Method and apparatus for treating a surface with a scanning laser beam having an improved intensity cross-section
US5995265A · kind A · utility
10Cited by
3References
12Claims
0Family size
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 10, 1997 |
| Grant date | Nov 30, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 10, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2018/2025
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus are disclosed for laser treatment of surfaces, such as tissue. In a preferred embodiment, the invention employs a unique reflective optical delivery system which produces an improved beam intensity cross-section which reduces thermal injury, increases the precision of the tissue interaction and allows the creation of craters with decreased sizes. Reflective optics provide precise, single-layer vaporization at low power levels without thermal injury to the underlying papillary dermis. Movable optical elements focus and direct the laser beam in a scanning pattern to treat a large area of the surface.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.