Endoscopic mirror laser beam delivery system and method for controlling alignment
US5163936A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 22, 1991 |
| Grant date | Nov 17, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 22, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B18/201
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An endoscopic mirror laser beam delivery system, e.g., for laser surgery, comprises a beam splitting module (22) for optical connection to a laser beam source (14) which supplies a low-power aiming beam (12) and a high-power surgical beam (10) to the splitting module (22); a two-mirror focusing unit (24) optically connected to the splitting unit (22); and an endoscopic tube (20) for guiding the beams focused by the focusing unit (24) to a target point (P). The system also comprises a method for checking alignment of the optical system by observing the positions of two visible beam spots. In case of misalignment, these two spots do not coincide in a single point, thereby indicating misalignment which can be then corrected. The system and the method eliminate central obscuration and misalignment of the laser beams on an operation site, thereby enabling a surgeon to be able to be confident that the surgeon beam will impinge precisely upon the spot delineated by the aiming beam.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.