye in said recirculation path may be regenerated by circulation through said regeneration medium.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
80 words
An improved dye laser system comprising: a laser cavity for containing a dye solution and adapted to produce laser light in response to an energy source; a closed recirculation path for drawing dye in solution through said laser cavity; and a regeneration medium saturated with dye in equilibrium with the dye solution in said recirculation path, said regeneration medium located in said closed circulation path whereby dye in said recirculation path may be regenerated by circulation through said regeneration medium.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The improved dye laser system of claim 12 in which said regeneration medium is composed of a material selected from a group consisting of: activated charcoal, an ion-exchange resin, and a lipid/polar interface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The improved dye laser system of claim 12 in which the dye is dissolved in a solvent selected from a group consisting of: ethylene glycol, methanol, water, ethanol, and DMSO.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The improved dye laser system of claim 12 further comprising: a bubble filter located in said circulation path.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The improved dye laser system claim 12 further comprising: a reservoir connected to said circulation path.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The improved dye laser system of claim 12 further comprising: a pump connected to said circulation path and operable to pump dye through said laser cavity and said regeneration medium.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The improved dye laser system of claim 12 in which said regeneration medium comprises a filter saturated with dye at a concentration in equilibrium with the dye concentration in the closed recirculation path.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
80 words
In a dye laser system having a laser cavity for containing a dye solution and adapted to produce laser light in response to excitation from an energy source, a source of dye solution, and a circulation path connecting the source of dye solution to the lasing cavity, an improvement comprising: a regeneration medium containing a saturated concentration of dye and located in the circulation path whereby dye in the circulation path may be regenerated by circulation through said regeneration medium.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
80 words
In a dye laser system having a laser cavity for containing a dye solution and adapted to produce laser light in response to excitation from an energy source, a source of dye solution, and a circulation path connecting the source of dye solution to the lasing cavity, an improvement comprising: a regeneration medium containing a saturated concentration of dye and located in the circulation path whereby dye in the circulation path may be regenerated by circulation through said regeneration medium.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
The dye laser system of claim 19 in which said regeneration medium comprises a filter selected from a group consisting of: activated charcoal, an ion-exchange resin, and a lipid/polar interface.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
75 words
A system for restoring dye solution degraded by use in dye laser comprising: a circulation path for conveying the dye solution; a pump connected to said circulation path and operable to pump the dye solution; and a regeneration medium adapted to absorb impurities and connected to said circulation path, said regeneration medium containing dye at a saturated concentration whereby the dye solution in said recirculation path may be regenerated by circulation through said regeneration medium.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
75 words
A system for restoring dye solution degraded by use in dye laser comprising: a circulation path for conveying the dye solution; a pump connected to said circulation path and operable to pump the dye solution; and a regeneration medium adapted to absorb impurities and connected to said circulation path, said regeneration medium containing dye at a saturated concentration whereby the dye solution in said recirculation path may be regenerated by circulation through said regeneration medium.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 21 in which said regeneration medium comprises a filter containing a dye solution at a saturated concentration.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for operating a dye laser comprising the steps of: circulating a dye solution through a laser cavity for containing a dye solution and adapted to produce laser light in response to excitation from an energy source; and circulating the dye solution from the laser cavity through a regeneration medium in which the dye solution is maintained in a saturated concentration whereby the dye solution in the recirculation path may be regenerated by circulation through the regeneration medium.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for operating a dye laser comprising the steps of: circulating a dye solution through a laser cavity for containing a dye solution and adapted to produce laser light in response to excitation from an energy source; and circulating the dye solution from the laser cavity through a regeneration medium in which the dye solution is maintained in a saturated concentration whereby the dye solution in the recirculation path may be regenerated by circulation through the regeneration medium.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for restoring a dye solution degraded in use in a dye laser comprising the step of: providing a regeneration medium sized and adapted to retain a quantity of dye and allow flow therethrough of solvent and dye in excess of said quantity; circulating the dye solution from the laser cavity through a circulation path having the regeneration medium located therein in which the dye is at a saturated concentration in equilibrium with the concentration of the dye solution in the circulation path whereby the dye solution may be regenerated by circulation through the regeneration medium.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for restoring a dye solution degraded in use in a dye laser comprising the step of: providing a regeneration medium sized and adapted to retain a quantity of dye and allow flow therethrough of solvent and dye in excess of said quantity; circulating the dye solution from the laser cavity through a circulation path having the regeneration medium located therein in which the dye is at a saturated concentration in equilibrium with the concentration of the dye solution in the circulation path whereby the dye solution may be regenerated by circulation through the regeneration medium.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of modifying a dye laser system having a circulation path for providing a dye solution to a laser cavity comprising the step of: connecting a regeneration medium having a saturated concentration of dye solution to the circulation path so that the dye solution passes through both the laser cavity and the regeneration medium whereby the dye solution can be regenerated by circulation through the regeneration medium.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of modifying a dye laser system having a circulation path for providing a dye solution to a laser cavity comprising the step of: connecting a regeneration medium having a saturated concentration of dye solution to the circulation path so that the dye solution passes through both the laser cavity and the regeneration medium whereby the dye solution can be regenerated by circulation through the regeneration medium.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 25 further comprising: circulating the dye solution through the laser cavity and the regeneration medium and back to the laser cavity.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 25 in which the circulating step further comprises: circulating the dye solution in a closed path.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-04-28 | 1995-10-28 | 1996-04-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-04-28 | 1999-10-28 | 2000-04-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-04-28 | 2003-10-28 | 2004-04-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |