Isotopic CO.sub.2 laser and method of use for medical treatment
US5062842A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 21, 1989 |
| Grant date | Nov 5, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 21, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61M13/003
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A medical treatment laser is disclosed that minimizes absorption of laser energy along the beam path by using a lasing medium having a principal emission at a wavelength shifted from the absorption wavelength. In the preferred embodiment, a CO.sub.2 laser filled with the .sup.13 C.sup.16 O.sub.2 isotope is used. The .sup.13 C.sup.16 O.sub.2 isotope generates a laser beam having a principal emission wavelength near 11.2 microns. The absorption of this wavelength in the conventional CO.sub.2 purge and insufflation gases is quite small compared to the absorption of the 10.59 micron wavelength emitted by the standard CO.sub.2 isotope. The difference in absorption allows the power generated by the laser to be maximally transmitted to the medical treatment site. In addition, the 11.2 micron line has a greater coefficient of absorption in human tissue, thereby enhancing surgery.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.