Abstract: A laser scanning method and apparatus having a scanning hand piece 18 connected at the free end 20 of a hollow wave guide 14 to scan a beam of laser energy 22 in a predetermined pattern to uniformly ablate in an enlarged target area. The hand piece 18 includes a hollow shaft motor 40 having a conduit mounted therein for conducting the beam of laser energy 22. The conduit 54 has a proximal end 56 in axial alignment with the longitudinal axis 60 of the hollow shaft 48 and in light energy communication with the laser energy generator 12. The distal end 58 of the conduit 54 is mounted in the hollow shaft 48 so that it is eccentrically positioned with respect to the axis 60 of the hollow shaft 48. When the motor 40 is energized, the hollow shaft 48 rotates the distal end 58 of the conduit 54 in a predetermined circular pattern to scan the laser energy uniformly and thoroughly over the tissue in the target area.

Abstract: A medical laser delivery system usable to transmit laser energy from a laser energy source to a surgical site of a patient. The delivery system includes a handpiece adapted for rotatable coupling to a delivery arm coupled to the laser energy source such that the handpiece is rotatable about its longitudinal axis with respect to the delivery arm. A distal delivery system is coupled to the handpiece and delivers laser energy to the surgical site when the laser energy source is actuated. The handpiece includes a handpiece body adapted for rotatable coupling to the delivery arm and a handpiece head coupled to both the handpiece body and the distal delivery system. The handpiece head can be rotatably coupled to the handpiece body. In one embodiment, the handpiece head is angularly oriented at a fixed angle with respect to the handpiece body.

Abstract: A contact laser surgery tip for connection to a lightpipe conducting laser light. A hollow proximal end portion of the tip connects to the lightpipe. A hollow distal end portion is heated when it absorbs at least a portion of the laser light transmitted thereto by the proximal end portion. The proximal end portion of the tip is fabricated with an inner surface material having an index of refraction with a real part that is less than about 0.3. The surface material is coated with a reflectivity-enhancing thin film. The proximal end portion of the tip can include a sleeve on which is deposited the highly reflective inner surface material with the thin film coating. The tip is shaped and given material characteristics so that the distal end and proximal end portions can be selectively heated. The tip can include apertures for allowing the passage of a selected portion of laser light outwardly from the tip.

Abstract: A hollow lightpipe for conducting high power levels of CO.sub.2 laser light with low transmission losses. A highly reflective layer is formed on the inner surface of an elongated bendable metal housing. The material forming the highly reflective layer is chosen to have a complex index of refraction whose real part (n) is less than about 0.4. The thickness of the reflective layer need not be highly controlled, but must be sufficiently thick that it exhibits bulk absorption properties without being so thick that it cracks when the lightpipe is flexed. In a second embodiment, the transmission properties of the highly reflective layer can be enhanced by coating the reflective layer with a thin film of a dielectric material such as ThF.sub.4 and Ge. By appropriate changes in the geometry of the lightpipe, it can also serve as a tip for use with an optical conduit, such as an optical fiber suitable for transmission of light produced by a YAG laser.

Abstract: A light pipe is formed from an elongated substrate having a highly reflective coating formed on one surface thereof. The elongated ribbon is formed into a tubular structure, with a reflective inside surface. If desired, the elongated ribbon can be formed from a composite material having variable Young's modulus, thereby providing a neutral surface close to the reflective surface, thereby promoting adherence of the coating to the inner surface of the tubular structure. If desired, the longitudinal seam and the resulting tubular structure can be welded. In an alternative form of the hollow light pipe, the tubular structure can be placed inside a tubular housing which can be either formed in the appropriate dimensions or drawn down to the appropriate dimensions. The reflective layer can be formed by vacuum evaporation, chemical vapor deposition, anodizing, sputtering, flame spraying, among other methods.