Multiwavelength laser for illumination of photo-dynamic therapy drugs
OwnerCharles Miyakeinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method are provided for converting a pump laser beam having a first wavelength to an output beam of a second wavelength. The wavelength conversion device includes a solid medium impregnated with dye laser which is rotated at a speed which is slow enough to allow the dye material to lase and fast enough to reduce thermally induced optical aberrations and triplet state absorption. The medium and method provide a variety of output laser wavelengths suitable for treating diseases of the eye. In the preferred embodiment, the medium has the dimensions of a standard compact disk.
Claims63
A medium for converting a pump wavelength of a pump laser to at least one desired output wavelength different from the pump wavelength, the medium comprising:
- a doped layer which is impregnated with at least one type of laser dye;
- a first undoped layer which is not impregnated with laser dye;
- a second undoped layer which is not impregnated with laser dye;
- an input optical coating disposed on a surface of the first undoped layer;
- and
- an output optical coating disposed on a surface of the second undoped layer, wherein:
- the input optical coating and the output optical coating are configured to form an optical resonator within the medium;
- and
- the output optical coating is partially reflective at a desired output wavelength and highly reflective at the pump wavelength.
A medium for converting a pump wavelength of a pump laser to at least one desired output wavelength different from the pump wavelength, the medium comprising:
- a doped layer which is impregnated with at least one type of laser dye;
- an undoped layer which is not impregnated with laser dye;
- a first optical coating disposed on a surface of the undoped layer;
- and
- a second optical coating disposed on a surface of the doped layer, wherein the first optical coating and the second optical coating are configured to form an optical resonator within the medium.
A medium for converting a pump wavelength of a pump laser to at least one desired output wavelength different from the pump wavelength, the medium comprising:
- a doped layer which is impregnated with at least one type of laser dye;
- and
- an undoped layer which is not impregnated with laser dye;
- and
- encoding means for encoding at least one output wavelength, wherein an outside surface of the doped layer comprises a first surface of the medium and an outside surface of the undoped layer comprises a second surface of the medium.
A medium for converting a pump wavelength of a pump laser to at least one desired output wavelength different from the pump wavelength, the medium comprising:
- a doped layer which is impregnated with at least one type of laser dye;
- and
- an undoped layer which is not impregnated with laser dye;
- and
- encoding means for encoding at least one output wavelength.
A medium for converting a pump wavelength of a pump laser beam to a plurality of desired output wavelengths different from the pump wavelength, the apparatus comprising:
- a solid medium impregnated with a plurality of laser dyes;
- an input optical coating disposed on a first surface of the medium;
- a first output optical coating disposed on a first area of a second surface of the medium;
- and
- a second output optical coating disposed on a second area of the second surface of the medium;
- wherein:
- the input optical coating and the output optical coatings are configured to form an optical resonator within the medium;
- the first output optical coating is partially reflective at a desired first output wavelength and highly reflective at the pump wavelength;
- and
- the second output optical coating is partially reflective at a desired second output wavelength and highly reflective at the pump wavelength.
An apparatus for illuminating a solid gain medium with a pump laser beam and generating an output laser beam with at least one output wavelength, the apparatus comprising:
- input means for conveying the pump laser beam to a pumped spot on the medium to excite a gain region;
- pump beam translation means for moving the pump beam relative to the medium;
- means for decoding an encoded portion of the medium;
- and
- output means for receiving an output laser beam emitted by the medium.
An apparatus for illuminating a solid gain medium with a pump laser beam and generating an output laser beam with at least one output wavelength, the apparatus comprising:
- input means for conveying the pump laser beam to a pumped spot on the medium to excite a volume of the medium;
- rotation means for rotating the medium;
- means for decoding an encoded portion of the medium;
- and
- output means for receiving an output laser beam emitted by the medium.
An apparatus for converting a pump wavelength of a pump laser beam to a desired output wavelength, comprising:
- rotating means for rotating a disk-shaped solid medium impregnated with at least one type of laser dye;
- first optical coupling means for coupling a pump laser beam having a pump wavelength to the medium;
- and
- second optical coupling means for coupling a laser beam output from the pumped volume of the medium to an output device, wherein:
- the output laser beam has a wavelength different from the pump frequency;
- and
- the rotating means rotates the medium at a rate fast enough to clear a volume of the medium pumped by the pump laser beam in about 1 μsec.
A method of treating eye diseases, comprising the steps of:
- providing at least one photodynamic therapy drug to a diseased portion of an eye;
- moving a solid medium which is impregnated with at least one type of laser dye;
- illuminating a pumped spot on the solid medium with a pump laser beam having a pumping wavelength, thereby pumping a volume of the solid medium and causing the solid medium to emit an output laser beam which comprises a first output wavelength different from the pumping wavelength;
- and
- directing the output laser beam to a first photodynamic therapy drug in the diseased portion of the eye, thereby activating a first photodynamic therapy drug.
A method of treating eye diseases, comprising the steps of:
- rotating a solid medium which is impregnated with at least one type of laser dye;
- illuminating a pumped spot on the solid medium with a pump laser beam having a pumping wavelength, thereby pumping a volume of the solid medium and causing the solid medium to emit an output laser beam which comprises a first output wavelength different from the pumping wavelength;
- and
- directing the output laser beam to a diseased portion of an eye.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.