Handpiece optical proximity detector for disabling surgical laser beam

• US 5,200,604 A
• Filed: 08/07/1991
• Issued: 04/06/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: PLC Medical Systems, Inc. (Viveve Medical, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Laser Engineering, Inc.
• Inventors: Rudko, Robert I., Linhares, Stephen J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelms, David C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHAMI, KHALED
• Application Number:
  US07/741,642
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 250/221, 250/561, 250/227.11, 250/227.21, 250/227.29, 250/214 A, 250/205, 606/2, 606/12, 606/16, 128/397, 128/398, 219/121.61, 219/121.62
• US Class Current: 250/205
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/20 using laser
• 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 2017/00057 Light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00123 and automatic shutdown
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00636 Sensing and controlling the application of energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00666 using a threshold value
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/065 for measuring contact or contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/306 using optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/005 using gas or vapor, e.g. for protection or purging
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/04 Automatically aligning, aiming or focusing the laser beam, e.g. using the back-scattered light
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/026 by measuring distance between sensor and object G01B11/0608 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/36 with phase comparison between the received signal and the contemporaneously transmitted signal
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/87 Combinations of systems using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves

Abstract

A proximity detector for the probe of a beam delivery apparatus of a laser system includes a probe having a face for confronting a target surface to be struck by the laser beam; means for directing a gauging light to the target surface; means for sensing the gauging light returning from the target surface to the probe; and means responsive to the means for sensing for generating a control signal representative of the position of the probe relative to the surface to enable the laser system to fire.

Claims

1. A proximity detector for the probe of the beam delivery apparatus of a laser system comprising:

a probe having a face for contacting a target surface to be struck by the laser beam;

means for directing a gauging light to said target surface;

means for sensing any gauging light returning from said target surface to said probe; and

means, responsive to said means for sensing, for generating a control signal inhibiting the firing of the laser system if gauging light returning from said target is sensed by said means for sensing.

2. The proximity detector of claim 1 in which said gauging light is visible light.

3. The proximity detector of claim 1 in which said means for directing includes a light source.

4. The proximity detector of claim 3 in which said means for directing includes a first aperture in said probe face.

5. The proximity detector of claim 4 in which said means for directing includes fiber optic means extending between said light source and aperture.

6. The proximity detector of claim 1 in which said means for sensing includes a second aperture in said probe face.

7. The proximity detector of claim 6 in which said means for sensing includes a photodetector means.

8. The proximity detector of claim 7 in which said means for sensing includes a fiber optic means extending between said photodetector means and said second aperture.

9. The proximity detector of claim 3 in which said means for directing includes means for modulating said light source.

10. The proximity detector of claim 9 in which said means for sensing includes photodetector means and phase detector means, responsive to said photodetector means and said means for modulating, for determining the level of the light returning from said surface.

11. The proximity detector of claim 1 further including a plurality of means for directing and of means for sensing and means, responsive to said means for directing and means for sensing, for indicating that said probe face is tilted relative to said target surface.

12. A proximity detector for the probe of a beam delivery apparatus of a laser system including a laser arming circuit comprising:

a probe having a face for contacting a target surface to be struck by the laser beam;

means for directing a gauging light to said target surface;

means for sensing any gauging light returning from said target surface to said probe; and

means for sending a signal to said arming circuit when said means for sensing senses gauging light returning from said target surface to said probe.