Abstract: A focusable imaging laser otoscope for performing laser surgery without the need for anesthesia, The apparatus includes a housing, an end member movably disposed within the housing, an imaging device attached to the housing for producing an image of a target area, an illuminating system attached to the housing for illuminating the target area, a speculum having a longitudinal axis and detachably attached to the end member, an optical system attached to the housing and having a main optical axis coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the speculum, for directing a surgical and/or an aiming laser beam from a laser source through the housing and the speculum to strike the target area and for directing image forming light rays to project an image of the target area onto the imaging device such that when the image of the target area is focused, the surgical laser beam and/or aiming laser beam are also focused on the target area, and a focusing assembly attached to the housing and to the end member for adjustably mov

Abstract: A system and a method for manipulating movement within a body cavity. The device includes an optical fiber coupled to an energy source and a sleeve for containing the fiber. The fiber has distal end for positioning adjacent to a surface being treated within the body cavity and a proximal end located external to the body cavity which is coupled to an operating device for controlling the lateral and/or longitudinal movement of the fiber.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for tracking the operation of a light beam, preferably a laser light beam, which operates to treat the skin of the patient. The apparatus includes plurality of markings in accordance with the light beam impinges on the locations to be treated. The apparatus including the plurality of markings may be a cooling apparatus which also cools the skin during the treatment.

Abstract: A system for protection from light generated by interaction of laser energy with matter is provided. The system, which is designed for use with lasing apparatus having a laser, includes an optical protection device with at least one optical element of a material that transforms between an active state for blocking laser light and an inactive state, where the optical element is transparent. A mechanism for controlling the transformation of the optical element between the inactive and active states, attaches to the optical protection device and the lasing apparatus respectively, and is responsive to the activating and deactivating of the laser, such that when the laser is activated, the control mechanism causes the optical element to transform to the active state and when the laser is deactivated, the control mechanism causes the optical element to transform to the inactive state.

Abstract: A device for use in laser induced interstitial thermotherapy (LITT) is provided which includes a fiber for coupling to a laser energy source and an emitting element having a proximal end coupled to the fiber and a distal end for positioning adjacent to the surface receiving LITT, the emitting element radially emitting light whose intensity is controllable along its longitudinal length. In a preferred embodiment, the surface of the emitting element is roughened to achieve a power scattering function.

Abstract: A handpiece assembly for laser apparatus is provided which includes a manually-graspable handpiece having a proximal end, a distal end, and a passageway through the handpiece from its proximal end to its distal end for receiving an optical fiber having a proximal end to be optically coupled to a laser beam source and a distal end to project through the distal end of the handpiece for delivering the laser beam to a working area; a clamping device for clamping the optical fiber to the handpiece such that a predetermined length of the optical fiber projects outwardly of the distal end of the handpiece; and an applicator device having at one end a quickly-attachable connector quickly attachable to and detachable from the distal end of the handpiece, and at the opposite end a rigid preformed sheath of a length to enclose the projecting length of the optical fiber, and of a shape to impart to the optical fiber a desired shape according to the particular working area to receive the laser beam.

Abstract: A method of delivering a laser beam from a laser to a working site, comprising applying the laser beam received from the laser to a first positive optical element which converges the laser beam; applying the laser beam received from the first positive optical element to a negative optical element which diverges the laser beam; applying the laser beam received from the negative optical element to a second positive optical element which substantially collimates the laser beam before being applied to the working site; and varying the distance between the negative optical element and the second positive optical element to thereby vary the diameter of the substantially collimated laser beam applied to the working site.

Abstract: A laser micromanipulator for surgical applications includes an adaptor attachable to a laser and to a microscope which automatically maintains, preferably using phase detection, the laser beam in focus on tissue during any changes in the working distance by the surgeon manipulating the microscope.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating bright light sources includes a first plurality of semiconductor lasers in which each of the first plurality of semiconductor lasers emits a beam of light of a first frequency; a second plurality of semiconductor lasers in which each of the second plurality of semiconductor lasers emits a beam of light of a second frequency; a first bundle of optical fibers for receiving the light from ones of the first plurality of semiconductor lasers and providing a first combined laser beam of a predetermined shape and having a cross-sectional area and a solid angle; a second bundle of optical fibers for receiving the light from ones of the second plurality of semiconductor lasers and providing a second combined laser beam of a predetermined shape and having a cross-sectional area and a solid angle; and frequency responsive optics for combining the first and second combined laser beams into a composite laser beam, the composite laser beam having substantially the same product of cross

Abstract: A handpiece for laser apparatus includes a handle having a proximal end connectible to a laser beam source, a distal end through which the laser beam is delivered to a working area, and a passageway connecting the proximal end to the distal end; and a mirror carried at the distal end of the handle and tilted with respect to the longitudinal axis of the passageway to deliver the laser beam to a selected point in the working area. The mirror is elongated along one direction to permit directing the laser beam along a beam axis intercepting the mirror at a first point and reflecting the laser beam to the working area, and to permit viewing the working area along a viewing axis intercepting the mirror at a second point thereof displaced from the first point in the elongated direction.

Abstract: A laser beam delivery system includes a fiber cord assembly connectable to a laser beam source; a probe connector assembly connectable at one end to the fiber cord assembly and having a socket at its opposite end for receiving, in a quickly attachable/detachable manner, a fiber probe to deliver the laser beam to a working site; and a fiber probe for insertion into the socket.

Abstract: A gas laser includes an inner tube filled with gas and having mirrors at its opposite ends to define a resonant chamber, an outer tube filled with gas and defining a gas reservoir for the gas in the resonant chamber, and electrodes for energizing the gas in the resonant chamber. The gas reservoir includes a pair of intermediate tubes coaxial with and between the inner and outer tubes. One of the intermediate tubes is open at one end facing one end of the laser and is joined at its opposite end facing the opposite end of the laser to the outer tube. The other intermediate tube is open at its end facing the opposite end of the laser and is joined at its end facing the one end of the laser to the inner tube, whereby the pair of intermediate tubes divide the reservoir into a plurality of annular spaces defining a zigzag path between the opposite ends of inner tube.

Abstract: An optical-fiber type power transmission device, comprises an optical fiber for transmitting the power from a power input end through a power output end of the optical fiber; an opaque protective sleeve over the optical fiber and having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the optical fiber to define a gas passageway therebetween; and a tubular waveguide secured to the protective sleeve at the power output end of the optical fiber and projecting past the power output end. The tubular waveguide is unattached to the optical fiber to permit the fiber to move with respect to the tubular waveguide and protective sleeve during the bending of the device.

Abstract: An endoscopic attachment to a surgical laser comprises a hollow endoscopic tube adapted to be coupled at its rear end to the surgical laser, a coupling device including a pivotable reflector in the path of the laser beam transmitted through the endoscopic tube for reflecting same to the working area at the front end of the tube, and a manipulatable joystick connected to the reflector for manipulating the laser beam to direct it through the endoscopic tube and to selected positions in the working area at the front end of the tube. The attachment is to be used with a surgical laser producing a working laser beam and a separate, visible, aiming laser beam, the latter being partially reflected by the reflector and partially transmitted through the reflector to permit viewing the working area.

Abstract: Laser control apparatus for controlling a laser beam with respect to a working area to trace a desired pattern on a working area comprises an input device for inputting the desired pattern; a memory for storing a line pattern; a display for displaying the pattern; and a control system for controlling the laser beam. The control system comprises a Line-Operation selector and an Area-Operation selector, the Line-Operation selector being effective to cause the line pattern stored in the memory to be reproduced by the laser beam on the object, the Area-Operation selector being effective to cause the line pattern stored in the memory to be converted to an area pattern enclosing the area bounded by the line.

Abstract: A mechanical control system for moving a controlled device in response to the movement of a universally movable control member, comprises a first ball mounted for universal movement in a first socket; a second ball mounted for universal movement in a second socket, and having one side facing one side of the first ball; the control member being coupled to the opposite side of the first ball; the controlled device being coupled to the opposite side of the second ball; and a connecting stem having a third ball at one end received in a third socket formed in said one side of the first ball, the opposite end of the stem being fixed to said one side of the second ball. The invention is described particularly for controlling a laser beam in accordance with the movement of a joy stick.

Abstract: Apparatus for aligning a working laser beam with respect to a working area comprises a manipulatable guide having a hand manipulator including a focussing lens for manipulating and focussing the beam on the working area; and a laser generating a low-energy visible laser beam which is directed through the guide and focussing manipulator with the working laser beam. The low-energy laser beam has a divergence angle not substantially greater than that of the working laser beam and includes sections on opposite sides of and equally spaced from the center of the working laser beam such that the focal point of the sections of the low-energy laser beam, when focussed to a single point by the focussing lens, also designates the focal point of the working laser beam.

Abstract: A system for causing uniform ablation of irradiated material of living tissue while not causing damage below a predetermined depth where laser radiation is provided sequentially and continuously in a predetermined pattern is disclosed.