System and methods for alignment of a laser beam
First Claim
1. A beam-alignment system for aligning a laser beam of a laser-based treatment apparatus, the system comprising:
- a housing forming an inlet to a beam exit of a handpiece of a laser-based treatment apparatus; and
a sensor disposed in the housing, aligned with the inlet and adapted to provide a first signal indicating detection of laser energy by the sensor above a specified threshold level and a second signal indicating absence of laser energy above the threshold level; and
a processor programmed to;
direct a beam guidance system to adjust a laser beam path; and
determine a center of the beam exit using the first and second signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A dental laser treatment system includes a treatment laser beam and a pilot (e.g., aiming/marking) laser beam sharing a collinear beam path, where the beam path is guided by a guidance system through a handpiece/main chamber assembly having a beam exit. A laser beam presence detector is removably affixed to or within the handpiece/main chamber assembly. The laser beam presence detector provides feedback to a computer which can control actuation of the treatment laser beam and the pilot laser beam, and the beam guidance system. The computer performs a search for determining the center location of the beam exit based on the feedback and controls the beam guidance system to guide the beam path approximately to the center of the beam exit, thereby providing automatic alignment of the laser beam with the beam exit or an optional hollow waveguide.
59 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A beam-alignment system for aligning a laser beam of a laser-based treatment apparatus, the system comprising:
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a housing forming an inlet to a beam exit of a handpiece of a laser-based treatment apparatus; and a sensor disposed in the housing, aligned with the inlet and adapted to provide a first signal indicating detection of laser energy by the sensor above a specified threshold level and a second signal indicating absence of laser energy above the threshold level; and a processor programmed to; direct a beam guidance system to adjust a laser beam path; and determine a center of the beam exit using the first and second signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A laser-based treatment system, comprising:
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a handpiece comprising; a beam exit; and a sensor assembly;
(i) that has a central aperture aligned with the beam exit, and (ii) that is at least partially attached to an inner surface of the handpiece, the sensor assembly being adapted to provide a first signal indicating detection of laser energy by the sensor assembly above a specified threshold level and a second signal indicating absence of laser energy above the specified threshold level; anda processor programmed to; direct a beam guidance system to adjust a laser beam path; and determine a center of the beam exit using the first and second signals. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of aligning a laser beam, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) selecting a first axis and a step size; (b) adjusting a first rotatable mirror of a beam guidance system such that a laser beam directed by the beam guidance system is not detected by a sensor and recording a co-ordinate of the first mirror along the first axis; (c) adjusting the first rotatable mirror along the first axis in a first direction by the step size and recording a co-ordinate of the first mirror along the first axis; (d) if the laser beam is not detected, increasing the step size and repeating step (c); (e) otherwise; (A) decreasing the step size and readjusting the first rotatable mirror along the first axis in a second direction opposite the first direction by the decreased step size; (B) if the laser beam is detected, computing an average of the co-ordinates recorded in steps (b) and (c), the average being associated with the first rotatable mirror; (C) otherwise, replacing the co-ordinate recorded in step (b) corresponding to the readjusted position of the first rotatable mirror along the first axis; (D) decreasing the step size and readjusting the first rotatable mirror along the first axis in the first direction by the decreased step size; (E) if the laser beam is not detected, computing an average of the co-ordinates recorded in steps (C) and (c), the average being associated with the first rotatable mirror; and (F) otherwise, replacing the co-ordinate recorded in step (c) corresponding to the readjusted position of the first rotatable mirror along the first axis. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification