Abstract: A surgical needle for fracturing tissue such as cataracts has a distal operating port which holds tissue to be fractured. An optical fiber that extends down a needle applies laser energy pulses to a target causing optical breakdown and the generation of shockwaves which impinge on the tissue at the operating port, causing the tissue to fracture. Fractured tissue is aspirated at the passageway of the surgical needle. The operating port and target are both positioned at the distal end of the needle to facilitate surgeon observation during the operation. The needle has a wall which is unitary and provides an aspirating channel with a smooth surface so as to minimize flow turbulence and maximize laminar flow. The combination of laminar flow results in greater flow velocity and thus enhanced ability to hold tissue at the port.

Abstract: A surgical needle with an open distal port at which tissue to be fractured is positioned contains an optical fiber for providing pulses of laser energy and a titanium target that receives these pulses. The target converts the energy in the electromagnetic pulses to shockwaves that impinge on the tissue at the port causing the tissue to fracture. The target has one or more steps such that vaporization of the target by the laser pulses leaves a surface which directly faces the port so that the continued conversion of laser energy to mechanical shockwaves will provide shockwaves that are not blocked in traveling to the port at which the tissue is located.

Abstract: A laser tube for a gas laser that has on at least one end side a tube flange for the detachable fastening of a laser window or of a laser mirror. The laser tube has a first adjusting flange that is gastightly mounted on the tube flange, an elastic tube-shaped element, in the interior of which the laser beam extends, and which is gastightly connected with the adjusting flange. On its other end, the tube-shaped element is gastightly connected with a second adjusting flange at which a mirror flange is gastightly mounted which carries the laser window or the laser mirror. Between the two adjusting flanges, at least two adjusting screws and at least one element which generates a restoring force are inserted.

Abstract: An apparatus for laser surgery, particularly of the cornea is provided. Through this apparatus, a laser, especially a UV-laser, can be imaged on the tissue undergoing the operation. A diaphragm is arranged in the optical path of the laser and defines the illuminated region of the tissue. The diaphragm includes a slit which has a fixed angular alignment and an adjustable length and width. Further, an optical rotary device is provided which rotates the beam about an optical axis in between the slit and the tissue undergoing the operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for laser surgery on a patient disposed on an operating table is provided. A laser device which produces a laser beam is disposed under the operating table. A beam guiding device is also provided which guides the laser beam from the laser device laterally toward an outside side of the table, and upwardly near an outside side of the table to a point above the table. A horizontal pivot arm is also provided which receives the laser beam from the beam guiding device above the table and guides the laser beam to an operation site. The horizontal pivot arm includes an adjustable length.

Abstract: A control system for a dye laser is described, in which a pump pumps the dye from a supply vessel into a pressure vessel, in which there is an air pocket for damping vibrations, fluctuations in the pump delivery, etc. The dye passes out of the supply vessel as a jet via a nozzle. At least one sensor measures the dye filling level in the supply vessel and a control switches off the dye laser when the level in the supply vessel does not drop to the correct value after switching on the laser. The control system of the invention prevents the switching on of the laser if the level is too high or low before putting the laser into operation.

Abstract: A pulsed laser for medical application and particularly for ophthalmological treatment is described.The laser beam pulse has a clearly defined polarization plane. By rotating a polarization splitter cube, it is possible to regulate the energy of the laser beam pulse.Following each rotation of the polarization splitter cube, and prior to the following treatment pulse, a control system releases a test pulse. The energy of the test pulse is measured while the shutter closes the treatment beam path.According to a preferred embodiment, the laser is a neodymium-YAG laser.

Abstract: A neodymium-YAG laser is described, which can be used for ophthalmological treatment. The laser has a laser beam guide, in which the laser beam is guided as a parallel beam over a long distance and following the latter is focused onto the operating plane by a focusing optics.According to the invention, an afocal system with a plurality of optical components is placed in the parallel optical path at a distance of more than approximately 50 cm from the focusing optics. This afocal optical system substantially does not influence the beam in its normal position. As a result of an optical component in the afocal system, which is displaceable, it is possible to vary the angle of the marginal beams of the focused beam.According to the preferred embodiment, the afocal system has two single lenses, whereof one has a positive and the other a negative refractive power and one is displaceable.