Coaxial illuminated laser endoscopic probe and active numerical aperture control

An illumination and laser source comprising:

• an illumination source having an output of surgically useful broad spectrum illumination light;
• and
• a laser light source having an output of laser light;
• and
• means for mixing said illumination light and said laser light and focusing both said illumination light and said laser light onto a single output optical fiber whereby said laser light and said illumination light are transmitted through said single output optical fiber;
• and
• means for dimming said illumination light having a control without substantially affecting the spectral characteristics of said illumination light;
• and
• a photoxicity risk card placable near or onto said control and capable of indicating a safe or known output intensity of said illumination light.

An illumination and laser source comprising:

• an illumination source having an output of surgically useful visible broad spectrum illumination light and an illumination focus spot of a size sufficiently small to be substantially focused upon a substantially single output optical fiber of 500 microns or less,
• a first lens capable of collimating a portion of said illumination light into a collimated illumination light path;
• and
• a laser light source having an output of laser light;
• and
• said laser light collimated and positioned to form a collimated laser beam within said collimated illumination light path;
• and
• a second lens capable of focusing said collimated illumination light and said collimated laser beam onto said substantially single optical fiber;
• and
• said illumination light at said output of said optical fiber capable of being dimmed.

An illumination and laser source comprising:

• an illumination source having an output of illumination light,
• a first lens capable of collimating a portion of said illumination light into a collimated illumination light path;
• and
• a laser light source having an output of laser light;
• and
• said laser light collimated to form a collimated laser beam within said collimated illumination light path;
• and
• a second lens capable of focusing said collimated illumination light and said collimated laser beam onto an optical fiber;
• and
• a laser collimating lens capable of collimating said laser light;
• and
• a steering mirror capable of reflecting said collimated laser beam whereby said collimated laser beam is within said collimated illumination light path;
• and
• one or more spherical reflectors having a geometrical center;
• and
• said illumination source located at said geometrical center and at a focal point of said first lens.

An illumination and laser source comprising:

• an illumination source having an output of illumination light,
• a first lens capable of collimating a portion of said illumination light into a collimated illumination light path;
• and
• a laser light source having an output of laser light;
• and
• said laser light collimated to form a collimated laser beam within said collimated illumination light path;
• and
• a second lens capable of focusing said collimated illumination light and said collimated laser beam onto an optical fiber;
• and
• one or more spherical reflectors having a geometrical center;
• and
• said illumination source located at said geometrical center and at a focal point of said first lens.

An illumination and laser source comprising:

• an illumination source having an output of illumination light,
• a first lens capable of collimating a portion of said illumination light into a collimated illumination light path;
• and
• a laser light source having an output of laser light;
• and
• said laser light collimated to form a collimated laser beam within said collimated illumination light path;
• and
• a second lens capable of focusing said collimated illumination light and said collimated laser beam onto an optical fiber;
• and
• a dimming mechanism comprising a mount on said first lens capable of steering said first lens comprising a first part attached with an optics bench and a second part holding said first lens, said first part and second part attached with a spring whereby a pressure on said second part causes said spring to deflect and said first lens to move.

An illumination and laser source comprising:

• an illumination source having an output of illumination light,
• a first lens capable of collimating and steering a portion of said illumination light into a collimated illumination light path, said first lens steering providing a dimming of said illumination light;
• and
• a laser light source having an output of laser light;
• and
• said laser light collimated to form a collimated laser beam within said collimated illumination light path;
• and
• a second lens capable of focusing said collimated illumination light and said collimated laser beam onto an optical fiber;
• and
• a connector mounted with said optical fiber and capable of indicating whether said laser light or said illumination light or both should transmit through said optical fiber;
• and
• a phototoxicity risk card capable of providing a representation of illumination risks during dimming.

An illumination and laser source comprising:

• an illumination source emanating surgically useful broad spectrum illumination light substantially focused onto a single output optical fiber of 300 microns diameter or less thereby forming an illumination spot size;
• and
• said illumination spot size of sufficient intensity to provide surgically useful illumination through said optical fiber during a surgical procedure;
• and
• a laser treatment light source providing focused laser treatment light upon said output optical fiber whereby both said laser treatment light and said illumination light transmit through said optical fiber and emit with said laser treatment light substantially centered within said illumination light;
• and
• an illumination light dimming mechanism capable of dimming said illumination light emitted from said optical fiber without affecting said laser treatment light or introducing shadow artifacts into said illumination light.