LASER DEVICE PARTICULARLY USEFUL AS SURGICAL SCALPEL

• US 3,865,113 A
• Filed: 12/04/1972
• Issued: 02/11/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Isaac Kaplan, Uzi Sharon
• Original Assignee: Isaac Kaplan, Uzi Sharon
• Inventors: Sharon, Uzi, Kaplan, Isaac
• Primary Examiner(s): Trapp, Lawrence W.
• Application Number:
  US05/311,776
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 128/33R,303.1,395,305,396 331/94.5
• US Class Current: 606/18
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/201 with beam delivery through a hollow tube, e.g. forming an articulated arm through a flexible conduit A61B18/22; Hand-pieces therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/036 abutting on tissue or skin
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/02 Positioning or observing the workpiece, e.g. with respect to the point of impact; Aligning, aiming or focusing the laser beam
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/035 Aligning the laser beam automatically B23K26/042
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/351 for trimming or tuning of electrical components

Abstract

A laser beam manipulator device, particularly useful as a surgical scalpel, comprises a tube connectable at one end to a movable conduit down which a laser beam propagates and a beam targeting member carried by the tube at its opposite end. The manipulator device includes a lens that focuses the laser beam to a point in a plane substantially passing through the tip of the beam targeting member at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the tube. To permit viewing of the working area at the focal point of the laser beam while the device is being manipulated, at least a portion of the tip of the beam targeting member either is removed or is made of a transparent material.

Claims

1. A laser beam manipulator device that indicates the point of focus of a focused laser beam comprising:

a tube connectable at one end to a manipulatable laser beam conduit through which the laser beam passes;

a beam targeting member carried by the tube at its opposite end;

said beam targeting member having a tip that is approximately the same distance along the longitudinal axis of the tube as the focal point of the laser beam; and

means for permitting the viewing of the area around the focal point while the laser beam manipulator device is being maneuvered by an operator.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said beam targeting member is in the form of an attachment attachable to and detachable from said tube.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein said beam targeting member includes at least one leg extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube, the laser beam being focused to a focal point slightly above the tip of said leg.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein the loWer face of the tip of said leg is rounded to facilitate its movement across the object to receive the laser beam.

5. A device according to claim 1 wherein said beam targeting member includes a pair of spaced legs of equal length extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube, the laser beam being focused to a focal point in the center of the space between said legs and substantially coplanar with the tips of said legs.

6. A device according to claim 1 wherein said beam targeting member includes a pair of spaced legs of different lengths extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube, the laser beam being focused to a focal point in the center of the space between said legs and substantially coplanar with the tip of the longer of said legs.

7. A device according to claim 1 wherein said beam targeting member includes a leg extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube and terminating at its tip in a tab extending from said leg at an angle thereto, said tab being formed with an opening, the laser beam being focused to a focal point within said opening.

8. A device according to claim 7 wherein said leg further carries at its tip a second tab extending from said leg at an angle thereto, said second tab serving as a surgical retractor element.

9. A device according to claim 1 further including a protective element carried by the tip of said beam targeting member spaced forwardly thereof and in alignment with the laser beam to block the laser beam after it passes through an object located at the focal point.

10. A device according to claim 1 wherein said beam targeting member includes a pair of spaced legs curved upwardly at their tips to enable said legs also to serve as surgical retractor elements, the laser beam being focused to a focal point in the space between said legs and substantially coplanar with the points of the tips of said legs which are most distant from said lens.

11. A device according to claim 1 wherein said beam targeting member is in the form of a hollow truncated cone, the smaller diameter of the truncated cone being at said tip and being cut at a bias to permit viewing said working area.

12. A device according to claim 1 wherein said beam targeting member carries a mirror spaced slightly from the focal point of the lens towards said lens, said mirror being inclined to deflect the laser beam so that its focal point is substantially coplanar with the tip of said mirror.

13. A device according to claim 1 wherein said beam targeting member is a hollow transparent tube with an opening adjacent the focal point of the laser beam.

14. A device according to claim 1 further comprising a lens having a short focal length to concentrate the energy of the laser beam within a small depth adjacent the focal point.

15. A device according to claim 1 further comprising a lens having a long focal length to spread the energy of the laser beam for a significant depth adjacent the focal point.

16. A laser beam manipulator device that indicates the point of focus of a focused laser beam comprising:

a beam targeting member connectable at one end to a manipulatable laser beam conduit through which the laser beam passes;

said beam targeting member having a tip that is approximately the same distance from the conduit as the focal point of the laser beam; and

means for permitting the viewing of the area around the focal point while the laser beam manipulator device is being maneuvered by an operator.

17. A device according to claim 16 wherein said beam targeting member includes at least one leg extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube, the laser beam being focused to a focal point slightly above the tip of said leg.

18. A device according to claim 16 wherein said beam targeting member includes a pair of spaced legs of equal length extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube, the laser beam being focused to a focal point in the center of the space between said legs and substantially coplanar with the tips of said legs.

19. A device according to claim 16 wherein said beam targeting member includes a pair of spaced legs of different lengths extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube, the laser beam being focused to a focal point in the center of the space between said legs and substantially coplanar with the tip of the longer of said legs.

20. A device according to claim 16 wherein said beam targeting member includes a leg extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube and terminating at its tip in a tab extending from said leg at an angle thereto, said tab being formed with an opening, the laser beam being focused to a focal point within said opening.

21. A device according to claim 20 wherein said leg further carries at its tip a second tab extending from said leg at an angle thereto, said second tab serving as a surgical retractor element.

22. A device according to claim 16 further including a protective element carried by the tip of said beam targeting member spaced forwardly thereof and in alignment with the laser beam to block the laser beam after it passes through an object located at the focal point.

23. A device according to claim 16 wherein said beam targeting member includes a pair of spaced legs curved upwardly at their tips to enable said legs also to serve as surgical retractor elements, the laser beam being focused to a focal point in the space between said legs and substantially coplanar with the points of the tips of said legs which are most distant from said lens.

24. A device according to claim 16 wherein said beam targeting member is in the form of a hollow truncated cone, the smaller diameter of the truncated cone being at said tip and being cut at a bias to permit viewing said working area.

25. A device according to claim 16 wherein said beam targeting member carries a mirror spaced slightly from the focal point of the lens towards said lens, said mirror being inclined to deflect the laser beam so that its focal point is substantially coplanar with the tip of said mirror.

26. A device according to claim 16 wherein said beam targeting member is a hollow transparent tube with an opening adjacent the focal point of the laser beam.

27. In combination:

a manipulatable laser beam conduit through which a laser beam passes;

means for focusing said laser beam at a point beyond an end of said conduit;

a beam targeting member carried by said conduit at said end;

said beam targeting member having a tip that is approximately the same distance from the conduit as the focal point of the laser beam; and

means for permitting the viewing of the area around the focal point while the beam targeting member is being maneuvered by an operator.

28. A surgical device that indicates the point of focus of a focused laser beam comprising:

a tube through which the laser beam passes, said tube being connectable at one end to a manipulatable laser beam conduit;

a beam targeting member carried by the tube at its opposite end;

said beam targeting member having a tip that is approximately the same distance from the tube as the focal point of the laser beam; and

means for permitting a surgeon to view the area around the focal point while he operates with said device.