Laser ablation nozzle

An apparatus comprising:

• (a) a housing defining an opening in a side of the housing in communication with a chamber suitable for enclosing a predetermined length of a coated substrate to result in an enclosed coated substrate portion, wherein there exists a gap between the enclosed substrate portion and the housing in communication with air outside the housing;
• (b) a nozzle, disposed through the housing, and positioned adjacent the enclosed substrate portion, comprising:
• (i) a nozzle housing comprised of a bottom surface;
• (ii) a first orifice defined by the bottom surface;
• (iii) a second orifice defined by the bottom surface;
• (iv) a first passageway defined by the nozzle housing in communication with the first orifice;
• and
• (v) a second passageway defined by the nozzle housing in communication with the second orifice, wherein the portion of the second passageway adjacent the second orifice forms an angle .theta..sub.3 with the portion of the first passageway adjacent the first orifice, wherein the angle .theta..sub.3 is effective for directing a first fluid stream through the second orifice at the surface of the enclosed substrate portion to facilitate removal of the coating in the form of coating debris during or subsequent to exposure of the coating of the enclosed substrate portion to high energy radiation;
• (c) a high energy radiation generating apparatus, coupled to the nozzle, wherein the radiation passes through the first passageway and the first orifice of the nozzle towards the surface of the enclosed substrate portion;
• (d) a first fluid stream generating apparatus, coupled to the nozzle, wherein the first fluid stream passes through the second passageway and the second orifice of the nozzle towards the surface of the enclosed substrate portion, wherein the first fluid stream may move a portion of the coating debris outside the housing in the absence of (e);
• (e) a second fluid stream nozzle disposed in a direction for directing a second fluid stream against the first fluid stream to keep the coating debris inside the housing, thereby minimizing movement of the coating debris into the air outside the housing;
• and
• (f) exhausting apparatus coupled to the housing to remove the coating debris.