Multiple wavelength laser workstation
First Claim
1. A laser device comprising:
- a lasing medium capable of lasing at a first wavelength and a second wavelength, the lasing medium having a longitudinal axis;
an output coupler located at a first end of the lasing medium along the longitudinal axis of the lasing medium;
a first mirror located at a second end of the lasing medium along the longitudinal axis of the lasing medium, the first mirror being highly reflective at the first wavelength;
a second mirror located between the first mirror and the second end of the lasing medium along the longitudinal axis of the lasing medium, the second mirror being highly reflective at the second wavelength and transparent at the first wavelength; and
a beam block shutter movable from a first position along a longitudinal axis of the lasing medium between the first and second mirrors along the longitudinal axis of the lasing medium to a second position away from the longitudinal axis of the lasing medium.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Lasers capable of lasing at at least two wavelengths are provided having a lasing medium which is capable of lasing at a first wavelength and at a second wavelength. An output coupler is positioned along a longitudinal axis at a first end of the lasing medium and a first mirror, movable beam block shutter and second mirror are positioned sequentially along the longitudinal axis of the lasing medium at a second end of the lasing medium. The first mirror is highly reflective at a first wavelength, and the second mirror is highly reflective at a second wavelength while being transparent at the first wavelength. The beam block shutter is movable between a first position along the longitudinal axis of the lasing medium and between the first and second mirrors and a second position away from the longitudinal axis of the lasing medium. Also provided are laser workstations having two lasers driven by a single electronics drive system in which a single energy storage network is connected to a first laser pump chamber operative to excite a first laser medium and connected to a second laser pump chamber operative to excite a second laser medium. In certain embodiments, a switch connects the single energy storage network to a secondary winding of a high voltage trigger transformer, which is itself connected to the laser pump chambers. These high voltage trigger transformer serve to selectively ionize the excitation source in one of the laser pump chambers such that when the switch is closed, energy from the energy storage network will flow through the pump chamber whose excitation source(s) has been previously ionized. In other embodiments, the single energy storage network is connected to the excitation sources via active semiconductor switches that permit the release of portions of energy stored in the single energy storage network to one of the lasers, leaving additional energy to be immediately or rapidly released to the excitation source of the first or another laser. Also provided are methods of treating skin having a skin problem using multiple wavelengths of laser energy.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A laser device comprising:
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a lasing medium capable of lasing at a first wavelength and a second wavelength, the lasing medium having a longitudinal axis;
an output coupler located at a first end of the lasing medium along the longitudinal axis of the lasing medium;
a first mirror located at a second end of the lasing medium along the longitudinal axis of the lasing medium, the first mirror being highly reflective at the first wavelength;
a second mirror located between the first mirror and the second end of the lasing medium along the longitudinal axis of the lasing medium, the second mirror being highly reflective at the second wavelength and transparent at the first wavelength; and
a beam block shutter movable from a first position along a longitudinal axis of the lasing medium between the first and second mirrors along the longitudinal axis of the lasing medium to a second position away from the longitudinal axis of the lasing medium. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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- 5. A laser workstation comprising a first laser and a second laser, wherein the first laser and the second laser are driven by a single electronics drive system comprising a single energy storage network connected to a first laser pump chamber and connected to a second laser pump chamber, wherein the first laser pump chamber is operative to excite a first laser medium and the second laser pump chamber is operative to excite a second laser medium.
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29. A method of treating a skin problem comprising the steps of:
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providing a laser device comprising;
a lasing medium capable of lasing at a first wavelength and a second wavelength, the lasing medium having a longitudinal axis;
an output coupler located at a first end of the lasing medium along the longitudinal axis of the lasing medium;
a first mirror located at a second end of the lasing medium along the longitudinal axis of the lasing medium, the first mirror being highly reflective at the first wavelength;
a second mirror located between the first mirror and the second end of the lasing medium along the longitudinal axis of the lasing medium, the second mirror being highly reflective at the second wavelength and transparent at the first wavelength; and
a beam block shutter movable from a first position along a longitudinal axis of the lasing medium between the first and second mirrors along the longitudinal axis of the lasing medium to a second position away from the longitudinal axis of the lasing medium; and
treating an area of skin affected by a skin problem by using the laser device to apply laser energy at the first wavelength to the area of skin affected by a skin problem and using the laser device to apply laser energy at the second wavelength to the area of skin affected by the skin problem.
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30. A method of treating a skin problem comprising the steps of:
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providing a laser device comprising a laser workstation comprising a first laser and a second laser, wherein the first laser and the second laser are driven by a single electronics drive system comprising a single energy storage network connected to a first laser pump chamber and connected to a second laser pump chamber, wherein the first laser pump chamber is operative to excite a first laser medium and the second laser pump chamber is operative to excite a second laser medium; and
treating an area of skin affected by a skin problem by using the laser device to apply laser energy from the first laser at a first wavelength to the area of skin affected by a skin problem and using the laser device to apply laser energy from the second laser at a second wavelength to the area of skin affected by the skin problem. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A method of treating a vascular legion comprising the steps of:
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providing a laser device comprising a laser workstation comprising a first laser and a second laser, wherein the first laser and the second laser are driven by a single electronics drive system comprising a single energy storage network connected to a first laser pump chamber and connected to a second laser pump chamber, wherein the first laser pump chamber is operative to excite a first laser medium and the second laser pump chamber is operative to excite a second laser medium; and
treating a vascular legion by using the laser device to apply laser energy at 595 nm from the first laser to the vascular legion and using the laser device to apply laser energy at 1064 nm from the second laser to the vascular legion. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44)
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Specification