Abstract: A thermally tuned filter comprising an optical tuning device and a pre-stressed membrane positioned on the optical tuning device. A tensile prestress of the pre-stressed membrane to increase a natural frequency of the thermally tuned filter.

Abstract: A thermally tuned filter having a pre-stressed membrane. The thermally tuned filter includes a handle layer, a dielectric layer positioned proximate to the handle layer, and a device layer positioned proximate to the handle layer. The device layer includes an optical device. A pre-stressed membrane is positioned proximate to the device layer; a tensile prestress of the pre-stressed membrane increases the natural frequency of the thermally tuned filter.

Abstract: A diode laser device and method of use for achieving transcutaneous laser photocoagulation of the retina is described. A diode laser is used since it is much more efficient than the ion or dye lasers presently used for laser photocoagulation, and therefore will not require forced air of water cooling and can be made for compact. In addition, the diode laser can be used with standard 110 v wall sockets, and does not require the high power, three phase sockets required for the ion lasers. The end result is that compared to the ion laser device, the diode laser device can be brought directly into the operating room, which makes it ideal for transcutaneous delivery.A characteristic of diode lasers is that the emitted light diverges rapidly. In addition, the diode laser beam is emitted from a rectangular edge of a diode, and the light emitted along the longer sides of the rectangular edge will diverge more rapidly than that light emitted along the shorter sides of the rectangular edge.

Abstract: A floating mirror plate for a laser is suspended in a resonant cavity structure by graphite fiber rods. The cavity structure positions the mirror mounting plates and maintains a highly stable longitudinal spacing of the mirror mounting plates, despite thermal expansion and contraction of other parts of the cavity structure during operation of the laser. The graphite rods are associated with metal tubes and metal bracket support plates for resisting torsion by a construction which does not clamp the metal tubes onto the graphite rods. This construction permits relative movement, in a longitudinal direction, between the metal tubes and the graphite rods to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction of the metal tubes occurring during operation of the laser. The floating plate structure also embodies a rod arrangement in which the rods are not required to be aligned with contact pads for mirror adjusting screws.