Abstract: The present invention provides a system, which comprises a fiber laser (1) for generation of laser radiation, and an applicator (8) coupled with the fiber laser (1), the applicator (8) being adapted for delivery of laser radiation from the fiber laser (1) to an area of interest (22) and comprising an endoscopic fiber (7) or bare fiber (7).

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for ophthalmology or dermatology, having a laser unit for generating pulsed laser radiation, the pulse length of the laser pulses lying in the femtosecond range, a hand unit for emitting laser radiation generated by the laser unit, and a flexible light waveguide for delivering the laser radiation generated by the laser unit to the hand unit. The invention furthermore relates to a corresponding hand unit for emitting pulsed laser radiation generated by a laser unit, the laser radiation having pulse lengths in the femtosecond range.

Abstract: A device for laser-optical eye surgery includes a source (10) of pulsed femtosecond laser radiation and also optical components (12, 14, 16) for guiding the laser radiation and focusing the same onto a treatment location on or in the eye (28), the optical components including a plurality of lenses (18, 20) arranged in succession in the beam path of the laser radiation. In accordance with the invention, at least one (18) of the lenses is arranged so as to be adjustable relative to other lenses in the direction of the beam path. In particular, the adjustable lens is a first diverging lens of beam-expansion optics (12). An actuating arrangement (24) is assigned to the adjustable lens for its adjustment, for the control of which arrangement a control unit (26) is provided which is set up to access measured data concerning the topography of a surface of the eye and to control the actuating arrangement in a manner depending on the measured surface topography.

Abstract: A medical and/or cosmetic radiation device has a plurality of LEDs (24a, 24b) which emit at different wavelengths.

Abstract: An intraocular lens (10) is configured so that it can be incorporated into the capsule of an eye and its refractive power can be modified by the application of electrical voltages.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system, which comprises a fiber laser (1) for generation of laser radiation, and an applicator (8) coupled with the fiber laser (1), the applicator (8) being adapted for delivery of laser radiation from the fiber laser (1) to an area of interest (22) and comprising an endoscopic fiber (7) or bare fiber (7).

Abstract: A device and a computer program for material processing, in particular refractive eye surgery, operate with a pulsed femtosecond laser and the individual focal points are positioned in such a way that the spacings of neighbouring focal points for the most part vary, in order to avoid a regular grating structure avoiding undesired diffraction phenomena.

Abstract: An optical eye-contact element is disclosed that is at least partly translucent, the optical eye-contact element giving rise to a wavefront error of at most about ?/2, preferentially at most about ?/4, highly preferentially at most about ?/10, in a traversing light beam. The optical eye-contact element may be a so-called applanation plate or applanation lens.

Abstract: A laser system for refractive surgery comprises a laser beam for generating laser beam pulses and optical means for directing these laser beam pulses as a working beam onto an eye. Some of the working radiation is extracted for optical coherence tomography, in order to measure geometrical structures in the cornea.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for laser treatment of a biological material An apparatus for laser processing of a material, in particular the eye cornea, emits on to the material a train (18?) of laser radiation pulses having a pulse duration in the femtosecond range. The pulse train comprises a multiplicity of successive pulse groups, each pulse group comprising at least two laser radiation pulses (20?, 22?). The pulses of a pulse group are directed at substantially the same processing site of the material, but the pulses of successive groups are directed at substantially different processing sites of the material. According to the invention the time interval between successive laser radiation pulses of a pulse group is in the nanosecond range. In particular, the intensity or energy of the pulses within a pulse group is graduated, in such a way that a preceding prepulse (20?) has substantially lower intensity or energy than a following main pulse (22?).

Abstract: Output beam parameters of a gas discharge laser are stabilized by maintaining a molecular fluorine component at a predetermined partial pressure using a gas supply unit and a processor. The molecular fluorine is subject to depletion within the discharge chamber. Gas injections including molecular fluorine can increase the partial pressure of molecular fluorine by a selected amount. The injections can be performed at selected intervals to maintain the constituent gas substantially at the initial partial pressure. The amount per injection and/or the interval between injections can be varied, based on factors such as driving voltage and a calculated amount of molecular fluorine in the discharge chamber. The driving voltage can be in one of multiple driving voltage ranges that are adjusted based on system aging. Within each range, gas injections and gas replacements can be performed based on, for example, total applied electrical energy or time/pulse count.

Abstract: A beam parameter monitoring unit for coupling with a molecular fluorine (F2) or ArF laser resonator that produces an output beam having a wavelength below 200 nm includes a detector and a beam path enclosure. The unit may also include a beam splitter within the enclosure for separating the output beam into first and second components, or first and second beam are attained by other means. The detector measures at least one optical parameter of the second component of the output beam. The beam path enclosure includes one or more ports for purging the beam path enclosure with an inert gas to maintain the enclosure substantially free of sub-200 nm photoabsorbing species.

Abstract: An excimer or molecular fluorine laser system includes a discharge chamber filled with a laser gas mixture at least including a halogen-containing molecular species and a buffer gas, multiple electrodes within the discharge chamber connected to a discharge circuit for energizing the gas mixture, and a resonator for generating a laser beam including an optical component made of MgF2. The optical component made of MgF2 has been previously cleaved along a predetermined plane, such that the refractive indices of the birefringent MgF2 material for orthogonal polarization components of the beam are either at least approximately equal so that the polarization of the beam due to the influence of the birefringent nature of the MgF2 material is not substantially reduced, or are approximately maximum so that at least a portion of one of the components is rejected by the resonator so that the polarization of the beam is increased due to the birefringent nature of the MgF2.

Abstract: A molecular fluorine (F2) laser system that includes a gaseous molecular fluorine gain medium contained in a laser tube, a resonant cavity, a power supply for exciting the gain medium to produce a laser beam having an ultra violet (UV) radiation output at substantially 157 nm and a red radiation output in the range of 620 to 760 nm, a discharge module connected to the laser tube for adding and withdrawing gas to the gain medium, a controller for controlling the power supply and the discharge module, and a photo diamond detector that receives a portion of the laser beam for measuring at least one optical parameter of the UV radiation such as energy, pulse energy, pulse shape, pulse width, etc. The photo diamond detector is substantially insensitive to the red radiation output that is also present in the laser beam.

Abstract: A molecular fluorine laser system includes a discharge tube filled with a gas mixture including molecular fluorine and at least one buffer gas and having a total pressure of less than substantially 2500 mbar, multiple electrodes within the discharge tube, a pulsed discharge circuit connected to the electrodes for energizing the gas mixture, a line-selection optic for selecting one of multiple closely-spaced lines around 157 nm emitted from the discharge tube, and a laser resonator including the line-selection optic and the discharge tube for generating a beam of laser pulses having a wavelength around 157 nm at a bandwidth of less than 0.6 pm.

Abstract: A beam characterization monitoring apparatus receives an input VUV beam and measures a beam profile characteristic of the beam. An enclosure has an interior substantially free of VUV photoabsorbing species and configured for receiving the input VUV beam therein. Optics within the enclosure separate the input VUV beam into a first component for measuring a near field beam profile characteristic and a second component for measuring a far field beam profile characteristic. A detector coupled with the enclosure via a beam path substantially free of VUV photoabsorbing species preferably detects the first and second components simultaneously. A quantum converter is preferably disposed along the beam path before the detector for converting the VUV beam to a beam having a wavelength above 240 nm. A second detector preferably detects an energy of an additional component of the input VUV beam.

Abstract: A wavelength calibration system determines an absolute wavelength of a narrowed spectral emission band of an excimer or molecular laser system. The system includes a module including an element which optically interacts with a component of an output beam of the laser within the tunable range of the laser system around the narrowed band. An inter-level resonance is detected by monitoring changes in voltage within the module, or photo-absorption is detected by photodetecting equipment. The absolute wavelength of the narrowed band is precisely determinable when the optical transitions occur and are detected. When the system specifically includes an ArF-excimer laser chamber, the module is preferably a galvatron containing an element that photo-absorbs around 193 nm and the element is preferably a gas or vapor selected from the group consisting of arsenic, carbon, oxygen, iron, gaseous hydrocarbons, halogenized hydrocarbons, carbon-contaminated inert gases, germanium and platinum vapor.

Abstract: A beam characterization monitoring apparatus receives an input VUV beam and measures a beam profile characteristic of the beam. An enclosure has an interior substantially free of VUV photoabsorbing species and configured for receiving the input VUV beam therein. Optics within the enclosure separate the input VUV beam into a first component for measuring a near field beam profile characteristic and a second component for measuring a far field beam profile characteristic. A detector coupled with the enclosure via a beam path substantially free of VUV photoabsorbing species preferably detects the first and second components simultaneously. A quantum converter is preferably disposed along the beam path before the detector for converting the VUV beam to a beam having a wavelength above 240 nm. A second detector preferably detects an energy of an additional component of the input VUV beam.

Abstract: A molecular fluorine (F2) laser system includes a seed oscillator and power amplifier. The seed oscillator includes a laser tube including multiple electrodes therein which are connected to a discharge circuit. The laser tube is part of an optical resonator for generating a laser beam including a first line of multiple characteristic emission lines around 157 nm. The laser tube is filled with a gas mixture including molecular fluorine and a buffer gas. A low pressure seed radiation generating gas lamp is alternatively used. The gas mixture is at a pressure below that which results in the generation of a laser emission including the first line around 157 nm having a natural linewidth of less than 0.5 pm. The power amplifier amplifies the power of the beam emitted by the seed oscillator to a desired power for applications processing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for stabilizing output beam parameters of a gas discharge laser by maintaining a constituent gas of the laser gas mixture at a predetermined partial pressure using a gas supply unit and a processor. The constituent gas of the laser gas mixture is provided at an initial partial pressure and the constituent gas is subject to depletion within the laser discharge chamber. A parameter such as time, pulse count, driving voltage for maintaining a constant laser beam output energy, pulse shape, pulse duration, pulse stability, beam profile, bandwidth of the laser beam, temporal or spatial coherence, discharge width, or a combination thereof, which varies with a known correspondence to the partial pressure of the constituent gas is monitored. Injections of the constituent gas are performed each to increase the partial pressure by a selected amount in the discharge chamber.