Systems and methods for alignment of a laser beam
First Claim
1. A laser-based treatment system, comprising:
- a beam guidance system for directing a laser beam along a beam path;
a handpiece having one of a beam exit for directing the laser beam toward a treatment area and a hollow waveguide;
a sensor assembly; and
a processor programmed to receive a plurality of signals from the sensor assembly and, in response, control an initial position of the beam guidance system to adjust the beam path through a center of one of the beam exit and an inlet of the hollow waveguide.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A dental laser treatment system includes a treatment laser beam and a pilot (e.g., aiming/marking) laser beam sharing a collinear beam path, where the beam path is guided by a guidance system through a handpiece/main chamber assembly having a beam exit. A laser beam presence detector is removably affixed to or within the handpiece/main chamber assembly. The laser beam presence detector provides feedback to a computer which can control actuation of the treatment laser beam and the pilot laser beam, and the beam guidance system. The computer performs a search for determining the center location of the beam exit based on the feedback and controls the beam guidance system to guide the beam path approximately to the center of the beam exit, thereby providing automatic alignment of the laser beam with the beam exit or an optional hollow waveguide.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A laser-based treatment system, comprising:
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a beam guidance system for directing a laser beam along a beam path; a handpiece having one of a beam exit for directing the laser beam toward a treatment area and a hollow waveguide; a sensor assembly; and a processor programmed to receive a plurality of signals from the sensor assembly and, in response, control an initial position of the beam guidance system to adjust the beam path through a center of one of the beam exit and an inlet of the hollow waveguide. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of aligning a laser beam, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) controlling by a processor a beam guidance system to direct a laser beam along a first beam path so that the laser beam is detected by a sensor; (b) controlling by the processor the beam guidance system to adjust a path of the laser beam up to a second beam path so that the sensor detects an absence of the laser beam; (c) recording by the processor a first set of co-ordinates associated with the beam guidance system and corresponding to the second beam path; (d) controlling by the processor the beam guidance system to direct the laser beam along one of the first beam path and a third beam path, so that the laser beam is detected by the sensor; (e) controlling by the processor the beam guidance system to adjust a path of the laser beam up to a fourth beam path so that the sensor detects an absence of the laser beam; (f) recording by the processor a second set of co-ordinates associated with the beam guidance system and corresponding to the fourth beam path; and (g) computing by the processor a set of co-ordinates associated with a beam exit. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A laser-based treatment system facilitating automatic alignment of a laser beam, the system comprising:
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a beam guidance system adapted to direct a laser beam through an aperture; a sensor adapted to provide a feedback signal in response to the laser beam passing through the aperture; and a processor adapted to determine a center of the aperture based on the feedback signal and adjust the beam guidance system for directing the laser beam through the aperture center. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification