Dual wavelength laser treatment device

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention include a compact, lightweight, hand-held laser treatment device that combines the emissions of two separate laser energy sources into a common optical pathway for improved therapeutic effect. In some embodiments, the device includes a housing having separate first and second laser sources disposed within the interior thereof. In some embodiments, the laser energy emissions from the two internal laser sources can be individually or concurrently transmitted to a delivery tip of the device via a laser transmission path also defined within the interior of the housing. In some embodiments, the structural and functional features of the first and second laser sources, in concert with the unique architecture of the laser transmission path, can be configured to provide efficacy and efficiency in the operation of the device within the spatial constraints of the lightweight, hand-held housing thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hand-held laser treatment device, comprising;
 a housing;   a first laser source disposed within the housing and configured to facilitate the emission of a first laser beam having a first beam characteristic;   a second laser source which is at least partially disposed within the housing and configured to facilitate the emission of a second laser beam having a second beam characteristic differing from the first beam characteristic;   an elongate delivery tip defining a delivery axis and protruding from at least a portion of the housing; and   a laser transmission path defined within the housing and configured to facilitate the transmission of one or both of the first and second laser beams to the delivery tip,   the laser transmission path comprising a plurality of segments which are of prescribed lengths and a plurality of ancillary transmission components which are integrated into the segments at prescribed spatial relationships and angular orientations relative to each other and to the first and second laser sources; and   wherein the lengths of the segments, angular orientations, and spatial relationships of the ancillary transmission components relative to each other and to each of the first and second laser sources are configured and arranged to enable the first and second beam characteristics of the first and second laser beams to be combined within at least one of the segments of the laser transmission paths forming coincident transmission of the first and second laser beams to the delivery tip.   
     
     
         2 . The treatment device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first laser source comprises a high peak power, flash lamp pumped, solid state laser; and   the second laser source comprise at least one of a high average power diode laser and a diode pumped fiber laser.   
     
     
         3 . The treatment device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first laser source is configured to facilitate the emission of the first laser beam along a first laser source axis;   the second laser source is configured to facilitate the emission of the second laser beam along a second laser source axis; and   the laser transmission path comprises:
 a first segment defining a first axis which is coaxially aligned with the first laser source axis; 
 a second segment defining a second axis which extends at a prescribed angle relative to the first axis; and 
 a third segment defining a third axis which is coaxially aligned with the second laser source axis and extends at a prescribed angle relative to the second axis. 
   
     
     
         4 . The treatment device of  claim 3 , wherein the transmission components integrated into the laser transmission path include:
 a first bending mirror disposed between the first and second segments and configured to facilitate directing the first laser beam from the first axis to and along the second axis;   a second bending mirror disposed between the second and third segments and configured to facilitate directing the first laser beam from the second axis to and along the third axis; and   a focusing lens disposed within the third segment along the third axis and configured to focus the one or both of the first and second lasers beams toward the delivery tip.   
     
     
         5 . The treatment device of  claim 4 , further comprising a collimating lens disposed along the second laser source axis between the second laser source and the second bending mirror. 
     
     
         6 . The treatment device of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the first laser source is separated from the first bending mirror by a prescribed first distance along the first axis;   the first and second bending mirrors are separated from each other by a prescribed second distance along the second axis;   the second bending mirror is separated from the focusing lens by a prescribed third distance along a portion of the third axis; and   the second laser source is separated from the focusing lens by a prescribed fourth distance which is less than the total of the first, second and third distances.   
     
     
         7 . The treatment device of  claim 6 , wherein the total of the first, second and third distances is at least 25 mm. 
     
     
         8 . The treatment device of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the delivery tip defines opposed input and output ends, with the delivery axis thereof being coaxially aligned with the third axis of the third segment; and   the focusing lens is configured to focus one or both of the first and second laser beams onto the input end of the delivery tip.   
     
     
         9 . The treatment device of  claim 4 , wherein the transmission components integrated into the laser transmission path further include:
 an elongate coupling fiber defining opposed input and output ends and disposed within the third segment along the third axis, the focusing lens being configured to focus one or both of the first and second lasers beams onto the input end of the coupling fiber; and   a focusing mirror disposed within the third segment along the third axis and configured to facilitate the focusing of one or both of the first and second laser beams from the third axis to the delivery axis of the delivery tip.   
     
     
         10 . The treatment device of  claim 9 , wherein the delivery axis of the delivery tip extends at an angle of about 90° relative to the third axis. 
     
     
         11 . The treatment device of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the coupling fiber includes a bend comprising an arcuate contour; and   wherein a portion of the coupling fiber defining the output end extends at a prescribed angle relative to a linear portion of the third axis between the second bending minor and the focusing lens; and   the delivery axis of the delivery tip extends at an angle of between about 90° to about 180° relative to the linear portion of the third axis.   
     
     
         12 . A hand-held laser treatment device, comprising:
 a first laser source configured to facilitate the emission of a first laser beam having a first beam characteristic;   a second laser source configured to facilitate the emission of a second laser beam having a second beam characteristic differing from the first beam characteristic; and   a laser transmission path configured to facilitate the transmission of one or both of the first and second laser beams from the treatment device,   the laser transmission path comprising a plurality of discrete segments which are of prescribed lengths and a plurality of ancillary transmission components which are integrated into the segments at prescribed spatial relationships and angular orientations relative to each other and to the first and second laser sources; and   wherein the lengths of the segments, angular orientations, and spatial relationships of the components relative to each other and to each of the first and second laser sources are configured and arranged to enable the first and second beam characteristics of the first and second laser beams to be combined within one of the segments of the laser transmission path forming coincident transmission of the first and second laser beams from the treatment device.   
     
     
         13 . The treatment device of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the first laser source comprises a high peak power, flash lamp pumped, solid state laser; and   the second laser source comprises one of a high average power diode laser and a diode pumped fiber laser.   
     
     
         14 . The treatment device of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the first laser source is configured to facilitate the emission of the first laser beam along a first laser source axis;   the second laser source is configured to facilitate the emission of the second laser beam along a second laser source axis; and   the laser transmission path comprises:
 a first segment defining a first axis which is coaxially aligned with the first laser source axis; 
 a second segment defining a second axis which extends at a prescribed angle relative to the first axis; and 
 a third segment defining a third axis which is coaxially aligned with the second laser source axis and extends at a prescribed angle relative to the second axis. 
   
     
     
         15 . The treatment device of  claim 14 , wherein the transmission components integrated into the laser transmission path include:
 a first bending mirror disposed between the first and second segments, the first bending mirror configured to facilitate the directing of the first laser beam from the first axis to and along the second axis; and   a second bending mirror disposed between the second and third segments, the second bending mirror configured to facilitate the directing of the first laser beam from the second axis to and along the third axis; and   a focusing lens disposed within the third segment along the third axis, the focusing lens configured to focus the one or both of the first and second lasers beams to a prescribed point along the third axis within the third segment.   
     
     
         16 . The treatment device of  claim 15 , further comprising a collimating lens disposed along the second laser source axis between the second laser source and the second bending mirror. 
     
     
         17 . The treatment device of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the first laser source is separated from the first bending minor by a prescribed first distance along the first axis;   the first and second bending mirrors are separated from each other by a prescribed second distance along the second axis;   the second bending mirror is separated from the focusing lens by a prescribed third distance along a portion of the third axis; and   the second laser source is separated from the focusing lens by a prescribed fourth distance which is less than the total of the first, second and third distances.   
     
     
         18 . The treatment device of  claim 17 , wherein the total of the first, second and third distances is at least 25 mm. 
     
     
         19 . A hand-held laser treatment device, comprising:
 an elongate housing;   a delivery tip protruding from the housing;   a first laser source including a first laser source output disposed within the housing, the first laser source configured to generate a first laser emission defined by a first beam characteristic;   a second laser source including a second laser source output disposed within the housing, the second laser source configured to generate a second laser emission defined by a second beam characteristic different from the first beam characteristic;   a first transmission path defined between the first laser source output and the delivery tip, the first transmission path having a first predetermined distance; and   a second transmission path defined between the second laser source output and the delivery tip, the second transmission path having a second predetermined distance different from the first predetermined distance; and   wherein at least a portion of the first transmission path and the second transmission path are coaxial.   
     
     
         20 . The treatment device of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the first laser source comprises a solid state laser; and   the second laser source comprises a diode laser.   
     
     
         21 . A method for laser treatment of a target tissue site, the method comprising:
 applying a first laser emission defined by a first beam characteristic to the target tissue site, the first laser emission alone having a first treatment effect on the target tissue site; and   applying at least a second laser emission defined by a second beam characteristic to the target tissue site, the second laser emission being applied within a predetermined time period of applying the first laser emission during which the target tissue site is subjected to the first treatment effect from the first laser emission; and   wherein the first laser emission and the second laser emission comprise an additive treatment effect greater than the first treatment effect alone and the second treatment effect alone.   
     
     
         22 . A method for laser treatment of a target tissue site, the method comprising:
 applying a first laser emission defined by a first beam characteristic to the target tissue site, and the first laser emission alone having a first treatment effect on the target tissue site; and   applying at least a second laser emission defined by a second beam characteristic to the target tissue site, the second beam characteristic being different from the first beam characteristic and having a second treatment effect different from the first treatment effect, the second laser emission being applied within a predetermined time period of applying the second laser emission during which the target tissue site is subject to the first treatment effect from the first laser emission; and   wherein the first laser emission and the second laser emission comprise a synergistic treatment effect different from both the first treatment effect and the second treatment effect independently with the first treatment effect and the second treatment effect being non-linearly enhanced by each other.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the first laser emission and the second laser emission are combined and emitted from a single output of a treatment device. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 applying to the target tissue a third laser emission defined by a third beam characteristic and a third treatment effect; and   wherein the first laser emission, the second laser emission, and the third laser emission have another synergistic effect different from the first treatment effect, the second treatment effect, and the third treatment effect independently.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein:
 the first laser emission is applied to the target tissue site in pulses; and   the second laser emission is applied to the target tissue site for a duration longer than the pulses of the first laser emission.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein:
 the first treatment effect comprises a pressure wave that weakens any bacteria on the target tissue site that includes a biofilm,   the bacteria being weakened by disruption of biofilm and bacterial membranes in response to the pressure wave, and   the second treatment effect is induced by application infrared or ultraviolet radiation at the levels below the bacteria vitality threshold level for the applied radiation, and   the synergistic treatment effect is at least one of neutralization, killing of the weakened bacteria, and reduction of inflammatory tissue conditions.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein:
 the first laser emission is generated from a solid state laser source comprising a high peak power flash lamp pumped solid state laser source; and   the second laser emission is generated from a laser source comprising a diode laser source.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the first beam characteristic and the second beam characteristic each comprise output powers, the output power corresponding to the second beam characteristic being greater than the output power corresponding to the first beam characteristic. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the first laser emission and the second laser emission are applied to the target tissue site in pulses. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein:
 the first treatment effect comprises a first ablation depth;   the second treatment effect comprises a second ablation depth different from the first ablation depth; and   the synergistic treatment effect comprises a third ablation depth greater than either one of the first ablation depth and the second ablation depth.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the second ablation depth is characterized by no ablation. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 applying a fluid to the target tissue site.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein:
 the first treatment effect comprises application of a first level bio-stimulative energy to surrounding tissue of the target tissue site;   the second treatment effect comprises a treatment procedure not directly specified for bio-stimulation of the treatment site;   the synergistic treatment effect comprises a result of synergetic action of two treatment effects.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the second treatment effect is at least one of surgical cutting, removal of diseased tissue, and reduction of bacteria at the treatment site. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the synergistic treatment effect is at least one of a reduction of inflammatory effect, wound healing and tissue re-generation. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the first beam characteristic and the second beam characteristic comprise output power, the output power corresponding to the first beam characteristic and the output power corresponding to the second beam characteristic being at ablative levels. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the first beam characteristic and the second beam characteristic include output power, the output power corresponding to the first beam characteristic and the output power corresponding to the second beam characteristic being at sub-ablative levels. 
     
     
         38 . A method for substantially pain-free laser ablation of a target tissue site, the method comprising:
 applying a first laser emission to the target tissue site, the first laser emission having a first treatment effect comprising analgesia inducing stunning of nerve endings; and   applying a second laser emission to the target tissue site following the applying the first laser emission to the target tissue site, the second laser emission having a second treatment effect comprising ablation of the target tissue site; and   wherein the stunned nerve endings substantially block transmission of pain signals otherwise initiated in response to the application of the second laser emission to the target tissue site.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the stunned nerve endings comprise stunned nerve endings in an area proximate to and surrounding the target tissue site. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein:
 the first laser emission is generated from a laser source comprising a diode laser source; and   the second laser emission is generated from a laser source comprising a solid state flash lamp pumped laser source.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the first laser emission comprises a near infrared spectral wavelength. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the first laser emission and the second laser emission are applied to the target tissue site in pulses. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the first laser emission and the second laser emission are combined and emitted from a single output of a treatment device. 
     
     
         44 . A method for laser treatment of a target tissue site, the method comprising:
 applying to the target tissue site a first laser emission pulse having a first wavelength, the first laser emission pulse generating a pressure wave disruptive of membranes of at least some bacteria present on the target tissue site;   applying to the target tissue site a continuous second laser emission having a second wavelength different from the first wavelength, the continuous second laser emission neutralizing the bacteria weakened from the pressure wave generated by the first laser emission pulse; and   wherein the continuous second laser emission comprises an output power level that is lower than an output power level of the first laser emission pulse.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the first laser emission pulse has a range of 3 micrometers and is generated from a high peak power flash lamp pumped solid state laser source.