Ophthalmic surgical laser apparatus
First Claim
1. A solid state ophthalmic surgical laser apparatus having a first output wavelength and a second output wavelength, including means for photocoagulation comprising said first output wavelength, and means for photoablation comprising said second output wavelength, and wherein said means for photoablation comprises an Er:
- YAG laser and said means for photocoagulation comprises a semiconductor laser and having a single fiber-optic delivery system, said single fiber-optic delivery system being a sapphire optical fiber and configured to permit contacting a surgical site with said fiber-optic, to deliver both said first output wavelength and said second output wavelength to the surgical site.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A solid-state ophthalmic surgical laser operating in the near and mid-infrared region (approximately 0.8 and 2.94 μm) comprises a YAG laser including a trivalent erbium activator (Er:YAG) which is pumped by a semiconductor laser diode array. Either the pump wavelength (0.8 μm) or the wavelength from the Er:YAG (2.94 μm) can be alternately selected by the user for performing photocoagulation or photoablative surgical procedures on or within the eye. A single crystal sapphire fiberoptic delivery system transmits either wavelength to the surgical site.
-
Citations
12 Claims
-
1. A solid state ophthalmic surgical laser apparatus having a first output wavelength and a second output wavelength, including means for photocoagulation comprising said first output wavelength, and means for photoablation comprising said second output wavelength, and wherein said means for photoablation comprises an Er:
- YAG laser and said means for photocoagulation comprises a semiconductor laser and having a single fiber-optic delivery system, said single fiber-optic delivery system being a sapphire optical fiber and configured to permit contacting a surgical site with said fiber-optic, to deliver both said first output wavelength and said second output wavelength to the surgical site.
- View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6)
-
2. A solid state ophthalmic surgical laser apparatus having a first output wavelength and a second output wavelength, including means for ophthalmic photocoagulation comprising said first output wavelength and means for ophthalmic photoablation comprising said second output wavelength, wherein said means for photoablation comprises a first pumpable laser, and wherein said means for photocoagulation comprises a second laser, said second laser being also usable for pumping said first pumpable laser, said first laser emitting radiation suitable for ophthalmic photoablation at about the 2.94 micron wavelength region, said second laser emitting radiation suitable for photocoagulation at about 800 nm;
- and having a single fiber-optic delivery system, said single fiber-optic delivery system being configured to permit contacting a surgical site with said fiber-optic to deliver both said first output wavelength light and said second output wavelength light to the surgical site.
-
7. A method for ophthalmic laser surgery comprising:
-
providing a first pumpable laser for emitting laser radiation in a first wavelength of about 2.94 microns; providing a second laser for emitting laser radiation at a second wavelength of about 800 nm; providing a single fiber optic delivery system; photocoagulating ocular tissue using said second laser; pumping said first pumpable laser using said second laser; photoablating ocular tissue using said first laser; and delivering both said first wavelength radiation and said second wavelength radiation to a surgical site using said single fiber-optic delivery system to contact the surgical site with said fiber-optic. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method for ophthalmic laser surgery comprising:
-
providing a first pumpable laser for emitting laser radiation in a first wavelength of about 2.94 microns; providing a second laser for emitting laser radiation in a second wavelength of about 800 nm; providing a single fiber optic delivery system; photocoagulating ocular tissue using said second laser; pumping said first pumpable laser using said second laser; photoablating ocular tissue using said first laser; delivering both said first wavelength radiation and said second wavelength radiation to a surgical site using said single fiber-optic delivery system to contact the surgical site with said fiber-optic; and wherein said step of providing a fiber-optic delivery system comprises providing single crystal sapphire fibers.
-
Specification