Multiple wavelength metal vapor laser system for medical applications

A multiple wavelength metal vapor laser system for medical applications involving the targeting of a particular drug, agent or other photosensitive substance for treatment in tissue comprising water and a predetermined chromophore, said laser system comprising:

• an active laser gain medium comprising a plurality of metal vapors;
• means for exciting said laser gain medium to produce a plurality of lasing energy level transitions and resulting laser radiation at a plurality of wavelengths;
• means for coaxially transmitting laser radiation at a plurality of wavelengths from said laser system for simultaneous use in a medical procedure, a first of said wavelengths being in a range of wavelengths having greater absorption by either water or said predetermined chromophore than by the particular photosensitive substance targeted in a medical application, and a second of said wavelengths being in a range of wavelengths having greater absorption by the particular photosensitive substance targeted in said medical application than by water or said predetermined chromophore;
• and
• means for controlling populations of multiple lasing energy level transitions to thereby control relative intensities among said first and second wavelengths, thereby providing a means for controlling total intensities of said first and second wavelengths.

A multiple wavelength metal vapor laser system for medical applications involving tissue comprising water and a predetermined chromophore, said laser system comprising:

• an active laser gain medium comprising barium metal vapor;
• means for exciting said active laser gain medium to produce a plurality of lasing energy level transitions and resulting laser radiation at a plurality of wavelengths;
• means for coaxially transmitting laser radiation from said laser system at a plurality of wavelengths at predetermined intensities for simultaneous use in a medical procedure, a first of such wavelengths being in a range of wavelengths having greater absorption by said predetermined chromophore than by water, and a second of such wavelengths being in a range of wavelengths having greater absorption by water than by said predetermined chromophore;
• and
• means for controlling populations of multiple lasing energy level transitions to thereby control relative intensities among said first and second wavelengths, thereby providing a means for controlling total intensities of said first and second wavelengths.

A multiple wavelength laser system for medical applications involving tissue comprising water and a predetermined chromophore, said system comprising:

• an active laser gain medium located within a resonant cavity, said medium comprising metal vapor;
• means for exciting said active laser gain medium to produce a plurality of lasing energy level transitions and resulting laser radiation at a plurality of wavelengths;
• a fiber optic device for coaxially transmitting laser radiation at a plurality of wavelengths at predetermined intensities from said laser system for simultaneous use in a medical procedure, a first of said wavelengths being in a range of wavelengths having greater absorption by said predetermined chromophore than by water, and a second of said wavelengths being in a range of wavelengths having greater absorption by water than by said predetermined chromophore;
• and
• an output coupler for controlling populations of multiple lasing energy level transitions to thereby control relative intensities among the coaxially transmitted wavelengths, thereby providing a means for controlling total intensities of such transmitted wavelengths.