Apparatus and methods for laser-induced superficial alteration of a substrate
US6129723A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 28, 1995 |
| Grant date | Oct 10, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 28, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61F2009/00872
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus and method for superficially ablating and/or photochemically altering a substrate, e.g., a biological tissue, having a first refractive index, e.g., to a desired configuration, including a laser energy source which provides laser energy to an energy coupling wave generator which generates laser energy waves from the laser energy, the generator having a surface adapted to contact and form an interface with the substrate and having a second refractive index higher than the first refractive index, wherein laser energy entering the wave generator impinges on the surface at an angle of incidence greater than or equal to a critical angle for total internal reflection when the surface is not contacting the substrate, and wherein the wave generator couples the laser energy waves, e.g., refracted or evanescent waves, into the substrate at the interface to superficially ablate the substrate when contacting the substrate.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.