Abstract: A portable laser device for obtaining blood samples through the skin of humans or animals. A laser crystal is optically pumped to produce a short high power laser pulse which vaporizes a small hole in the skin. The pulse is shaped to produce a pulse cross section at a sampling location which has a long dimension and a short dimension similar to a blade cut.

Abstract: A solid state laser systems for generating highly monochromatic laser radiation at wavelengths of interest for advanced micro-lithography, particularly 248 nanometer and 193 nanometer wavelengths. At least one Nd:YAG laser produces a 1,064 nm laser beam consisting of narrow-linewidth pulses of infra-red laser radiation having a pulse duration of less than 30 nanoseconds, at a pulse rate preferably in excess of 500 pulses per second with pulse energy greater than 20 millijoules. This radiation is frequency doubled and frequency tripled to produce 532 nm and 355 nm pulsed laser beams. These beams are then further optically processed to generate the ultra-violet wavelength for micro-lithography at either 248 nm or 193 nm.