Rapid pulsed Er:YAG laser
US6193711A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 12, 1997 |
| Grant date | Feb 27, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 12, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S372/705
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An Er:YAG laser system has a resonant cavity including an Er:YAG rod pulse-pumped by a pulsed flashlamp. The pump-pulse repetition rate and average power is selected to provide a known essentially constant thermal-lensing power in the Er:YAG rod. Design parameters of the Er:YAG rod and the resonant cavity are selected to compensate for this thermal-lensing power. A shutter in the resonant cavity, when closed or open, respectively prevents or allows a laser output-pulse to be generated in response to a pump-pulse. Laser output-pulse duration is continuously variable and is controlled by controlling the duration of flashlamp-pulses. A sequence of laser output-pulses is controlled by opening and closing the shutter. This arrangement has the advantage that the laser output-pulse repetition rate can be selected to be the flashlamp-pulse repetition rate or some sub-multiple thereof while maintaining thermal-lensing power in the rod essentially constant and compensated for.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.