Medical laser having controlled-temperature and sterilized fluid output
OwnerIoana Rizoiu, Dmitri Boutoussovinventors
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Abstract
A method and apparatus are described for controlling temperature of a fluid used with electromagnetic energy in medical and dental laser procedures. Received fluid is passed through a heat exchanger, and heat is added to or removed from the fluid depending upon a desired effect, which may be influenced by a temperature setting. Temperature of output fluid is sensed, and heating or cooling is controlled in order to maintain output fluid temperature in a desired range. Ultraviolet radiation is used to sterilize the fluid.
Claims23
A method of operating an electromagnetic energy emitting device, comprising:
- providing a medical laser capable of receiving a fluid input and producing a fluid output;
- receiving the fluid input;
- controlling a temperature of the fluid;
- producing the fluid output;
- and
- combining the fluid output with electromagnetic energy output from the electromagnetic energy emitting device.
An electromagnetic energy emitting device, comprising:
- a receiving tube capable of receiving a fluid from a fluid input line;
- a heat exchanger capable of performing one or more of adding heat to the fluid and removing heat from the fluid;
- an output tube capable of receiving the fluid from the heat exchanger and of expelling the fluid in a direction of a target surface;
- and
- a source of electromagnetic energy capable of directing electromagnetic energy to intersect with at least a part of the expelled fluid.
A medical laser fluid temperature controller that controls temperature of a fluid, the medical laser fluid temperature controller comprising:
- a processor capable of executing instruction sequences;
- permanent memory capable of storing instructions;
- a temperature sensor interface capable of receiving a measured fluid temperature value and of passing the measured fluid temperature value to the processor;
- a temperature regulator capable of:
- receiving a desired fluid temperature range;
- and
- passing the desired fluid temperature range to the processor;
- a thermo-electric control interface capable of controlling a thermo-electric control unit according to signals received from the processor;
- a fluid temperature receiver instruction sequence stored in permanent memory that, when executed by the processor, minimally causes the processor to:
- receive the measured fluid temperature value;
- receive the desired fluid temperature range;
- compare the measured fluid temperature value with the desired fluid temperature range to determine a comparison result;
- and
- execute a thermoelectric control instruction sequence that passes signals to the thermo-electric control interface, thereby controlling the thermo-electric control device according to the comparison result to modify a temperature of the fluid;
- and
- a fluid output coupled to route the modified-temperature fluid for combination with a beam of electromagnetic energy on or above a target surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.