Patent · US Active

Picosecond laser apparatus and methods for its operation and use

US7586957B2 · kind B2 · utility

33Cited by
1References
26Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 2, 2006
Grant dateSep 8, 2009
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 8, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01S3/115
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods are disclosed for applying laser energy having desired pulse characteristics, including a sufficiently short duration and/or a sufficiently high energy for the photomechanical treatment of skin pigmentations and pigmented lesions, both naturally-occurring (e.g., birthmarks), as well as artificial (e.g., tattoos). The laser energy may be generated with an apparatus having a resonator with the capability of switching between a modelocked pulse operating mode and an amplification operating mode. The operating modes are carried out through the application of a time-dependent bias voltage, having waveforms as described herein, to an electro-optical device (e.g., a Pockels cell) positioned along the optical axis of the resonator.

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