Laser system

• US 20060089629A1
• Filed: 07/25/2003
• Published: 04/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AngioDynamics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: AngioDynamics, Inc.
• Inventors: Howe, Christopher Andrew, St. Paer-Gotch, Edumund Hugh Emile
• Granted Patent: US 7,483,457 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/22 the beam being directed along or through a flexible conduit, e.g. an optical fibre; Couplings or hand-pieces therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00482 with a code
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00988 Means for storing information, e.g. calibration constants, or for preventing excessive use, e.g. usage, service life counter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/90 Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/92 coded with colour
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/96 using barcodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4482 Code or colour marking

Abstract

A laser system (10) is disclosed comprising a laser device (1) for emitting laser radiation and an optical fiber (2) adapted to connect, in use, to the laser device (1) for delivering the laser radiation. The optical fibre contains a label (3), such as an RF identification tag, a barcode or a colour code. The laser device (1) interrogates the optical fibre (2) and receives information back from the optical fibre (2). If the usage of the optical fibre (2) has exceeded safety limits then the laser device (1) may be prevented from operating. The laser device (1) on receiving information from the optical fibre (2) may also be configured to deliver laser radiation having a specific power, pulse width, pulse interval and treatment duration.

Claims

1-67. -67. (canceled)

68. A laser system comprising:

a laser device for emitting laser radiation; and

a delivery device comprising a read/write device for storing information, said delivery device adapted to connect, in use, to said laser device for delivering said laser radiation;

wherein, in use, said laser device receives information from said delivery device, the information received from said delivery device is used to configure an operation of said laser device, and said laser device updates the information on said read/write device.

69. The laser system of claim 68, wherein said delivery device comprises an optical fiber.

70. The laser system of claim 68, wherein said laser device comprises a SMA connector for receiving an optical fiber.

71. The laser system of claim 68, wherein said laser device comprises a detector for detecting the connection of said delivery device.

72. The laser system claim 71, wherein, in use, said laser device interrogates said delivery device after said detector indicates that said delivery device has been connected to said laser device.

73. The laser system of claim 68, wherein, in use, said laser device interrogates said delivery device.

74. The laser system of claim 73, wherein said laser device interrogates said delivery device in a contactless manner.

75. The laser system of claim 68, wherein said delivery device receives, in use, at least one of or both power and electromagnetic pulse.

76. The laser system of claim 68, wherein said delivery device receives, in use, one of AC or RF energy, stores said energy, and transmits back to said laser device at least one of or both data and information using said stored energy.

77. The laser system of claim 68, wherein said read/write device comprises at least one of or both an AC or RF identification tag and an AC or RF transponder.

78. The laser system of claim 77, wherein said at least one of or both the AC or RF identification tag and the AC or RF transponder is embedded within or provided on said delivery device.

79. The laser system of claim 77, wherein said at least one of or both the AC or RF identification tag and the AC or RF transponder comprises a conductively coupled AC or RF identification tag.

80. The laser system of claim 77, wherein said at least one of or both the AC or RF identification tag and the AC or RF transponder comprises a capacitively coupled AC or RF identification tag.

81. The laser system of claim 77, wherein said laser device comprises an AC or RF identification reader for reading said at least one of or both the AC or RF identification tag and the AC or RF transponder.

82. The laser system of claim 81, wherein said AC or RF identification reader comprises an antenna, a transceiver and a processor.

83. The laser system of claim 81, wherein, in use, said delivery device transmits or returns a signal to said AC or RF identification reader.

84. The laser system of claim 68, wherein said information indicates a type of said delivery device.

85. The laser system of claim 68, wherein said information indicates a state, usage, expiry date, age and model of said delivery device.

86. The laser system of claim 68, wherein said information indicates at least one of or both an intended use and function of said delivery device.

87. The laser system of claim 68, wherein in a mode of operation said laser device prevents operation with said delivery device upon receiving information from said delivery device.

88. The laser system of claim 68, wherein in a mode of operation said laser device prevents operation with said delivery device if said laser device does not receive any information from said delivery device.

89. The laser system of claim 68, wherein said laser device prevents operation if a delivery device known per se is connected to said laser device.

90. The laser system of claim 68, wherein in a mode of operation said laser device prevents operation with said delivery device if said laser device receives information from said delivery device and wherein said information indicates a predetermined parameter.

91. The laser system of claim 90, wherein said parameter indicates a usage of the delivery device.

92. The laser system of claim 90, wherein said parameter indicates a sterility of the delivery device.

93. The laser system of claim 90, wherein said parameter indicates a type of the delivery device.

94. The laser system of claim 90, wherein said parameter indicates an expiry date of the delivery device.

95. The laser system of claim 68, wherein in a mode of operation said laser device receives information from said delivery device and sets a power of laser radiation to be transmitted to said delivery device.

96. The laser system of claim 68, wherein in a mode of operation said laser device receives information from said delivery device and sets a pulse width of laser radiation to be transmitted to said delivery device.

97. The laser system of claim 68, wherein in a mode of operation said laser device receives information from said delivery device and sets an interval between pulses of laser radiation to be transmitted to said delivery device.

98. The laser system of claim 68, wherein a mode of operation said laser device receives information from said delivery device and sets the duration that laser radiation is to be transmitted to said delivery device.

99. The laser system of claim 68, wherein said laser device may be at least one of or both enabled and disabled remotely.

100. The laser system of claim 99, wherein said laser device may be at least one of or both enabled and disabled via a telephone link, serial interface or internet.

101. The laser system of claim 68, wherein said laser device comprises a visual display, said display being adapted to provide a user with information received from said delivery device.

102. The medical laser device comprising the laser system of claim 68.

103. A method of operating a laser system comprising:

providing a laser device;

connecting a delivery device to said laser device, said delivery device including a read/write device for storing information, said laser device receiving information from said delivery device;

using the information received from said delivery device to configure an operation of said laser device; and

updating the information on said read/write device.