Laser beam control and delivery system

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to surgical lasers and more specifically to a laser beam control and delivery system that accurately and efficiently directs a laser beam into an optical fiber. The laser beam control and delivery system also provides additional functions, including a connection for a fiber tip temperature control system and a tissue temperature sensing system. The present invention also relates to a surgical laser system that has a high efficiency thermoelectric cooling system.

1 . A laser system comprising:
 one or more lasers,
 wherein the one or more lasers comprise at least a first laser configured to emit at least a first laser beam, 
   one or more partially reflective mirrors,
 wherein the one or more partially reflective mirrors comprise a first partially reflective mirror, 
 wherein the first partially reflective mirror is positioned in a path of the at least a first laser beam, 
 wherein the first partially reflective mirror is transmissive for wavelengths of the at least a first laser beam, 
 wherein the first partially reflective mirror comprises a reflective coating for reflecting infrared wavelengths of light except for the wavelengths of the at least a first laser beam; 
   an optical fiber positioned in the path of the at least a first laser beam distal to the first partially reflective mirror;   wherein the first partially reflective mirror is positioned such that the reflective coating reflects a beam of infrared light returning from the optical fiber;   a first light detector sensitive to light with a wavelength below 1000 nm positioned to intercept light reflected from the first partially reflective mirror; and   a second light detector sensitive to light with a wavelength in the range of 1400 to 2100 nm positioned to intercept light reflected from the first partially reflective mirror.   
     
     
         2 . The laser system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the one or more lasers comprise a second laser configured to emit a second laser beam having same wavelengths as the wavelengths of the first laser beam,   wherein the first and second laser beams are combined by a fiberoptic beam combiner to enter the first partially reflective mirror.   
     
     
         3 . The laser system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the one or more lasers comprise a second laser configured to emit a second laser beam having different wavelengths than the wavelengths of the first laser beam,   wherein the first and second laser beams are combined by a fiberoptic beam combiner to pass through the first partially reflective mirror,   wherein the first partially reflective mirror is further transmissive for wavelengths of the second laser beam.   
     
     
         4 . The laser system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the one or more lasers further comprise an aiming laser configured to emit an aiming laser beam within the visible wavelengths,   wherein the aiming laser beam is directed toward the first partially reflective mirror.   
     
     
         5 . The laser system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the one or more lasers further comprise an aiming laser configured to emit an aiming laser beam within the visible wavelengths,   wherein the first laser beam and the aiming laser beam are combined by a fiberoptic beam combiner to pass through the first partially reflective mirror,   wherein the first partially reflective mirror is transmissive for wavelengths of the aiming laser beam.   
     
     
         6 . The laser system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first partially reflective mirror is coated on at least one surface with a nonreflective coating for the transmissive wavelengths.   
     
     
         7 . The laser system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first partially reflective mirror is coated with more than a single nonreflective coating.   
     
     
         8 . The laser system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the reflective coating of the first partially reflective mirror is configured to reflect the visible wavelengths.   
     
     
         9 . The laser system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the one or more partially reflective mirrors further comprise a second partially reflective mirror,   wherein the second partially reflective mirror comprises a reflective coating for the visible wavelength and transmissive for other wavelengths of light,   wherein the one or more lasers further comprise an aiming laser configured to emit an aiming laser beam within the visible wavelengths,   wherein the second partially reflective mirror is positioned to reflect the aiming laser beam onto the first partially reflective mirror,   wherein the reflective coating of the first partially reflective mirror is configured to reflect the visible wavelengths.   
     
     
         10 . The laser system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first light detector and the second light detector are combined to provide a first signal indicative of the magnitude of the returning visible light and a second signal indicative of the magnitude of the returning infrared light.   
     
     
         11 . The laser system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first light detector comprises a camera.   
     
     
         12 . The laser system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the one or more partially reflective mirrors further comprise a third partially reflective mirror,   wherein the third partially reflective mirror is transmissive for wavelengths of light below 1000 nm,   wherein the third partially reflective mirror comprises a reflective coating for infrared light with a wavelength in the range of 1400 to 2100 nm,   wherein the third partially reflective mirror is positioned to intercept light reflected from the first partially reflective mirror,   wherein the first light detector is positioned to intercept light passing through the third partially reflective mirror, and   wherein the second light detector is positioned to intercept light reflected from the third partially reflective mirror.   
     
     
         13 . The laser system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third light detector sensitive to the wavelengths of the first laser beam,   wherein the third light detector is positioned to intercept a portion of the first laser beam reflected from the first partially reflective mirror.   
     
     
         14 . The laser system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first heat spreader in thermal contact with the one or more lasers,
 wherein the first heat spreader is configured to spread heat in at least two dimensions; 
   a thermoelectric cooler having a hot side in thermal contact with the first heat spreader;   a second heat spreader in thermal contact with a cool side of the thermoelectric cooler,
 wherein the second heat spreader is configured to spread heat in at least two dimensions; 
   a heat sink with cooling fins in thermal contact with the second heat spreader;   a cooling fan configured to move air across the cooling fins of the heat sink,
 wherein the first heat spreader, the thermoelectric cooler and the second heat spreader are sealed into a thermally insulated box containing a dry gas, 
 wherein the heat sink with cooling fins is extended outside of the thermally insulated box; 
   a support stand having a pedestal leg;   an air duct within the pedestal leg,
 wherein the cooling fan is connected to the air duct within the pedestal leg. 
   
     
     
         15 . A laser system comprising:
 multiple lasers,
 wherein the one or more lasers comprise one or more first lasers configured to emit one or more first laser beams, 
 wherein the multiple lasers comprise a second aiming laser configured to emit a second aiming laser beam within the visible wavelengths; 
   a fiberoptic beam combiner configured to combine the one or more first laser beam and the second aiming laser beam;   one or more partially reflective mirrors,
 wherein the one or more partially reflective mirrors comprise a first partially reflective mirror, 
 wherein the first partially reflective mirror is positioned in a path of the combined laser beam, 
 wherein the first partially reflective mirror is transmissive for the wavelengths of the first and second laser beams, 
 wherein the first partially reflective mirror comprises a reflective coating for reflecting infrared wavelengths of light except for the wavelengths of the first and second laser beams; 
   an optical fiber positioned in the path of the laser beam distal to the first partially reflective mirror;   wherein the first partially reflective mirror is positioned such that the reflective coating reflects a beam of infrared light returning from the optical fiber;   a first light detector sensitive to light with a wavelength below 1000 nm positioned to intercept light reflected from the first partially reflective mirror; and   a second light detector sensitive to light with a wavelength in the range of 1400 to 2100 nm positioned to intercept light reflected from the first partially reflective mirror.   
     
     
         16 . The laser system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the reflective coating of the first partially reflective mirror is configured to reflect the visible wavelengths except for the wavelengths of the second laser beam.   
     
     
         17 . The laser system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the one or more partially reflective mirrors further comprise a second partially reflective mirror,   wherein the second partially reflective mirror is transmissive for wavelengths of light below 1000 nm,   wherein the second partially reflective mirror comprises a reflective coating for infrared light with a wavelength in the range of 1400 to 2100 nm,   wherein the second partially reflective mirror is positioned to intercept light reflected from the first partially reflective mirror,   wherein the first light detector is positioned to intercept light passing through the second partially reflective mirror, and   wherein the second light detector is positioned to intercept light reflected from the second partially reflective mirror.   
     
     
         18 . A laser system comprising:
 multiple lasers,
 wherein the multiple lasers comprise one or more first lasers configured to emit one or more first laser beams, 
 wherein the multiple lasers comprise a second aiming laser configured to emit a second aiming laser beam; 
   one or more partially reflective mirrors,
 wherein the one or more partially reflective mirrors comprise a first partially reflective mirror, 
 wherein the first partially reflective mirror is positioned in a path of the one or more first laser beams, 
 wherein the first partially reflective mirror is transmissive for the wavelengths of the one or more first laser beams, 
 wherein the first partially reflective mirror comprises a reflective coating for reflecting infrared wavelengths of light except for the wavelengths of the one or more first laser beams, 
 wherein the one or more partially reflective mirrors further comprise a second partially reflective mirror, 
 wherein the second partially reflective mirror comprises a reflective coating for the visible wavelength and transmissive for other wavelengths of light, 
 wherein the second partially reflective mirror is positioned to reflect the second laser beam onto the first partially reflective mirror; 
   an optical fiber positioned in the path of the laser beam distal to the first partially reflective mirror;   wherein the first partially reflective mirror is positioned such that the reflective coating reflects a beam of infrared light returning from the optical fiber;   a first light detector sensitive to light with a wavelength below 1000 nm positioned to intercept light reflected from the first partially reflective mirror; and   a second light detector sensitive to light with a wavelength in the range of 1400 to 2100 nm positioned to intercept light reflected from the first partially reflective mirror.   
     
     
         19 . The laser system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first light detector and the second light detector are combined to provide a first signal indicative of the magnitude of the returning visible light and a second signal indicative of the magnitude of the returning infrared light.   
     
     
         20 . The laser system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the one or more partially reflective mirrors further comprise a third partially reflective mirror,   wherein the third partially reflective mirror is transmissive for wavelengths of light below 1000 nm,   wherein the third partially reflective mirror comprises a reflective coating for infrared light with a wavelength in the range of 1400 to 2100 nm,   wherein the third partially reflective mirror is positioned to intercept light reflected from the first partially reflective mirror,   wherein the first light detector is positioned to intercept light passing through the third partially reflective mirror, and   wherein the second light detector is positioned to intercept light reflected from the third partially reflective mirror.