Laser flash lamp control system

Claim 1

An apparatus for controlling the current delivered to a flash lamp, the apparatus comprising: supply means for providing a first voltage, the first voltage being at least as great as 200 volts and for supplying a firing voltage, the firing voltage being at least as great as 400 volts DC; capacitive means, connected to the supply means, for storing electrons; means for stepping up the firing voltage to a voltage at least as great as 10,000 volts DC; control means for determining when the flash lamp should be turned on and turned off, the control means generating a control signal; and switching means for electrically connecting the capacitive means to the flash lamp, the switching means providing an output which is substantially a square wave having a plateau voltage, the switching means limiting the value of the current passing through the flash lamp to substantially a predetermined value and the length of the square wave being adjustable in accordance with the control signal such that the length of the time which the flash lamp is illuminated can be precisely adjusted and the current passing through the flash lamp is limited to a desired value.

Claim 2

An apparatus for controlling the current delivered to a flash lamp, the apparatus comprising: supply means for providing a first voltage, the first voltage being at least as great as 200 volts and for supplying a firing voltage, the firing voltage being at least as great as 400 volts DC; capacitive means, connected to the supply means, for storing electrons; means for stepping up the firing voltage to a voltage at least as great as 10,000 volts DC; control means for determining when the flash lamp should be turned on and turned off, the control means generating a control signal; and switching means for electrically connecting the capacitive means to the flash lamp, the switching means providing an output which is substantially a square wave having a plateau voltage, the switching means limiting the value of the current passing through the flash lamp to substantially a predetermined value and the length of the square wave being adjustable in accordance with the control signal such that the length of the time which the flash lamp is illuminated can be precisely adjusted and the current passing through the flash lamp is limited to a desired value.

Claim 10

An apparatus for controlling the output of a laser used in medical procedures, the apparatus comprising: a laser comprising a laser medium and a flash lamp configured to input energy to the laser medium, the laser operating in a Q switched mode whereby one, two, or three laser beam pulses are emitted for each illumination of the flash lamp, each pulse being less than 10 nanoseconds long, supply means for providing a first voltage, the first voltage being at least as great as 400 volts; capacitive means, connected to the supply means, for storing a charge; means for stepping up the first voltage to a voltage at least as great as 10,000 volts DC; control means for determining when the flash lamp should be turned on and turned off in accordance with whether one, two, or three laser beam pulses are desired, the control means generating a control signal indicating the time the flash lamp should be turned on and turned off; and switching means for electrically connecting the capacitive means to the flash lamp for substantially the length of time indicated by the control signal, the switching means providing an output which is substantially a square wave having a plateau voltage, the switching means limiting the value of the current passing through the flash lamp to substantially a predetermined value and the length of the square wave being adjustable in accordance with the control signal such that the length of the time which the flash lamp is illuminated can be precisely adjusted and the current passing through the flash lamp is limited to a desired value.

Claim 11

An apparatus for controlling the output of a laser used in medical procedures, the apparatus comprising: a laser comprising a laser medium and a flash lamp configured to input energy to the laser medium, the laser operating in a Q switched mode whereby one, two, or three laser beam pulses are emitted for each illumination of the flash lamp, each pulse being less than 10 nanoseconds long, supply means for providing a first voltage, the first voltage being at least as great as 400 volts; capacitive means, connected to the supply means, for storing a charge; means for stepping up the first voltage to a voltage at least as great as 10,000 volts DC; control means for determining when the flash lamp should be turned on and turned off in accordance with whether one, two, or three laser beam pulses are desired, the control means generating a control signal indicating the time the flash lamp should be turned on and turned off; and switching means for electrically connecting the capacitive means to the flash lamp for substantially the length of time indicated by the control signal, the switching means providing an output which is substantially a square wave having a plateau voltage, the switching means limiting the value of the current passing through the flash lamp to substantially a predetermined value and the length of the square wave being adjustable in accordance with the control signal such that the length of the time which the flash lamp is illuminated can be precisely adjusted and the current passing through the flash lamp is limited to a desired value.

Claim 12

A method for controlling the output of a laser used in medical procedures, the laser comprising a laser medium and a flash lamp configured to input energy to the laser medium, the laser operating in a Q switched mode whereby one, two, or three laser beam pulses are emitted for each illumination of the flash lamp, each pulse being less than 10 nanoseconds long, the method comprising the steps of: supplying a first voltage which is at least as great as 400 volts; storing a charge; stepping up the voltage to at least 10,000 volts D.C.; determining when the flash lamp should be turned on and turned off in accordance with whether one, two, or three laser beam pulses are desired and generating a control signal indicating the time the flash lamp should be turned on and turned off; switching the charge in series with the flash lamp for substantially the length of time indicated by the control signal to provide an output which is substantially a square wave having a plateau voltage; and limiting the value of the current passing through the flash lamp to substantially a predetermined value with the length of the square wave being adjustable in accordance with the control signal such that the length of the time which the flash lamp is illuminated can be precisely adjusted and the current passing through the flash lamp is limited to a desired value.

Claim 13

A method for controlling the output of a laser used in medical procedures, the laser comprising a laser medium and a flash lamp configured to input energy to the laser medium, the laser operating in a Q switched mode whereby one, two, or three laser beam pulses are emitted for each illumination of the flash lamp, each pulse being less than 10 nanoseconds long, the method comprising the steps of: supplying a first voltage which is at least as great as 400 volts; storing a charge; stepping up the voltage to at least 10,000 volts D.C.; determining when the flash lamp should be turned on and turned off in accordance with whether one, two, or three laser beam pulses are desired and generating a control signal indicating the time the flash lamp should be turned on and turned off; switching the charge in series with the flash lamp for substantially the length of time indicated by the control signal to provide an output which is substantially a square wave having a plateau voltage; and limiting the value of the current passing through the flash lamp to substantially a predetermined value with the length of the square wave being adjustable in accordance with the control signal such that the length of the time which the flash lamp is illuminated can be precisely adjusted and the current passing through the flash lamp is limited to a desired value.

Claim 14

An apparatus for adjustable controlling the output of a laser comprising: a laser medium; a flash lamp configured to input energy to the laser medium; voltage supply means for providing a voltage at least as great as 200 volts and for supplying a firing voltage, the firing voltage being at least as great as 400 volts DC; means for measuring the output the laser medium; capacitive means, connected to the voltage supply means, for storing electrons; means for stepping up the firing voltage to a voltage at least as great as 10,000 volts DC; control means, connected to the means for measuring, for determining when the flash lamp should be turned on and turned off and for determining the current to be input to the flash lamp to set the output of the laser at a desired level, the control means generating a control signal; and switching means for electrically connecting the capacitive means to the flash lamp, the switching means providing an output which is substantially a square wave having a plateau voltage, the switching means limiting the value of the current passing through the flash lamp to substantially the value indicated by the control signal and the length of the square wave being adjustable in accordance with the control signal such that the length of the time which the flash lamp is illuminated can be adjusted and the current passing through the flash lamp can also be adjusted to yield a desired flash lamp brightness.

Claim 15

An apparatus for adjustable controlling the output of a laser comprising: a laser medium; a flash lamp configured to input energy to the laser medium; voltage supply means for providing a voltage at least as great as 200 volts and for supplying a firing voltage, the firing voltage being at least as great as 400 volts DC; means for measuring the output the laser medium; capacitive means, connected to the voltage supply means, for storing electrons; means for stepping up the firing voltage to a voltage at least as great as 10,000 volts DC; control means, connected to the means for measuring, for determining when the flash lamp should be turned on and turned off and for determining the current to be input to the flash lamp to set the output of the laser at a desired level, the control means generating a control signal; and switching means for electrically connecting the capacitive means to the flash lamp, the switching means providing an output which is substantially a square wave having a plateau voltage, the switching means limiting the value of the current passing through the flash lamp to substantially the value indicated by the control signal and the length of the square wave being adjustable in accordance with the control signal such that the length of the time which the flash lamp is illuminated can be adjusted and the current passing through the flash lamp can also be adjusted to yield a desired flash lamp brightness.

Claim 24

A method for adjustable controlling the output of a laser to a desired level, the laser comprising a laser medium and a flash lamp configured to input energy to the laser medium, the method comprising the steps of: firing the laser; measuring the output the laser; supplying a voltage at least as great as 800 volts; storing a charge; stepping up the voltage to at least 10,000 volts D.C.; determining when the flash lamp should be turned on and turned off in order to adjust the output of the laser to the desired level and generating a control signal; determining the current to be input to the flash lamp and setting the output of the laser at a desired level and generating a control signal; and switching the charge to be in connection with the flash lamp for a period of time indicated by the control signal and outputting a square wave having a plateau voltage, the value of the current passing through the flash lamp being limited to substantially the value indicated by the control signal and the length of the square wave being adjustable in accordance with the control signal such that the length of the time which the flash lamp is illuminated can be adjusted and the current passing through the flash lamp can also be adjusted to yield a desired flash lamp brightness.

Claim 25

A method for adjustable controlling the output of a laser to a desired level, the laser comprising a laser medium and a flash lamp configured to input energy to the laser medium, the method comprising the steps of: firing the laser; measuring the output the laser; supplying a voltage at least as great as 800 volts; storing a charge; stepping up the voltage to at least 10,000 volts D.C.; determining when the flash lamp should be turned on and turned off in order to adjust the output of the laser to the desired level and generating a control signal; determining the current to be input to the flash lamp and setting the output of the laser at a desired level and generating a control signal; and switching the charge to be in connection with the flash lamp for a period of time indicated by the control signal and outputting a square wave having a plateau voltage, the value of the current passing through the flash lamp being limited to substantially the value indicated by the control signal and the length of the square wave being adjustable in accordance with the control signal such that the length of the time which the flash lamp is illuminated can be adjusted and the current passing through the flash lamp can also be adjusted to yield a desired flash lamp brightness.

Claim 26

An apparatus for controlling the current delivered to a flash lamp supplying optical energy to a laser medium, the laser medium selectively firing either a single lasing pulse or a plurality of lasing pulses, the apparatus comprising: supply means for providing a first voltage, the first voltage being at least as great as 200 volts; capacitive means, connected to the supply means, for storing electrons; control means for determining when the flash lamp should be turned on and turned off, the control means generating a control signal, the control signal indicating whether the flash lamp should be illuminated to provide a single firing of the lasing medium or a plurality of firings; and switching means for electrically connecting the capacitive means to the flash lamp, the switching means providing an output which is substantially a square wave having a plateau voltage, the switching means limiting the value of the current passing through the flash lamp to substantially a predetermined value and the length of the square wave being adjustable in accordance with the control signal such that the length of the time which the flash lamp is illuminated can be precisely adjusted and the current passing through the flash lamp is limited to a desired value, the switching means providing the square wave causing the illumination of the flash lamp and the firing of either a single lasing pulse or a plurality of lasing pulses upon command of a user.

Claim 27

An apparatus for controlling the current delivered to a flash lamp supplying optical energy to a laser medium, the laser medium selectively firing either a single lasing pulse or a plurality of lasing pulses, the apparatus comprising: supply means for providing a first voltage, the first voltage being at least as great as 200 volts; capacitive means, connected to the supply means, for storing electrons; control means for determining when the flash lamp should be turned on and turned off, the control means generating a control signal, the control signal indicating whether the flash lamp should be illuminated to provide a single firing of the lasing medium or a plurality of firings; and switching means for electrically connecting the capacitive means to the flash lamp, the switching means providing an output which is substantially a square wave having a plateau voltage, the switching means limiting the value of the current passing through the flash lamp to substantially a predetermined value and the length of the square wave being adjustable in accordance with the control signal such that the length of the time which the flash lamp is illuminated can be precisely adjusted and the current passing through the flash lamp is limited to a desired value, the switching means providing the square wave causing the illumination of the flash lamp and the firing of either a single lasing pulse or a plurality of lasing pulses upon command of a user.

Claim 35

An apparatus for controlling the output of a laser used in medical procedures, the apparatus comprising: a laser comprising a laser medium and a flash lamp configured to input energy to the laser medium, the laser operating in a Q switched mode whereby one, two, or three laser beam pulses are emitted for each illumination of the flash lamp, each pulse being less than 10 nanoseconds long; supply means for providing a first voltage; capacitive means, connected to the supply means, for storing a charge; control means for determining when the flash lamp should be turned on and turned off in accordance with whether one, two, or three laser beam pulses are desired, the control means generating a control signal indicating the time the flash lamp should be turned on and turned off; and switching means for electrically connecting the capacitive means to the flash lamp for substantially the length of time indicated by the control signal, the switching means providing an output which is substantially a square wave having a plateau voltage, the switching means limiting the value of the current passing through the flash lamp to substantially a predetermined value and the length of the square wave being adjustable in accordance with the control signal such that the length of the time which the flash lamp is illuminated can be precisely adjusted and the current passing through the flash lamp is limited to a desired value, the switching means providing the square wave causing the illumination of the flash lamp and the firing of either a one, two, or three laser beam pulses upon command of a user.

Claim 36

An apparatus for controlling the output of a laser used in medical procedures, the apparatus comprising: a laser comprising a laser medium and a flash lamp configured to input energy to the laser medium, the laser operating in a Q switched mode whereby one, two, or three laser beam pulses are emitted for each illumination of the flash lamp, each pulse being less than 10 nanoseconds long; supply means for providing a first voltage; capacitive means, connected to the supply means, for storing a charge; control means for determining when the flash lamp should be turned on and turned off in accordance with whether one, two, or three laser beam pulses are desired, the control means generating a control signal indicating the time the flash lamp should be turned on and turned off; and switching means for electrically connecting the capacitive means to the flash lamp for substantially the length of time indicated by the control signal, the switching means providing an output which is substantially a square wave having a plateau voltage, the switching means limiting the value of the current passing through the flash lamp to substantially a predetermined value and the length of the square wave being adjustable in accordance with the control signal such that the length of the time which the flash lamp is illuminated can be precisely adjusted and the current passing through the flash lamp is limited to a desired value, the switching means providing the square wave causing the illumination of the flash lamp and the firing of either a one, two, or three laser beam pulses upon command of a user.

Claim 37

A method for controlling the output of a laser used in medical procedures, the laser comprising a laser medium and a flash lamp configured to input energy to the laser medium, the laser operating in a Q switched mode whereby one, two, or three laser beam pulses, each pulse being less than 10 nanoseconds long, for each illumination of the flash lamp, the method comprising the steps of: supplying a first voltage; storing a charge; determining when the flash lamp should be turned on and turned off in accordance with whether one, two, or three laser beam pulses are desired and generating a control signal indicating the time the flash lamp should be turned on and turned off, the determination when the flash lamp should be turned on and turned off being predetermined by a user of a user in the medical procedure; switching the charge in series with the flash lamp for substantially the length of time indicated by the control signal to provide an output which is substantially a square wave having a plateau voltage; and limiting the value of the current passing through the flash lamp to substantially a predetermined value with the length of the square wave being adjustable in accordance with the control signal such that the length of the time which the flash lamp is illuminated can be precisely adjusted and the current passing through the flash lamp is limited to a desired value and such that the laser medium selectively fires one, two, or three laser beam pulses for the time that the charge is switched in series with the flash lamp.

Claim 38

A method for controlling the output of a laser used in medical procedures, the laser comprising a laser medium and a flash lamp configured to input energy to the laser medium, the laser operating in a Q switched mode whereby one, two, or three laser beam pulses, each pulse being less than 10 nanoseconds long, for each illumination of the flash lamp, the method comprising the steps of: supplying a first voltage; storing a charge; determining when the flash lamp should be turned on and turned off in accordance with whether one, two, or three laser beam pulses are desired and generating a control signal indicating the time the flash lamp should be turned on and turned off, the determination when the flash lamp should be turned on and turned off being predetermined by a user of a user in the medical procedure; switching the charge in series with the flash lamp for substantially the length of time indicated by the control signal to provide an output which is substantially a square wave having a plateau voltage; and limiting the value of the current passing through the flash lamp to substantially a predetermined value with the length of the square wave being adjustable in accordance with the control signal such that the length of the time which the flash lamp is illuminated can be precisely adjusted and the current passing through the flash lamp is limited to a desired value and such that the laser medium selectively fires one, two, or three laser beam pulses for the time that the charge is switched in series with the flash lamp.

Claim 39

A method for adjustable controlling the output of a laser to a desired level, the laser comprising a laser medium and a flash lamp configured to input energy to the laser medium, the method comprising the steps of: (a) firing the laser; (b) measuring the output the laser and determining if an adjustment of the output of the laser is necessary to achieve an output desired by a user on the next firing and generate a desired output signal; (c) supplying a voltage at least as great as 200 volts; (d) storing a charge; (e) determining when the flash lamp should be turned on and turned off in order to adjust the output of the laser to the desired level in accordance with the desired output signal and generating a control signal; (f) determining the current to be input to the flash lamp to set the output of the laser at a desired level; (g) switching the charge to be in connection with the flash lamp for a period of time indicated by the control signal and outputting a square wave having a plateau voltage, the value of the current passing through the flash lamp being limited to substantially the value indicated by the control signal and the length of the square wave being adjustable in accordance with the control signal such that the length of the time which the flash lamp is illuminated can be adjusted and the current passing through the flash lamp can also be adjusted to yield a desired flash lamp brightness in accordance with the value desired by a user; (h) repeating steps (a) through (g) and adjusting the time when the flash lamp should be turned on and turned off and adjusting the current to be input to the flash lamp to set the output of the laser at a desired level.

Claim 40

A method for adjustable controlling the output of a laser to a desired level, the laser comprising a laser medium and a flash lamp configured to input energy to the laser medium, the method comprising the steps of: (a) firing the laser; (b) measuring the output the laser and determining if an adjustment of the output of the laser is necessary to achieve an output desired by a user on the next firing and generate a desired output signal; (c) supplying a voltage at least as great as 200 volts; (d) storing a charge; (e) determining when the flash lamp should be turned on and turned off in order to adjust the output of the laser to the desired level in accordance with the desired output signal and generating a control signal; (f) determining the current to be input to the flash lamp to set the output of the laser at a desired level; (g) switching the charge to be in connection with the flash lamp for a period of time indicated by the control signal and outputting a square wave having a plateau voltage, the value of the current passing through the flash lamp being limited to substantially the value indicated by the control signal and the length of the square wave being adjustable in accordance with the control signal such that the length of the time which the flash lamp is illuminated can be adjusted and the current passing through the flash lamp can also be adjusted to yield a desired flash lamp brightness in accordance with the value desired by a user; (h) repeating steps (a) through (g) and adjusting the time when the flash lamp should be turned on and turned off and adjusting the current to be input to the flash lamp to set the output of the laser at a desired level.

Claim 41

An apparatus for adjustable controlling the output of a laser comprising: a laser medium; a flash lamp configured to input energy to the laser medium; voltage supply means for providing a voltage at least as great as 200 volts; means for measuring the output the laser medium; capacitive means, connected to the voltage supply means, for storing electrons; control means, connected to the means for measuring, for determining when the flash lamp should be turned on and turned off and for determining the current to be input to the flash lamp to set the output of the laser at a desired level, the control means generating a control signal; and switching means for electrically connecting the capacitive means to the flash lamp, the switching means providing an output which is substantially a square wave having a plateau voltage, the switching means limiting the value of the current passing through the flash lamp to substantially the value indicated by the control signal and the length of the square wave being adjustable in accordance with the control signal such that the length of the time which the flash lamp is illuminated can be adjusted and the current passing through the flash lamp can also be adjusted to yield a desired flash lamp brightness and wherein the switching means exhibits a delay between initiation of the control signal and the rise of square wave to substantially the plateau voltage being not greater than about 100 nanoseconds and wherein the switching means exhibits a delay between the end of the control signal and the return of the square wave to substantially its previous voltage value is not more than about 200 nanoseconds, such that the output of the switching means precisely presents substantially a square wave controlling the illumination of the flash lamp.

Claim 42

An apparatus for adjustable controlling the output of a laser comprising: a laser medium; a flash lamp configured to input energy to the laser medium; voltage supply means for providing a voltage at least as great as 200 volts; means for measuring the output the laser medium; capacitive means, connected to the voltage supply means, for storing electrons; control means, connected to the means for measuring, for determining when the flash lamp should be turned on and turned off and for determining the current to be input to the flash lamp to set the output of the laser at a desired level, the control means generating a control signal; and switching means for electrically connecting the capacitive means to the flash lamp, the switching means providing an output which is substantially a square wave having a plateau voltage, the switching means limiting the value of the current passing through the flash lamp to substantially the value indicated by the control signal and the length of the square wave being adjustable in accordance with the control signal such that the length of the time which the flash lamp is illuminated can be adjusted and the current passing through the flash lamp can also be adjusted to yield a desired flash lamp brightness and wherein the switching means exhibits a delay between initiation of the control signal and the rise of square wave to substantially the plateau voltage being not greater than about 100 nanoseconds and wherein the switching means exhibits a delay between the end of the control signal and the return of the square wave to substantially its previous voltage value is not more than about 200 nanoseconds, such that the output of the switching means precisely presents substantially a square wave controlling the illumination of the flash lamp.