Abstract: A smoke evacuator system for by-products of laser surgery including an inline construction of a motor and a filter assembly mounted on opposite sides of a mounting plate. The filter fits in a filter duct and the temperature of the flow between the filter and the vacuum chamber of the vacuum pump can be monitored to determine the clog condition of the filter. The system includes electronic circuitry to activate an alarm device to indicate to the user that the filter is clogged and further circuitry is provided to shutoff the motor after a long period of operation with a clogged filter to prevent damage to the system by overheating.

Abstract: A laser surgery smoke evacuator system is disposed within a small, thermally and acoustically insulated casing. The system includes a filter, a vacuum pump disposed downstream of the filter, an alternating current motor driven by an AC power source, a DC power supply energized by the AC source, an AC phase controller to vary the motor speed, a capacitor circuit to isolate the phase control from electromotive interference and a filter clog circuit. The DC power supply powers the phase controller and the capacitor and filter clog circuits. The AC phase controller is mounted next to an air intake in the casing for cooling the motor. The motor drives the vacuum pump which evacuates smoke from a laser surgery site, draws such smoke through the filter and exhausts clean air from the casing.

Abstract: A filter for a laser surgery smoke evacuation system including a generally cylindrical hollow housing with endcaps on either end to hold a plurality of filter elements in place within the housing. The inlet end of the housing includes a hollow cone with a cylindrical inlet projecting from the apex of the cone and a base ring projecting from the base of the cone. The endcaps are held in place by adhesive tape strips with a high friction backing. The high friction backing helps hold the filter lightly in place during use. The filter is disposable and easily removable from the system and includes no mechanical apparatus to hold the filter in the system.

Abstract: A beam deflecting assembly in a laser device for precision manual control of the point of impact of a laser beam on a selected target site. The assembly includes a pivotable joy-stick universally coupled to an angled manipulator arm which in turn is pivotably connected to a mirror mount in which a beam deflecting mirror is mounted. The mount is rotatable about a vertical axis and includes a yoke for pivoting the mirror about a horizontal axis. Deflection of the joy-stick in the horizontal direction results in rotation of the mount and, independently, deflection in the vertical axis results in pivoting the mirror mount about the horizontal axis. The components of the assembly are dimensioned such that a movement in the free end of the joy-stick is reflected in a corresponding displacement in angle and distance in the point of impact of the delivered laser beam on a selected target plane to give the operator of the laser device a sense of direct control of the beam.

Abstract: A microsurgical laser device for guiding a laser beam to a desired target. The device includes a laser head that is vertically oriented and which is supported by a base that contains the required electronics for the system. This laser head can be tilted in all directions so as to position the device for use. The laser head is coupled to an articulated delivery system that allows for the delivery system, including a colposcope or an operating microscope, to be raised, lowered, tilted, rotated, and focused onto the target.The articulated connection from the laser head to the colposcope or operating microscope makes use of a minimum number of mirrors to redirect the laser beam at 90 degree angles along a direction perpendicular to the axis of the incident path. Each mirror is mounted on precision mounts that obviate the need for adjustments.In one embodiment of the device the articulated system makes use of three mirrors to redirect the beam and one lens to provide a fixed laser spot size at the target.

Abstract: Microsurgical laser device for guiding a laser beam to a desired target. The device includes a laser head supported in a relatively horizontal orientation by a counterbalanced articulated support arm which provides for elevational positioning of the laser head as well as rotation of the laser head about two parallel spaced apart vertical axes. The support arm, in turn, is rotatably supported by a vertical post defining a third vertical axis.Threadably connected to one end of the laser head is an articulated laser guide arm having a precision telescopic first section followed by four rotatable mirror sections each of which is adapted to redirect a beam 90.degree. along a plane perpendicular to the axis of the incident path. Each section is precision made to obviate the need to adjust the mirror or align the arm.

Abstract: A fluorophotometer for determining the concentration of a fluorescent material in an eye, including a light source producing a beam of light traversing a path in the eye to excite the material to emit fluorescence, optics for imaging the path and fluorescence at a detecting plane, a linear photodiode array at the detecting plane for detecting the fluorescence along the path, and a microprocessor for collecting data from the array and producing information of the concentration of the fluorescent material.