Method and apparatus for variable waveform output in surgical lasers

A variable waveform output laser system, the laser system having a laser cavity, the laser cavity containing a gain medium which produces a laser output upon stimulation, the laser output having a predetermined variable waveform, the waveform of the laser output being determined by a user's input to the laser system specifying the pulsewidth, frequency and/or amplitude of the laser output, the laser system comprising:

• a high-voltage power supply, the power supply capable of inducing stimulation of the gain medium of the laser cavity, the power supply having a first terminal and a second terminal, the power supply being controlled by a control signal;
• a high-voltage switching device, the switching device capable of rapidly and efficiently opening and closing a high-voltage circuit, the switching device disposed between the power supply and the laser system, the switching device having a high side and a low side, the high side of the switching device having an input and an output, the low side of the switching device having an input, the input of the low side being a control signal for the switching device, the input of the high side of the switching device being connected to the first terminal of the power supply, the output of the high side of the switching device being connected to the laser cavity for stimulation of the laser gain medium;
• a real-time power meter, the meter connected to the laser system for measuring the laser output, the meter producing an output control signal proportional to the laser output pulsewidth, frequency and/or amplitude;
• a microprocessor-based control unit, the control unit having a first input and a second input, the control unit producing a first control signal and a second control signal, the first input to the control unit being from a user interface, the second input to the control unit being the output control signal produced by the meter, the first control signal from the control unit for controlling the power supply, the second control signal from the control unit for controlling the switching device;
• a high-voltage power storage element, the storage element disposed between the power supply and the switching device, the storage element receiving a charge from the power supply and delivering that charge through the switching device to the laser cavity such that the gain medium is stimulated to produce the predetermined variable waveform output of the laser system, whereby the user's input to the laser system will be processed by the control unit which in turn will send control signals to the power supply and the switching device, thus resulting in a predetermined variable waveform output of the laser system.