Handpiece for delivering laser radiation

Claim 1

A medical or dental handpiece for the performance of laser radiation treatments, comprising: an elongate housing constructed to be held in the hand, said housing having a radiation delivery end and enclosing a chamber; a first optical fiber permanently installed in said handpiece for conducting laser radiation from a laser source into said chamber, said first optical fiber having an output end; a disposable optical fiber for guiding laser radiation from said first optical fiber to a region to be treated, said disposable optical fiber having an input end within said chamber; fastening means for detachably securing said disposable optical fiber to said housing so that said input end of said disposable optical fiber faces said output end of said first optical fiber when said disposable fiber is secured to said housing; a spacer piece interposed between said output end of said first optical fiber and said input end of said disposable optical fiber for establishing a defined distance between said ends, and wherein said spacer piece has an opening through which radiation passes from said output end of said first optical fiber to said input end of said disposable optical fiber; and means forming a gas flow path which traverses said opening in said spacer for guiding a flow of cooling gas across said output end of said first optical fiber and said input end of said disposable optical fiber.