Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for treating material with a laser

US5601738A · kind A · utility

5Cited by

6References

4Claims

0Family size

Assignee

Medizinisches Laserzentrum Luebeck GmbH · DE

Inventors

Ralf Engelhardt · Bodelshausen, DE
Alfred Vogel · Lübeck, DE

Key dates

Filing date	Jul 14, 1994
Grant date	Feb 11, 1997
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Jul 14, 2014

Classification

Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
CPC primaryA61B2018/2025
WIPO fieldMedical technology
WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method and apparatus for reducing unwanted pressure changes generated during treatment of a target material in a liquid-filled space with a laser. A pilot pulse is generated to produce a gas bubble in a region of the liquid-filled space before a processing pulse is directed through the region and onto the target material. An impulse spacing between the pilot pulse and the processing pulse is optimized by detecting an oscillation period of the gas bubble. The pilot pulse and processing pulse may be generated by the same or separate laser sources and directed toward the target material by the same or separate conductors, respectively.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.