Patent US5497440A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5497440A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Laser beam waveguide and laser beam delivery system including same
Assignee: Ramot at Tel Aviv University Ltd
•
Filing: 1994-06-07
•
Granted: 1996-03-05
•
Expires: 2014-06-07
Abstract
Abstract A laser beam waveguide particularly useful for transmitting infrared laser radiation includes a flexible, hollow plastic tube; a metal layer on the inner surface of the hollow plastic tube; a thin dielectric film on the inner surface of the metal layer; and a flexible layer over the outer surface of the hollow plastic tube capable of absorbing infrared radiation and preventing kinking of the hollow plastic tube.
Inventors
- 👤 Nathan Croitoru
- 👤 Jacob Dror
- 👤 Isaac Kaplan
- 👤 Israel Gannot
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 01:36
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/02; G02B6/032; B; B23; B23K; B23K26/00; B23K26/02; B23K26/06; B23K26/064; B23K26/0648; B23K26/0665
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
78 words
A laser beam waveguide particularly useful for transmitting infrared laser radiation, comprising: a flexible, hollow plastic tube; a metal layer on the inner surface of said hollow plastic tube; a dielectric film on the inner surface of said metal layer; a flexible layer over the outer surface of said hollow plastic tube capable of absorbing infrared radiation and preventing kinking of the hollow plastic tube; and a flexible metal sheath over the outer surface of said flexible layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
78 words
A laser beam waveguide particularly useful for transmitting infrared laser radiation, comprising: a flexible, hollow plastic tube; a metal layer on the inner surface of said hollow plastic tube; a dielectric film on the inner surface of said metal layer; a flexible layer over the outer surface of said hollow plastic tube capable of absorbing infrared radiation and preventing kinking of the hollow plastic tube; and a flexible metal sheath over the outer surface of said flexible layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The laser beam waveguide according to claim 1, wherein said flexible layer is of a silicone rubber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The laser beam waveguide according to claim 1, wherein said flexible metal sheath has a darkened outer surface to prevent reflection of stray radiation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The laser beam waveguide according to claim 1, wherein said flexible metal sheath is a metal braid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The laser beam waveguide according to claim 1, wherein said flexible metal sheath is a metal spiral.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The laser beam waveguide according to claim 1, wherein said metal layer on the inner surface of the hollow plastic tube is of a silver halide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
73 words
A laser beam delivery system, comprising: a laser beam waveguide according to claim 1, having a proximal end and a distal end; a rigid coupling tube having an inlet end connectible to a laser beam source, and an outlet end connected to the proximal end of said laser beam waveguide; and a handpiece attached to said distal end of the laser beam waveguide for directing the laser beam to a desired working area.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The laser beam delivery system according to claim 7, wherein said rigid coupling tube is at least 10 cm in length.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The laser beam delivery system according to claim 7, wherein said rigid coupling tube is 10-20 cm in length.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
The laser beam delivery system according to claim 7, wherein said rigid coupling tube includes a gas inlet for inletting a cooling gas, which gas is directed through the rigid coupling tube and the hollow plastic waveguide through the distal end thereof onto the working area.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The laser beam delivery system according to claim 7, wherein said rigid coupling tube includes a lens for focussing the laser beam from the laser beam source into the proximal end of the hollow plastic waveguide.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The laser beam delivery system according to claim 7, wherein said handpiece includes a deformable extension capable of being manually reshaped to support the outlet end of the handpiece in the desired working area.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
75 words
A laser beam waveguide particularly useful for transmitting infrared laser radiation, comprising: a flexible, hollow plastic tube; a metal layer on the inner surface of said hollow plastic tube; a dielectric film on the inner surface of said metal layer; and a flexible layer over the outer surface of said hollow plastic tube capable of absorbing infrared radiation and preventing kinking of the hollow plastic tube; said hollow plastic tube being of a fluoroethylene polymer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
75 words
A laser beam waveguide particularly useful for transmitting infrared laser radiation, comprising: a flexible, hollow plastic tube; a metal layer on the inner surface of said hollow plastic tube; a dielectric film on the inner surface of said metal layer; and a flexible layer over the outer surface of said hollow plastic tube capable of absorbing infrared radiation and preventing kinking of the hollow plastic tube; said hollow plastic tube being of a fluoroethylene polymer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The laser beam waveguide according to claim 13, wherein said metal layer on the inner surface of the hollow plastic tube is of silver.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The laser beam waveguide according to claim 14, wherein said dielectric film is a silver halide.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
76 words
A laser beam waveguide particularly useful for transmitting infrared laser radiation, comprising: a hollow plastic tube; a metal layer on the inner surface of said hollow plastic tube; a dielectric film on the inner surface of said metal layer; an insulating layer over the outer surface of said hollow plastic tube capable of absorbing infrared radiation and preventing kinking of the hollow plastic tube; and a metal sheath over the outer surface of said insulating layer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
76 words
A laser beam waveguide particularly useful for transmitting infrared laser radiation, comprising: a hollow plastic tube; a metal layer on the inner surface of said hollow plastic tube; a dielectric film on the inner surface of said metal layer; an insulating layer over the outer surface of said hollow plastic tube capable of absorbing infrared radiation and preventing kinking of the hollow plastic tube; and a metal sheath over the outer surface of said insulating layer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The laser beam waveguide according to claim 16, wherein said insulating layer is of a silicone rubber.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The laser beam waveguide according to claim 16, wherein said metal sheath has a darkened outer surface to prevent reflection of stray radiation.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The laser beam waveguide according to claim 16, wherein said hollow plastic tube is of a fluoroethylene polymer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR679779A
Cited
US3436141A
Cited
US3843865A
Cited
US3821510A
Cited
US4076378A
Cited
US4389091A
Cited
US4517973A
Cited
US4538609A
Cited
US4564011A
Cited
US4537193A
Cited
US4607911A
Cited
US4715678A
Cited
US4645297A
Cited
US4652083A
Cited
US4688892A
Cited
US4688893A
Cited
US4726647A
Cited
US4849859A
Cited
US4830462A
Cited
US4930863A
Cited
JPH0266501A
Cited
US4913505A
Cited
US5139495A
Cited
US5058987A
Cited
US5320904A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-03-05 | 1999-09-04 | 2000-03-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-03-05 | 2003-09-04 | 2004-03-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-03-05 | 2007-09-04 | 2008-03-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |