CN102484346A - A Monolithic, Side Pumped Solid-state Laser And Applications Thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A monolithic, side pumped solid-state laser (1) comprising a laser resonator structure (3) comprised of a laser gain medium (2) having a longitudinal axis (L), wherein the laser resonator structure (3) comprises end faces (4) forming a linear optical path resonant cavity there between, at least one of the end faces (4) comprising at least partially reflecting laser mirrors (4a, 4b) in particular deposited thereon, the laser gain medium (2) comprising a side face (2a) for receiving pump light (5a) of a pump source (5), wherein the pump light (5a) is generated by a diode laser (5), and comprising a conductive cooler (6) comprising contact faces (6c) contacting the laser gain medium (2), and comprising a reflector (7) arranged opposite to the side face (2a) with respect to the longitudinal axis (L), wherein the laser gain medium (2) is a low gain material.

Description

The solid-state laser of monolithic profile pump and application thereof

Technical field

The present invention relates to comprise the solid-state laser of monolithic profile pump of the characteristic of claim 1.The invention still further relates to the method for solid-state laser that is used to operate the monolithic profile pump of the characteristic that comprises claim 22.The invention still further relates to according to claim 32,51 and 52 therapeutic system.

Background technology

The application of diode-pumped laser has been able to development, particularly in industry, medical treatment and military applications.Diode-pumped laser is particularly useful, and this is because of diode pumping power-efficient, all solid state and long service life.Compare with similar flash lamp pumping solid-state laser, these cause gentlier, more effectively and typically do not have the Optical Maser System of water cooling.

Usually, the configuration of end pumping or profile pump solid-state laser is known.Q switching laser or monolithic laser are such as at United States Patent(USP) No. 5,394,413,5,381,431,5,495,494,5,651,023 and 6,373, and the configuration of the configuration described in the 864B1.Except other, the shortcoming of such design is the restriction about the maximum impulse energy.In addition, the Q switching laser can only produce very short pulse of duration.

United States Patent(USP) No. 6,219,361B1 and 6,377,593B1 have described the profile pump design, and wherein, beam path has been taked inner zigzag path, and such design has prolonged the pulse duration and has increased manufacture difficulty and cost.

In diode side pumped geometry, gain media is bar or flat board normally.Dull and stereotyped geometry is normally used in the Optical Maser System of such conduction ground cooling, and wherein, a dull and stereotyped side is attached to radiator (thermal heat sink), and opposite face is used to introduce pump light.The profile pump flat board can adopt various technology, and so-called such as utilizing " sawtooth " light path is for example disclosed in US2007/0060917 Fig. 2.But, owing to causing the sawtooth flat board, strict optics tolerance is difficult to make, therefore compare with the dull and stereotyped embodiment of through type, and more be difficult to a large amount of productions, thereby produce expensive more.

Document WO 2004/034523 discloses solid-state laser a kind of monolithic profile pump, passive Q-switched, no water cooling; It comprises the laser resonator structure; And comprise gain medium, this gain medium has and is attached to passive Q-switched output face.Gain media has the side that is used to receive pump light.This pump light is produced by diode laser array.A shortcoming of this solid-state laser is that average power is limited.Another shortcoming of this solid-state laser is that thermal effect improves during operation.In addition, the Q switching laser can only produce very short pulse of duration.

Document US 2007/0060917 discloses the diode side pumped solid-state laser of MIR (in-infrared) in Fig. 1 b and 2a, it comprise wherein can the transmitting gain switching pulse the laser resonator structure.An advantage of this solid-state laser is that the power of the laser that produces is limited and low.

Document US 6,366,596B1 discloses diode side pumped OPO laser, except other, its generation MIR (in-infrared) radiation.Although can in the wide region in the MIR wavelength region may, carry out tuning to wavelength; But the shortcoming of such laser is the short pulse duration in one or two numeral nanosecond zone to have high power density (intensity); If perhaps laser pulse length is in the microsecond zone, then laser pulse intensity is very low.In addition, such laser is very complicated, need have the optical element of various optical coatings, and is therefore very expensive.Another shortcoming is that such laser is not firm for shock and vibration, and a large amount of critical components has increased the possibility of thrashing.

Document US 5,642,370, US5,643,252, US5,868,731, US5,908,416, US5,947,957, US6,251,102B1 and US6,395,000B1 disclose in-the profile pump solid-state laser of infrared wavelength zone work.Usually, such solid-state laser is used for biological tissue's ablation (ablation).In these lasers some are battery powered, and so-called providing for oneself, send single laser pulse, are thereafter the charging intervals in several seconds of capacitor in High Voltage Power Supply.

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide the profile pump solid-state laser apparatus that is used to produce high-power laser pulse.Another object of the present invention is to provide cheap, firm, reliable laser device.Another object of the present invention is to provide the high performance operation laser device, particularly provides to have high impulse energy and/or high-power laser, and in the working range of broadness, allows high pulse repetition rate especially.Another object of the present invention is to provide the laser device that is applicable to medical field; This laser device have especially 1700nm between the 3200nm-wavelength in infrared (MIR) scope, and/or be suitable for treatment, cutting or ablate biological tissue especially.Another object of the present invention is to provide the therapeutic system that can make the user carry out the high-power laser pulse treatment, and wherein this therapeutic system easy operating especially, should realize safeguarding friendly embodiment.In addition, seeking the therapeutic system that outside specialization treatment unit, allows high-power laser pulse to treat also is purpose.

Summary of the invention

The solid-state laser of monolithic profile pump that use comprises the characteristic of claim 1 has solved this problem.Dependent claims 2 discloses optional feature to 27.Further the solid-state laser that is used to operate the monolithic profile pump of the characteristic through comprising claim 28 solves this problem, and wherein, dependent claims 29 discloses optional feature to 31.

Especially; Use a kind of solid-state laser of monolithic profile pump to address this problem; This solid-state laser comprises the laser resonator structure that is made up of the gain medium with longitudinal axis L, and comprises the conduction-type cooler, and wherein the laser resonator structure is included in the end face that forms linear light path resonant cavity therebetween; At least one of end face comprises the coating of deposition partial reflection at least on it; Gain medium comprises the side of the pump light that is used to receive pumping source, and wherein pump light is produced by diode laser, and this conduction-type cooler comprises the contact-making surface that contacts with gain medium; And this solid-state laser comprises the reflector of relatively arranging with respect to longitudinal axis L and side.

Especially, use a kind of solid-state laser of monolithic profile pump further to address this problem, this solid-state laser comprises the laser resonator structure that is made up of the gain medium with longitudinal axis L; And comprise the conduction-type cooler; Wherein the laser resonator structure is included in the end face that forms linear light path resonant cavity therebetween, and at least one of end face comprises especially the laser mirror of deposition partial reflection at least on it, and gain medium comprises the side of the pump light that is used to receive pumping source; Wherein pump light is produced by diode laser; This conduction-type cooler comprises the contact-making surface that contacts with gain medium, and this solid-state laser comprises the reflector of relatively arranging with respect to longitudinal axis L and side; Wherein especially, gain medium is the low gain material.

Especially; Use a kind of method that is used to operate the solid-state laser of monolithic profile pump further to address this problem; This solid-state laser comprises the laser resonator structure that is made up of the gain medium with longitudinal axis L; Wherein pump light is through in the side feed-in gain medium; The center divides pump light to locate from the gain medium outgoing in relative side as the outgoing pump light, and wherein the outgoing pump light is reflected, thereby makes the pump light of reflection get into gain medium again at relative place, side.

Disclosed diode side pumped solid-state laser correspondingly produces low intensive low quality laser in document US 2007/0060917.On the other hand, have been found that laser needs the intensity of certain level, with ablate biological tissue efficiently.Also know, compare, the less pulse energy of diode side pumped solid-state laser emission with the flash lamp pumping solid-state laser.Solid-state laser according to monolithic profile pump of the present invention uses some technical characterictics to improve the intensity of laser.Correspondingly improve the beam quality of laser.At first, use has less than 7.5mm ²The gain medium of cross-sectional area, and cross-sectional area is on the inner surface perpendicular to the laser propagation direction of gain medium, and in the situation of planar laser speculum, this surface is parallel with the planar laser speculum.If gain medium has the shape of cross section for circular or oval-shaped bar, this means that so the diameter of this bar is less than or equal to 3mm, preferably be less than or equal to 2mm, most preferably be less than or equal to 1mm.Be to need littler pump power be implemented in the inner required certain power density of laser vibration of opening of gain medium thereby have the advantage that so little diameter has the bar of so little cross-sectional area.In addition, the laser rods with so little cross-sectional area is served as the inner aperture of laser chamber and is caused loss to higher transverse laser mode, thereby correspondingly improves the quality of laser.Have only the bar that has so little cross-sectional area through use, just can produce enough power densities, thereby produce pump light by semiconductor laser in gain medium inside.Suppose that laser rods can have the diameter of 4mm, cross-sectional area can be increased to about 12.5mm so ², it approximately is the twice of the cross-sectional area of 3mm bar.Compare with the 3mm bar, in order to realize identical power density, the 4mm bar needs the pump power of about twice.Therefore, the cross-sectional area with gain medium is restricted to less than 7.5mm ²It is a very important advantage.In a preferred embodiment, the diode laser pumped power in laser active medium is 20 to 500W/mm ³Between.

In a preferred embodiment, inner chamber laser intensity (in laser active medium) is at 5kW/cm ²And 10MW/cm ²Between, more preferably 10 and 100kW/cm ²Between.

The another kind of favourable measure that improves the efficient of laser is to optimize the percentage that is coupled out from laser.For operate lasers effectively, when the stimulated emission cross section (correspondingly, the gain of gain medium) of gain medium was low more, the percentage that is coupled out from laser just must be low more.This is equivalent in the inner high strength of laser chamber, thereby helps starting the laser vibration.Therefore, it is favourable operating the laser with such gain medium: this gain medium has low stimulated emission cross section and has high strength in laser chamber inside.

The another kind of favourable measure that improves the intensity in the gain medium is to use the output coupler of the reflectivity in the scope that has between 92.5% to 99%.The another kind of favourable measure that improves the intensity in the gain medium is to reduce cavity loss.For example disclosed in document US 2007/0060917; Solid-state laser has a shortcoming; Promptly; Use discrete laser chamber to cause producing optical loss through the medium transition region from the gain medium to the air and from the air to the laser mirror, said optical loss is because reflection and the absorption loss of laser on these transition regions causes.Because the laser medium of using is the low gain laser material, so these extra losses have hindered so known Optical Maser System to operate effectively.Especially 1700nm in 3200nm zone-another shortcoming of the laser chamber of working in infrared (MIR) wavelength is; Because water is to the intense absorption of emitted laser, dust between gain medium and laser mirror or humid air can reduce the efficient of Optical Maser System consumingly or almost can make laser chamber stop to launch laser.This causes extra loss and further reduces the intensity in the gain medium.

The another kind of favourable measure that improves laser performance is a control gain medium temperature.Laser rods with such minor diameter shows better surface to V/V (volume ratio), therefore can be by more effectively cooling or heating, thus reduced the distortion that causes owing to thermal effect to laser beam quality.Another advantage of causing owing to improved hot property is the power output that increased and the optical efficiency that has increased.

The another kind of favourable measure of optimizing the Laser Output Beam quality is a cooling laser active gain medium symmetrically.Because the gain medium in WO2004/034523 is not the fact of cooling off symmetrically, so beam profile is not uniformly, so light beam parameters product M ²Be disadvantageous, this can cause focusing power poor.Therefore, can cause uniform beam profile to the symmetry cooling of laser active gain medium according to the present invention, and the thermal lens of the longitudinal axis with active medium symmetry, conllinear.Therefore this has guaranteed laser always along this vibration, is the essential feature of guaranteeing stable operation in such as the wide region of the parameter of pump power, repetition rate and duty ratio (duty cycle).

Another advantage according to solid-state laser of the present invention is low cost of manufacture and needs maintenance hardly.This has improved the market acceptance widely.This advantage is to realize through the quantity of the optical element of minimizing needs and/or the quantity of adjustable optical element or laser chamber.Especially cause the market failure with expensive product recall or be the reason of high maintenance cost at least having become based on the medical treatment of hand-held or removable laser and the adjustable optical element in the non-medical treatment device or laser chamber.Solid-state laser according to the present invention is height protecting against shock and vibration; Even after changing the environmental condition of for example temperature, humidity fast, still keep stable, and guarantee by law and desired high stability, the constant laser output power of regulation based on the medical treatment device of laser.Can receive robustness and the normally influence of self imbalance according to the laser design of produced in conventional processes.In addition, the situation of the reduction of laser output power may take place in the dust because temperature, mechanical stress on (impact, vibration), the optics etc.Such device must be repaired, and optics must clean, and laser chamber must be recalibrated termly, and this can cause the high maintenance cost.

Another advantage according to solid-state laser of the present invention is that because efficient and short laser chamber, this design can be by miniaturization to heavens.This allows can not to comprise in the past in the device feature of high power solid-state laser realizes solid-state laser.Example is such as US7, realizes having for example up to infrared solid-state laser among the 5W in disclosed so-called that provide for oneself or the wireless handheld device in 118,563.Only the diode laser in near-infrared (780-1400nm) can be used for such device now.An advantage of the invention is, battery powered provide for oneself device can be provided with now in infrared solid-state laser.In addition, such device can also be that weight is lighter, for example, and less than 1kg.Can make littler and power consumption other the new device that comprises laser still less.Even can consider to comprise the desktop parts of power supply, cooling unit and final control unit by (i); And the (ii) device that constitutes of handheld unit; This handheld unit comprises solid-state laser, and final beam-shaping optics, beam deflection parts can also comprise control unit.This handheld unit can be dismountable owing to maintenance reasons, and can in small and light encapsulation, be sent out to the device producer.Before transporting device to the producer, the owner of device can inform the producer, and can before its handheld unit returned via surface mail, start from the former of service thereby be provided with interim handheld unit.Definite operation is following: a) from the reason of service, the user can be informed in the base station, is about to serve, and it should the calling device producer change hand-held device unit or handpiece temporarily.B) owner of device or user send oral or written message to device sellers or producer.C) device sellers or producer send the parcel with interim replacing hand-held device unit or handpiece.D) because easy plug-in connector, it be replaceable hand-held device that the owner of device or user only need in the extremely short time, so he does not need device downtime.E) parcel services hand-held device unit that will be used to serve or the handpiece service centre that takes place under repair or service to or install the producer.F) after this service operation is accomplished, hand-held device unit or handpiece are sent out back gives the device owner or user.G) the device owner or user change hand-held device unit or handpiece once more, and interim hand-held device unit or handpiece transmission are gone back.No longer need the travel of attendant's costliness, and no longer need transporting the costliness of the heavy device of optics with easy damage.No longer need expensive local service center.The user needn't keep the room and waits for up to device always and fixing for the attendant.In addition, having hand-held device of other function (pulse energy, wavelength, other measurement ...) or hand-held device that treatment is optimized can be attached on the base station.All these advantages cause very economic product and satisfied client.All above-mentioned advantages also are available for providing device for oneself, in providing device for oneself, do not need table-top unit/base station.

In another advantageous embodiments, pump light is directed, thereby makes that pump light has roughly distribution uniformly in gain medium 2.The most advantageously, this is to realize through the pump light reflector of relatively arranging with respect to the longitudinal axis and the side of gain medium.This layout allows pump light to get into gain medium from the side, to pass gain medium, and from the gain medium outgoing, and by the pump light reflector reflects, thereby make reverberation get into gain medium once more.This embodiment has produced even light distribution in gain medium.The advantage of such even light distribution is to cause the zlasing mode more much better than legacy system.This zlasing mode can have the light beam parameters product M between 1 and 25 ², it is the key of the extraordinary laser beam that focuses on.

Another advantage of the little cross-sectional area of gain medium is that laser beam can be focused littler diameter.Known flash lamp pumping laser with gain medium cross-sectional area or diode-pumped laser allow laser beam to be focused 300 to 500 μ m.The gain medium that in solid-state laser according to the present invention, uses allows laser beam to be focused 100 to 250 μ m.So just allow to improve the intensity of laser beam in the focus.

Another advantage according to solid-state laser of the present invention is that now, the laser beam transmission efficiently with so little cross-sectional area is through thin therefore cheap optical fiber.Another advantage of the present invention is, laser beam is transferred in the optical fiber more efficiently, this is because the quality of laser beam is good more, and its efficient that is coupled to optical fiber is high more, the loss that this has been equivalent to reduce.

Another advantage according to solid-state laser of the present invention is, it does not comprise adjustable optical element, for example, and laser mirror or photoflash lamp.Therefore, solid-state laser according to the present invention is firm, to resist imbalance or because the imbalance in time that thermal effect causes that causes owing to impact event, vibration.Another advantage is that solid-state laser has overcome the loss along with the power of time, for photoflash lamp this point very typical case.

Another advantage according to solid-state laser of the present invention is that maintenance costs is low.Because to law and regulation, only allow to change in interior focusing power output among a small circle based on the medical treatment device of laser.Therefore, known solid-state laser needs the maintenance of regular costliness, perhaps needs complicated controlling organization, to satisfy such law and regulation.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides the laser device that is suitable for producing the laser that is used for medical field, and this laser device is particularly suitable for treating, cutting or ablates and comprises the biological tissue of sclerous tissues.About open in the background information patent application below of laser device and treatment or ablate biological tissue, this paper: WO2006/111526, WO2006/111200, WO2006/111199, WO2006/111429 and WO2008/049903 are all incorporated in these patent applications by reference into.In a preferred embodiment, laser device according to the present invention is used to treat, cut or ablates and comprises the biological tissue of sclerous tissues.Have been found that best biological tissue ablates to be to use and has the pulse length between 1 μ s and the 15 μ s and have 10 ³W/mm ²With 10 ⁸W/mm ²Between the laser pulse of intensity realize.Such laser pulse allows biological tissue is ablated efficiently, and adjacent biological tissue is had the destruction of having reduced, for example, the pyrolytic damage that has reduced, for example, sex change, solidify, carbonization.Have been found that the intensity that needs certain level with ablate biological tissue, and the intensity of certain level even more important than high impulse energy.Have been found that high impulse energy pulses ratio has 10 ³To 10 ⁶W/mm ²(for example, being used for soft tissue) and 10 ⁵To 10 ⁸W/mm ²The pulse efficient of the certain strength between (being used for sclerous tissues) is much lower, and wherein the high impulse energy is that pulse through long duration realizes.Therefore, generation has 10 ³To 10 ⁸W/mm ²Between the laser of intensity for ablating or cutting biological tissue is most preferred, the pulse length of laser most preferably is in the scope between 1 μ s and 15 μ s thus, more preferably in the scope between 15 μ s and 200 μ s.The shock wave disorganize is mechanically passed through in the pulse that is shorter than 1 μ s that is for example produced by Q switching laser or OPO laser, thereby the natural key of cell from them torn apart.In order on target, to realize 10 such as biological tissue ³W/mm ²To 10 ⁸W/mm ²Between the intensity of laser, the size of the laser that hits the mark can use beam-shaping (especially through using lens) to be shaped.

According to an aspect of the present invention, disclose a kind of solid-state laser and the equipment that comprises this solid-state laser, it is suitable for cutting or ablate biological tissue.Solid-state laser comprises optics cavity; Place the gain media in this optics cavity; Semiconductor laser, its by optical correction so that this gain media is carried out optical pumping, thereby produce laser, wherein, the laser of generation has wavelength and the intensity that is suitable for cutting with ablate biological tissue.

According to an aspect of the present invention, disclose the method that cutting or ablation comprise the biological tissue of sclerous tissues, this method comprises the steps: to provide gain media, semiconductor laser and optics cavity; Gain media and semiconductor laser are placed in the optics cavity, thus make semiconductor laser by optical correction so that this gain media is carried out pumping; The activating semiconductor laser is to carry out optical pumping and to produce laser to gain media; And direct a laser to such as in the biological tissue soft, medium hard or hard tissue, with cutting or this biological tissue that ablates.

In one embodiment; In the pulse duration of laser beam, pulse shape, repetition rate, pulse strength and the pulse energy at least one can be modulated, and this allows to be modulated at the ablation depth of biological tissue of characteristic and each pulse in each otch that produces in the biological tissue or hole.

Be used to treat or the laser of ablate biological tissue has the wavelength between 1700nm and the 3200nm.Most preferably, use the wavelength of about 2950nm, because this wavelength is the main local maximum in the water absorption spectrum in MIR (in the infrared) scope.

Preferably produce according to solid-state laser of the present invention and to have the laser beam to the diameter between the 2.5mm, and more preferably produce and have the laser beam to the diameter between the 1mm at 0.5mm at 0.5mm.

The burst length width of such solid-state laser is preferably between 1 μ s and 500 μ s, especially between 1 μ s and 200 μ s, and most preferably between 1 μ s and 15 μ s.

The pulsed laser energy of such solid-state laser is between 0.1mJ and 100J, especially between 1mJ and 5J.

Such solid-state laser can focus on a bit, and the intensity of the laser emission of this point is at 1W/mm ²With 10 ⁸W/mm ²Between, especially 10 ³W/mm ²With 10 ⁷W/mm ²Between.

The important design parameter of crystal is: pump power and crystal diameter, important laser material parameter is: stimulated emission cross section, life-span and photon energy.

For laser operation, be that laser active material supplying energy is unimportant with any mode.That is, pump light get into from the side still or the entering of conllinear ground unimportant, perhaps, pumping is that laser diode or photoflash lamp etc. are unimportant.Starting point of the present invention is that the laser active material is full of energy, more specifically is to have carried out pumping by laser diode.In the situation of Er:YAG, the energy that the pump light that this means about 980nm has got into crystal and total supply is E_pump, and it is transferred to the laser active ion.In this course; Energy is lost; And for laser operation, having only following amount is available E_stored=E_pump* (Wavelength_pump/Wavelength_laser)=for example, for Er:YAG ca.E_pump*980/2940=0.33*E_pump

The important cross section A of laser is perpendicular to laser axle-be the laser crystal end-face in this case, and itself and diameter d are directly proportional.

From the viewpoint of material, stimulated emission cross section, photon energy and the life-span of laser transition are important.The pumping of life-span for crystal is important, and this is owing to must make energy get into crystal to arrive laser threshold.When laser operation began, the life-span of laser active ion was definite by outer coupling and other chamber parameter, and is no longer confirmed exclusively by the life-span of the laser upper limit.Owing to got into maintenance focusing under the intracrystalline situation at energy, therefore can ignore the life-span.This situation and laser amplifier are very similar, and in laser amplifier, the laser crystal is amplified pulse then and is sent out over by pumping.

Therefore have only the photon energy and the stimulated emission cross section of laser transition to keep as material parameter.Photon energy is the poor of laser upper and lower bound, and the stimulated emission cross section is that wherein in order to encourage the emission of another laser photon, photon must pass through in laser active ion zone on every side.

In laser amplifier, saturation flux is main design parameter, and it has defined for whole crystalline region A is filled with the active lasing ion of preparing the supply laser photon, must pumping energy in the crystal.In other words, each photon of entering crystal encourages the emission of another photon probably.

$F_{\mathrm{sat}}=\frac{\mathrm{h\ν}}{{\mathrm{\σ}}_{\mathrm{em}}}=x\frac{E_{\mathrm{stored}}}{A}=x\frac{E_{\mathrm{pump}}{\mathrm{wl}}_{\mathrm{pump}}/{\mathrm{wl}}_{\mathrm{laser}}}{\mathrm{\π}{(d/2)}^2}$

This equality combines material parameter photon energy and stimulated emission cross section with pump energy and crystal diameter (scale factor-more little good more).For the ease of understanding, x=1, therefore

$\frac{\mathrm{h\ν}}{{\mathrm{\σ}}_{\mathrm{em}}}=\frac{E_{\mathrm{stored}}}{A}$

Photon energy is fixed by optical maser wavelength, and the stimulated emission cross section is more little, and it is big more that whole expression formula becomes.In order to maximize the right side, need the more energy pumping in crystal, perhaps reduce regional A through reducing crystal diameter d, perhaps these two kinds of methods are carried out simultaneously.

Generally speaking, the laser material that has low emission cross section only can be operated through the very strong pumping of minor diameter laser crystal.

Embodiment has advantage; Wherein pump light is through in the side feed-in gain medium; Wherein 30 of pump light to 70% (preferably; 30 to 50%) as the outgoing pump light at place, relative side from the gain medium outgoing, and wherein the outgoing pump light by reflector reflects, thereby make the pump light of reflection get into gain medium again at relative place, side.Use has advantage with the different certain wavelengths of wavelength at the absorption peak place of gain material; Promptly; The pump light of incident is only partially absorbed by gain medium, so the amount of 30 to 70% (preferably, 30 to 50%) of the pump light of incident is from the gain medium outgoing and be reflected back toward gain medium; Wherein, this gain medium further absorbs altogether 50 to 91% (preferably 75 to 91%).Therefore, realized the even light distribution in gain medium, cause like this in the emitted laser bundle uniformly, the Energy distribution of Gauss's shape.Reflector may be implemented as has high reflectance, reflects most incident light, in addition, in order to strengthen the even illumination of laser gain material, this reflector can be partial reflection or diffusion.

Pumping source depend on the concentration of dopant of crystal diameter and crystalline material with respect to absorbing peaked wavelength/wavelength region may skew, and select with the mode that crystal diameter equals an absorption length.Absorption length is defined in the length of the laser material after 63.2% of the pumping radiation that gets into laser material is absorbed.These measures cause the illumination more uniformly in the pump light distribution/optimization of intracrystalline optimization.If pump light wavelength/wavelength region may is selected absorbing the maximum place, pump light can be absorbed in having the crystal of 2mm (for example 1mm) for example so, and remaining crystal do not have illuminatedly, and this can reduce laser beam quality significantly.The equality of simplifying is following:

The diameter of crystal: X

Absorption coefficient: α

Condition: X* α=1

Absorption law:

Intracrystalline absorption=exp (X* α)=exp (1)=0.632.Each laser material all has specific absorption coefficient, and this absorption coefficient depends on wavelength, so this equality is all effective for all laser materials in this pumping geometry.

The pumping source that is implemented as the diode laser matrix that is parallel to longitudinal axis layout has such advantage: can the pump light along its distribution of lengths be provided for gain medium.Preferably, the length of pumping source be at least gain medium length 30%.The purpose of this embodiment is to provide the uniform illumination to gain medium, and in order to start low gain material emission laser enough pump energies is provided.

The low gain material is characterised in that, its be have the stimulated emission cross section that is equal to or less than Er:YAG (promptly＜=3.0*10 ^-20Cm ²) the gain medium of stimulated emission cross section.This gain medium will be distinguished according to solid-state laser of the present invention and efficient Optical Maser System, wherein, for example have 28*10 in order to obtain high photoelectric efficiency coefficient, to have used ^-20Cm ²The high gain lasers material of Nd:YAG of stimulated emission cross section.Use the high-gain material, can from optical resonator be coupled out more many light, to be used for treatment to tissue.

Because the firm embodiment of solid-state laser is especially because by the layout of the gain medium of encirclement of conduction-type cooler and maintenance, laser can resist the attraction of 100G at least.This allows laser to be transported under the specialized situation of transporting process not needing.Especially, because laser can be transported to all-in-service station, therefore do not need to carry out at the scene maintenance.

Because very good laser beam quality; Also can easily a plurality of laser elements in series (be followed one, be in line and conllinear with the propagation axis of laser beam for one) or combine via speculum, scalariform speculum, lens and other coupling unit known in the art.The combination of a plurality of lasers allows to improve peak power output and/or average output power, and because the factor of single laser element has also improved repetition rate.High-output power allow to be handled and to be comprised considerably less water gaging or hydroxyl (OH key) or to produce very high shock wave and the material of big hollow bubble, perhaps even allow to generate plasma.Ideally, laser will be locked phase, thereby make light beam coherently to be combined.

The single-piece designs of laser is characterised in that the high reflector of laser directly is deposited on the gain media, and output coupler directly is deposited on the opposite side on the gain media.Because the low gain of the laser material of introducing; End face that the layout of laser mirror is displaced to laser material is suitable difficulty, and this is because because the loss that when from the laser material to the free air and then to reflecting mirror material and the media variations returned, takes place and launch laser hardly.

One object of the present invention has obtained solution through the therapeutic system that comprises according to solid-state laser of the present invention; This solid-state laser is arranged in the housing, so solid-state laser emitted laser bundle is directed into hand-held device through the photocon in flexible pipe.This hand-held device comprises the port of export as the end of photocon that is used for laser beam is directed to target surface.Flexible pipe comprises photocon, therefore allows the distributed arrangement of lasing light emitter and treatment operating means (as handheld unit), and wherein high-energy output laser device is sent to therapeutic system with its power output via photocon.

Because in order to produce the pump light with enough energy densities, the pump light of solid-state laser needs the electric energy of a large amount, so power supply must provide the electric energy of a large amount in the very short time period.The very large power supply of this required power perhaps according to present embodiment, has the power supply of high current capacity buffer.Use present embodiment, can carry out trickle charge to buffer, and in the very short time period, buffer is discharged, thereby high current power is provided to pump light source in the sufficiently long time period.

For for example in medical use, using therapeutic system; Having available gas-pressurized at the hand-held device place is very useful; Therefore according to an embodiment; The housing of therapeutic system comprises the device that is used to produce gas-pressurized, particularly just has with respect to ambient pressure and/or the gas-pressurized of negative pressure.The gas-pressurized that here uses through for example removing oxygen from area for treatment, has merged air especially and has ablated and/or all mixtures of the processing gas of the impregnable ablation of guaranteeing to ablate with being used for improving.

Similarly embodiment is used to produce the device of fluid under pressure for housing comprises.Because laser beam uses the thermal ablation method to come ablator, so it is useful for purifying and/or cooling off the target area, it is favourable therefore having available liquid at the hand-held device place.

Therefore, flexible pipe will comprise and be used for fluid under pressure is transported to the pipeline of hand-held device from the device of housing, and perhaps flexible pipe will comprise the pipeline that is used for gas-pressurized is offered hand-held device.Can use just to have/gas-pressurized of relative pressure, for example be used for inert gas cap (inert gas cap) is provided around treatment site, in particular for the oxygen atmosphere around the operating area of avoiding the laser beam on target surface.Use has negative and can the operating area of material from the laser beam on target surface be siphoned away the gas of pressure.Because laser will be from the target surface ablator, so for laser is carried out suitable operation, this material must be removed from the target area.According to embodiment, but this material can be siphoned away and via the pipeline transmission in the flexible pipe to the disposal unit of disposing in unit or the housing, so that the target area of cleaning to be provided.

The embodiment that its middle shell comprises the detachable connector parts has such advantage, i.e. the use each time of use each time, the especially hand-held device of therapeutic system can use new hand-held device and flexible pipe to carry out.For the application of using deleterious material, hand-held device and flexible pipe are polluted and need to change is possible.Such embodiment is suitable for cheap optical light guides element, and for example based on the photocon of Si oxide, it is more cheap wherein photocon and hand-held device being placed flexible pipe together, can carry out so completely and clean.Otherwise to whole hand-held device be cleaned with flexible pipe or sterilizes.

In this pipe, be furnished with very expensive optical light guides element; For example; By sapphire, germanium oxide, zirconium fluoride, ceramic fibre, glass-ceramic fiber, contain the fiber of selen or tellur; Perhaps common importantly keep the optical light guides element constant, and only change or the cleaning hand-held device based on fluoride or based on pottery or based on the optical light guides element that the fiber of crystalline material is processed.According to an embodiment, hand-held device comprises the detachable connector parts that allow hand-held device after using each time, to be disposed.According to another embodiment, the detachable connector parts can be arranged in the housing place, and hand-held device and this pipe are together broken off from housing.Another embodiment can be that this pipe all comprises detachable connector at two ends, allow hand-held device and flexible pipe to break off individually like this.This can be suitable for carrying out different clean up tasks, for example is used in the high-pressure sterilizer unit hand-held device being carried out disinfection, and flexible pipe can be immersed in the antiseptic solution.

According to the present invention, this hand-held device comprises the port of export as the end of photocon that is used for laser beam is directed to target surface.According to embodiment; Hand-held device comprises light beam and forms and/or deflection unit; The laser beam that allows like this to be provided by the optical light guides element forms; Specific energy density distribution for example is provided, perhaps is used for the specified point of laser-beam deflection in the target area perhaps is used for the mobile patent that in the target area, provides specific.Be transmitted into the terminal laser beam of photocon and get into light beam formation and/or deflection unit, handle accordingly therein, and leave hand-held device via the port of export.

For the possibility that promotes to treat, hand-held device also comprises sonic transducer, particularly ultrasonic transducer.Thereby laser is mainly operated through generation high temperature pulse and ablator in the target area.Have available sonic transducer at the hand-held device place, this sonic transducer is directed to the for example tip of the port of export with the acoustic impluse that produces via guiding part, together is provided for the mechanical energy of ablator with the thermal ablation of being undertaken by laser.The laser part can be used for key area, and in this key area, tissue around must not damaging and ultrasonic wave part can be used for the high speed of less key area and remove.

For some application; It is useful having a plurality of available light beams in the target area; Therefore according to an embodiment, hand-held device comprises the photocon cutting unit, in a plurality of laser beams of laser beam feed-in that this photocon cutting unit provides solid-state laser via the optical light guides element.For example, this can realize through splicing optical light guides element, diffraction optical device, lenticule optics, scalariform speculum, compound parabolic concentrator or reverse many optical fiber-concentrator of using.Another advantage of this embodiment is, the medium in laser target approach zone changes on the interface therein, because the luminous energy of a large amount can produce hollow bubble, has the available horsepower density that has reduced at the place, target area.This laser beam is divided into a plurality of laser beams, has reduced the power density of each laser beam, therefore reduced the chance that produces these hollow bubbles.As a result, do not have energy dissipation unwanted hollow in, and more energy is directed into the target area.

Because the target area that will treat is all quite little usually, the optical evaluation that treatment is handled that is therefore undertaken by the operator is difficulty quite, and therefore according to another embodiment, hand-held device comprises the optical imagery parts.These optical imagery parts can be imaging sensors (such as the CCD camera) for example, and it is arranged in around the port of export or in this port of export, the definite object zone.Can also have an optical light guides element; Its definite object zone also is sent to image the image-capture portion part that is arranged in the hand-held device or in the housing; Wherein, For the latter, flexible pipe has also comprised another photocon, and this photocon is used for the image that obtains is transferred to housing from hand-held device.In another embodiment, can in hand-held device, arrange two optical imagery parts, thereby allow the target area is carried out three-dimensional Attach Title (stereographic captioning) and the 3D rendering of target area is provided for the operator of therapeutic system.Another embodiment can be that hand-held device, the especially port of export comprise the illuminace component that is used for the illumination target zone.

According to another embodiment, hand-held device comprises radio frequency sending set, the radio frequency in it preferably launches from 50kHz to the 5MHz scope.Use this embodiment, can further treat, because can select radio frequency target material is penetrated the degree of depth of expectation.Preferably, radio frequency sending set is tunable, thereby makes the specific radio frequency of optimizing of application can be sent to the target area.In addition, radio frequency sending set comprises antenna element, and it is used for radio frequency is directed to the tissue of the treatment of correspondingly will ablating.Laser component can be used for key area, and in this key area, tissue around must not damaging and radio frequency part can be used for the high speed in less critical tissue zone and remove.

In order to give the various devices power supplies in the hand-held device, flexible pipe comprises power supply in the housing provides power cable from electric energy to hand-held device.

In order to control to the target area emission of lasering beam, it is favourable that flexible pipe comprises at least one data line, and this data line for example is connected control unit with control unit with hand-held device with housing.Be implemented in control unit in the hand-held device to carry out user interactions,, be used to control the operation of laser especially for the user provides control ability.Control unit in housing receives the order from the control unit in the hand-held device, and operate lasers correspondingly.Data line has the advantage that under the situation that does not need a large amount of independent control lines, can send the order of various quantity.

The optical light guides element can be used as the single fiber light guide element and realizes; Its advantage is; Whole luminous energy of laser beam all transmit in a single fiber, make laser beam be coupled in the optical fiber and receive laser beam from optical fiber like this and become easily, are used for laser beam is directed to target surface.

According to another embodiment; The optical light guides element realizes that as many fibre-optic light guides element its advantage is that the energy density in each single fiber reduces; Thereby the optical stresses of fiber optic materials is reduced, therefore because the chance minimizing that unnecessary luminous energy causes to the damage of optical fiber.In addition, owing to launch less luminous energy to the target area, reduce so produce the risk of hollow bubble from each optical fiber.Each single fiber can have identical functions, and laser beam is transferred to hand-held device from solid-state laser, and perhaps each optics can be configured to carry out various tasks.For example, the optical fiber of many fiber optics photocon can be used for illumination purposes, and another optical fiber can be used for sensing or problem analysis, because its image with the target area is transferred to the analysis module in the housing.In each optical fiber each can be processed by identical materials, in one embodiment, for each optical fiber, can use material different.Its advantage is, can use different wavelengths, and wherein the selective optical material thinks that each wavelength provides best optical transmission.Therefore; Can have a solid-state laser; It can be tuned to emission different wavelength of laser bundle, perhaps, can have a plurality of solid-state lasers; Each solid-state laser emission certain wavelengths, perhaps semiconductor laser or even can be arranged in the housing and their laser beam is coupled in a plurality of independently optical fiber such as the light source of light-emitting diode.Use different wavelengths to have such advantage,, therefore can handle more material because wavelength must be adjusted to the material that will handle.

As used herein, term " optical fiber " refers to the optical waveguide of any kind, and it can or be directed to output with light from the incident end at a plurality of wavelength at one, and wherein path of navigation needs not to be straight.Example is fiberoptics device, doughnut optics, hinged handel (articulated mirror arm).Especially; Optical fiber can be arranged in the flexible pipe; Allow the transmission of the light of the long distance under the situation that does not have thing entering laser beam and the impaired danger of possibility like this, the transmission of especially high-power laser is because this can be used for free aerial transmission of laser beam.

The main purpose of the port of export is to make laser beam to leave the optical light guides element to be directed into target surface and therefore to leave hand-held device.According to aforesaid embodiment, flexible pipe can comprise the supply lines of Duoing than optical light guides element only, and therefore, another embodiment is that the port of export comprises the outlet opening that is connected to pipeline.Therefore, the various supply lines that are arranged in the flexible pipe are provided with the direct outlet at the port of export place of hand-held device, therefore with the target area direct neighbor.

Use according to treatment, advantageously when the photocon end be arranged at least in part outlet opening on every side the time.If for example outlet opening is connected to provide and has the pipeline of negative to the gas-pressurized of pressure, the emitted laser bundle is from the target surface ablator so, and this material is inhaled into outlet opening and via the refuse storehouse of pipeline transmission in the housing then.On the other hand, if the liquid that pipeline supply will be washed away by the material of laser beam ablation also can be useful.

Wherein the embodiment that is arranged at least in part around the photocon end of outlet opening has such advantage, for example, can around laser beam, realize controlled atmosphere and environment, thereby remove any free oxygen from the target area.When the high-energy light pulse when the port of export is transmitted into the free air, ionising effects can take place, thereby in the target area, produces unwanted product.This can be avoided through using inert gas to hide the target area.

One object of the present invention comes further to be able to solve through a kind of therapeutic system, and this therapeutic system comprises the hand-held device that has according to solid-state laser of the present invention, comprise and be used for to the table-top unit of the power supply of hand-held device especially solid-state laser power supply and the flexible pipe that hand-held device is connected with table-top unit.Because the present invention uses the low gain laser material, solid-state laser produces a large amount of unnecessary heat when producing laser beam, for fear of the damage to laser, must said heat be removed from solid-state laser.Therefore, solid-state laser comprises cooling unit, and according to the present invention, this cooling unit is implemented as the chamber.Cooling chamber is connected to the coolant circulation system in the table-top unit via two cooling fluid transfer tubes that are arranged in the flexible pipe.The solid-state laser that this embodiment allows to have high energy laser beam output is disposed in the hand-held device, and unnecessary heat is transferred to table-top unit from the hand-held device removal and with it, in this table-top unit, can arrange cooling system efficiently.Solid-state laser also comprises the control unit that is used for electricity driving solid-state laser, and according to the present invention, this control unit comprises a high current capacity buffer, and this high current capacity buffer is used for enough electric currents being provided so that the exciting laser emission to pumping source.This current buffer and heat circulating system provide the therapeutic system based on laser, and this therapeutic system can provide the high-intensity laser beam with high operation cycle in long-time section.Contact window must be sent to target surface with laser beam, through directly contact, perhaps can be arranged near the contact window with respect to target surface usually.After carrying out the treatment task, especially when carrying out biological sample of task, therapeutic system and especially contact window be cleaning thoroughly, especially must carry out and sterilize.Therefore contact window must resist such chemical treatment, and therefore is implemented as the for example fluoropolymer of MFA, PFA or FEP.

The object of the invention comes further to be able to solve through another embodiment of therapeutic system, and this therapeutic system only comprises hand-held device, and wherein hand-held device comprises energy storage member, and wherein cooling unit is implemented as solid-state cooling device.For hand-held device, usually high operation duty ratio need be provided, do not need the operation of long-time continuous yet.Therefore, it is just enough that the passive cooled unit is attached to solid-state laser, and the heat of this cooling unit absorbing redundant is also removed it from laser device, this device is remained under the normal operating parameter.Because the repetition rate of this treatment operation is less than the operation based on the system of table-top unit, so accumulator can be the rechargeable battery such as lithium rechargeable battery.

Optical path is laser beam is limited from the parts that solid-state laser is directed to contact window and correspondingly is directed to target surface.This optical path is the part for the key of the proper handling of therapeutic system, because any interference in light path all can directly influence the quality of emitted laser bundle.Therefore be important with respect to this light path of surrounding environment sealing, especially outside with dust and moisture seal.Since the wavelength of laser beam preferably by be tuned to the absorption peak of water ion, therefore any moisture in light path all can make laser beam to this moisture reaction, and therefore optical path is warmed up and reduce the intensity power of emitted laser.Through light path is used gas-tight silo and used O type ring as sealing device, can reduce or eliminate the gap in the optical path.The parts of making solid-state laser are to provide the gap less than 2 μ m between each parts.The overall optical optical path is sealed to resist the relative pressure of 0.5 crust securely at least.

According to another embodiment, in hand-held device, arrange switch unit and at least two high current capacity buffers.During operation, current buffer charged in a certain amount of time, and in the very short time period, discharged, and with to the pumping source power supply, thereby produced pump light.Arrange that in hand-held device two high current buffers allow a current buffer charging, and another buffer is used to produce pump light.Switch unit is carried out the task of high current buffer being connected to pumping source or charge power supply.This embodiment allows the higher operating rate to therapeutic system.

For configuration and the processing ease that makes therapeutic system, further advantageously comprise user interface when (user interface comprises display unit and input unit) when hand-held device.Therefore the user of hand-held device has and directly is arranged in the independent configuration on the hand-held device and controls possibility; And, therefore has the ability of control treatment under the situation of interference treatment process not on hand-held device because all process information can obtain with the control possibility.

Because area for treatment is rather narrow usually, so Direct observation often is impossible, advantageously when hand-held device comprises image acquisition and analytic unit.Allow to collect image like this, handle image and to the user image is provided through for example display unit, thus user object observing zone better, correspondingly in the hit the mark place on surface of laser beam.In another embodiment, can collect stereo-picture, 3D rendering to be provided to the user.

Can have such advantage from the hand-held device of table-top unit dismounting, that is, for example, each hand-held device with solid-state laser of operating at different wave length can be connected with table-top unit, so that make up therapeutic system.This embodiment also has such advantage, that is, and and with respect to the replacing of the solid-state laser in the hand-held device or other parts; Correspondingly safeguard; Be simplified manyly,, correspondingly can dismantle from flexible pipe because hand-held device can be dismantled from table-top unit; And new or another hand-held device is attached to table-top unit, correspondingly is attached to flexible pipe.Between the operating period of plan, solid-state laser (correspondingly being gain medium or laser diode) may take place be damaged perhaps its operating parameter deterioration.Because the strong construction of solid-state laser; Can dismantle hand-held device from table-top unit or flexible pipe with solid-state laser; And resist and stay in standard and transport under the situation of the harsh processing in the process not taking care solid-state laser especially, with its service of being transported to and maintenance unit.The user can have two hand-held devices in the treatment place, when first device must be sent to when safeguarding, and a use, another is as renewal part.For Optical Maser System before, maintenance is quite difficult task, because often need interruption use and technical staff must carry out maintenance task at the scene.

According to another advantageous embodiments, transparency cover can be dismantled from hand-held device, and the part that allows so directly to contact with the material that will handle is removed and for example abandoned or thoroughly clean from device.The pollution of the material that lid may be ablated when ablator must be cleaned before using next time up hill and dale.When human body was organized, this point was even more important, and wherein must avoid diffuse.Therefore, detachable cover has reduced carries out thorough need for cleaning to whole hand-held device, especially can use disposable use lid.

Unnecessary when hot when dissipating from solid-state laser through solid-state cooling unit, the cooling of free-pouring air is unaccommodated, because it can not remove unnecessary heat in available time quantum.Therefore; Use phase to change material; For example paraffin, fluoride, carbonate, chloride, hydroxide, nitrate, salt nitrate, sugar alcohol, aliphatic acid, chlatrate, metal are (for example; Gallium), the mixture of the material of metal alloy, above-mentioned material and raising heat conductivity (for example graphite, polymer, metal, semiconductor, pottery, crystalline material, diamond-copper, carborundum, graphitic carbon); Owing to change the state of material, for example from solid-state to liquid state or from the liquid state to the gaseous state, can absorb a large amount of heat energy and through the long time period with the energy dissipation of storage to external environment condition.This most preferably has the material that reversible phase changes, because will allow repeatedly to use.

Description of drawings

Through with reference to accompanying drawing, those skilled in the art can have better understanding and recognize its advantage the present invention.Although accompanying drawing shows some details of some embodiment, the present invention disclosed herein is not limited in the embodiment that illustrates.

Fig. 1 has described the view of the solid-state laser of monolithic profile pump;

Fig. 1 a, 1b, 1c have described the embodiment of the end face of gain medium;

Fig. 1 d, 1e have described to comprise the embodiment of the laser chamber of q switch;

Fig. 2 has described to have the symmetry cooling solid-state laser of pump-coupling optical coupling;

Fig. 2 a has described another and has had the symmetry cooling solid-state laser of pump-coupling optical coupling;

Fig. 3 has described to have the symmetry cooling solid-state laser of indirect pump light coupling;

Fig. 4 has described the liquid cooled laser of radial symmetric;

Fig. 5 has described to comprise the symmetry cooling solid-state laser with pump-coupling optical coupling of two pump light sources;

Fig. 6 has described the cross-sectional view of the example of the layout of laser rods in radiator;

Fig. 7 has described the cross-sectional view of another example of the layout of laser rods in radiator;

Fig. 8 has schematically described the path to the laser beam of the layout of Fig. 7 according to Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 has schematically described the whole paths to the laser beam of the layout of Fig. 7 according to Fig. 2;

Figure 10 has described the energy density of emitted laser bundle;

Figure 11 a has described the average optical power output as the function of the electric current that passes through diode laser or semiconductor laser;

Figure 11 b has described the average optical power output as the function of repetition rate;

Figure 12 has described the energy intensity of emitted laser bundle, and its laser rods is a liquid cooled;

Figure 13 has described the energy density of another emitted laser bundle;

Figure 14 has described along the cross-sectional view of the heat radiation side pumped solid-state laser of the line B-B of Figure 15;

Figure 15 has described the cross-sectional view along line A-A according to the laser of Figure 14;

Figure 16 has described the view of the solid-state laser of accurate monolithic profile pump;

Figure 17 has described to drive the electric current of pumping semiconductor laser and the time diagram of emitted laser;

Figure 18 has described to drive the electric current of pumping semiconductor laser and another time diagram of emitted laser;

Figure 19 has described to drive electric current and the emitted laser of pumping semiconductor laser making another time diagram of laser in the CW mode;

Figure 20 has described the absorption coefficient as the Er:YAG material of the function of wavelength;

Figure 21 has described to be equipped with the solid-state laser of the monolithic of lens at the back;

Figure 22 has described to be equipped with the solid-state laser of the monolithic of optical fiber at the back;

Embodiment

To carry out detailed commentary to specific embodiment of the present invention now, example of the present invention is shown in the drawings.Whenever and wherever possible, identical or similar part is used identical or similar Reference numeral in accompanying drawing and this description.Should be noted that accompanying drawing is the form of simplifying, is not accurate yardstick.With regard to the disclosure among this paper, purpose for convenience and clearly only, to accompanying drawing user tropism term, for example top, the end, left and right, upper and lower, on, top, below, under, rear and the place ahead.Such directional terminology should not be interpreted as the scope of the present invention that limits by any way.

As used herein, term " conduction-type cooler " or " cooler " are meant and include but not limited to that heat energy transmission medium (for example, liquid, gas, solid-state material), heat diffuser are (for example, such as the metal of copper, gold, aluminium etc. or its alloy; Pottery such as beryllium oxide, aluminium nitride, aluminium oxide, zirconia etc.; Crystalline material such as diamond, sapphire, carborundum) or the thermal energy storage buffer element.Especially, the liquid heat energy transmission medium can be circulation, motion or static liquid, and it is for pump light partially transparent at least.The liquid heat energy transmission medium can be for example water, water-ethylene glycol mixture, ethanol or other heat-transfer fluid, for example Solvay Solexis Galden ^TMHT200.Galden ^TMIt is the trade mark of Solvay Solexis company.The conduction-type cooler of another kind of type can be the heat-conduction liquid such as liquid metals and liquid metals alloy, for example gallium or liquid metals alloy or mixture perhaps for example can from German Geratherm buy and corrosivity than the liquid metals alloy of little being called of pure gallium .The conduction-type cooler of another kind of type can be by graphite, indium or other metal heat conduction paper tinsel, itself in addition can be used for crystal is welded to cooler.

As used herein, term " reflector " is meant and includes but not limited to fully or partly or the surface of diffusion ground reflection or backscattered light.Total reflection surface can be the metal surface of polishing, and it is coated with for example gold, silver, aluminium, platinum or even dielectric coating.Another kind of total reflection surface can be processed by the crystalline material that is coated with such as the dielectric coating of optical lasers speculum.Partial reflection or diffuse reflector can be the transparent materials of rough surface or part pump light, and it can diffusion and reverberation, sandblast gold plating surface for example, and it goes back light scattering more, rather than directly light is reflected back.The reflector of another kind of type can be a ceramic material, and it is absorbing light partly, but reflects most light with the mode rather than the reflection way of scattering.The reflector of another kind of type can be processed by a kind of plastic material that is called

.The reflector of another kind of type can be the heat-conduction liquid such as liquid metals and liquid metals alloy, for example gallium perhaps for example can from German Geratherm buy and corrosivity than the liquid metals alloy of little being called of pure gallium .The reflector of another kind of type can be by indium or other metal reflection foil, itself in addition can be used for crystal is welded to cooler.

As used herein, term " speculum " or " laser mirror " are meant and include but not limited to catoptrical whole or in part surface or substrate.Such substrate can be the polished silicon wafer of metal or crystalline material (for example, YAG, sapphire, vitreous silica ...), and wherein the surface of partial reflection is realized by metal coating (for example, gold, silver, aluminium, platinum) or dielectric coating at least.Another kind has the laser mirror on partial reflection surface and can be processed by the substrate that the crystalline material that is coated with dielectric coating is processed.Therefore this substrate can diffusion-bonded to laser crystal as the type of atomic level, use inseparable part bonding or interconnection technique usually.

Because usually the speculum of high reflection can not 100% reverberation, therefore this side at laser also always has laser output.Reflectivity is more little, and is high more in the laser power of high reflection side.Laser and the concrete Optical Maser System that combines to cause having power output much at one part, high reflector in both sides.

Laser mirror can also be processed by the metal or the dielectric coating that are applied directly on the working-laser material.This laser mirror is the emission wavelength of the expectation of reflector laser active material at least in part.If reflectivity is about more than 99%, laser mirror is called high reflector (HR) so.If reflectivity is lower than 99%, perhaps, say on the contrary that if leave the chamber more than 1% laser, laser mirror is called output coupler (OC) so.Optical coating, especially dielectric coating deposit through PVD (physical vapour deposition (PVD)) or the technological mode with multilayer of CVD (chemical vapour deposition (CVD)).Especially; PVD is widely used for the optics overlay, and these technology difference between EBS or EBC (electron beam transpiration or electron beam apply), magnetron sputtering, IBS (ion beam sputtering), IAP (ion is auxiliary to be electroplated), IP or RLVIP (ion plating or reaction low-voltage ion are electroplated), MBE (molecular beam epitaxy), MOCVD (metal organic chemical vapor deposition), MOVPE (Organometallic Chemistry vapour phase epitaxy) wait.Coating should not contain absorbing wavelength well 1700 and 3200nm between the material (for example, OH-key) of laser.Another reason of damaging speculum is in the layer of such speculum, to absorb laser.Therefore, use the low absorbing layer materials in the wave-length coverage of expectation, for example TiO ₂, Ta ₂O ₂, HfO ₂, Nb ₂O ₅, Al ₂O ₃, SiO ₂, be favourable.For concrete application, use by metal and/or oxide-metal combinations (for example Si and SiO ₂, thorium fluoride and zinc selenide) a plurality of coatings of constituting or in a coating, to use several kinds of combinations of different materials be favourable.For example, the combination of low-down absorbing material can be used to have the part of the speculum of high luminous power, but these materials are subject to the quantity corresponding to the layer of reflectivity sometimes.In order further to improve reflectivity, can add combination of materials to top that luminous power has reduced, this combination of materials can be grown into a large amount of number of plies corresponding to reflectivity, and has small absorptivity.The combination of such material allows to produce the speculum that for example has very high damaging thresholding and very high reflectivity.Preferably, every layer of absorptivity that has less than 2% of such layer material, especially every layer less than 0.5%, and most preferably every layer less than 0.1%.Therefore, coating not should by absorbing wavelength well 1700 and 3200nm between the material of laser process.The main distinction that applies between handling is sedimentary energy.If it is low-yield that the material of deposition has, at least one overlay can comprise micropore or aperture so.The hole produces the layer that lower packing density (volume of the solid in the layer and the ratio of the cumulative volume of layer) causes less density.The layer packing density of layer that typically is used for less density is in 0.75 scope between less than 0.9.The environmental stability of the layer of less density is lower, and when layer being exposed to moisture following time, micropore is filled up by water the most at last.In optical maser wavelength in infrared absorbed consumingly by water, therefore the water in micropore can evaporate and damaged layer, correspondingly damages laser mirror.Therefore, preferably should in the Optical Maser System among the MIR (in infrared), only use by having packing density greater than 0.90 or even the laser mirror that constitutes greater than 0.99 layer.Such high-density layer can use IBS (ion beam sputtering), IAP (ion is auxiliary to be electroplated) deposition techniques overlay to realize.In most preferred embodiment, deposition materials has and causes packing density greater than 1.05 or 1.10 high-energy.The layer of also claiming such VHD of ultra density layer can use IP (ion plating), RLVIP (the reaction low-voltage ion is electroplated) or MBE (molecular beam epitaxy) deposition techniques overlay to realize.

As used herein, density layer refers to have greater than 0.9, is preferably more than 0.95 and more preferably greater than the layer of 0.99 packing density.Most preferred density layer has the packing density greater than 1.05 or 1.1.

As used herein; Semiconductor laser or diode laser or laser diode refer to; Include but not limited to laser diode, diode laser matrix, VCSEL (Vcsel), VECSEL (vertical external cavity surface emitting laser), lead salt laser, quantum dot laser, ion trap laser, ion cascaded laser, semiconductor loop laser, mixing silicon laser.As used herein, term " low gain material " or " low gain working-laser material " refer to have the stimulated emission cross section that is equal to or less than Er:YAG (promptly＜=3.0*10 ^-20Cm ²) the gain material/laser active material/laser active medium/gain medium of stimulated emission cross section.Example includes but not limited to:

-Er:YAG (er-doped YAG laser crystal main body) ... 2.6～3.0*10 ^-20Cm ²

-Er:YSGG (er-doped YSGG laser crystal main body) ... 6.5*10 ^-21Cm ²

-Er:YLF (er-doped YLF Lasers crystalline body) ... 12.5*10 ^-21Cm ²

-Cr, Er:YSGG (mixing chromium-erbium YSGG) ... 5.2*10 ^-21Cm ²

-Ho:YAG (mixing holmium YAG laser crystal main body) ... 1.2*10 ^-20Cm ²

-Ho:YLF (mixing holmium YLF Lasers crystalline body) ... 1.47*10 ^-20Cm ²

-CTH:YAG or Cr:Tm:Ho:YAG (mixing chromium-thulium-holmium YAG laser crystal main body) ... 7*10 ^-21Cm ²

-Ho:Tm:Er:YLF (mixing holmium-thulium-erbium YLF Lasers crystalline body) ... 1.8*10 ^-21Cm ²

-Tm:YAG (mixing thulium YAG laser crystal main body) ... 1.5～2.5*10 ^-21Cm ²

-Tm:YAP (mixing thulium YAP laser crystal main body) ... 5.0～6.0*10 ^-21Cm ²

-Ho:Tm:YAG (mixing holmium-thulium YAG laser crystal main body) ... 9*10 ^-21Cm ²

-Tm:Ho:YLF (mixing thulium-holmium YLF Lasers crystalline body) ... 5*10 ^-21Cm ²

Relevant laser crystal material of main part for example is

-YAG (yttrium-aluminium-garnet)

-YSAG (yttrium scandium aluminium garnet)

-YSGG (yttrium scandium gallium garnet)

-YGG (yttrium gallium garnet)

-GdVO (vanadic acid gadolinium)

-GGG (Gd-Ga garnet)

-GSAG (gadolinium scandium aluminium garnet)

-GSGG (gadolinium scandium gallium garnet)

-LLGG (lanthanum lutetium Ga garnet)

-YAP (yttrium aluminium perovskite)

-YLF (YLF)

-BYF (barium yttrium fluoride)

-ceramic crystal main body, for example YAG, Lu ₂O ₃, Sc ₂O ₃And Y ₂O ₃

Fig. 1 shows the solid-state laser 1 of the monolithic profile pump that uses with embodiments of the invention.Basic laser framework is expressly simplified.Laser 1 comprises gain medium 2, preferably Er:YAG.Laser resonator 3 is formed by the end face 4 of en-block construction, and this en-block construction has output coupler (OC) the laser mirror 4b on high reflector (HR) laser mirror 4a that directly is deposited on the gain media 2 and the opposite end that directly is deposited on gain media 2.The reflectivity of output coupler 4b most preferably in the scope between 92.5% and 99%, this means that about laser of 1% to 7.5% has left gain media 2 through output coupler 4b.Gain media 2 by pumping source 5 in the pumping of pump face 2a upper side.Pumping source 5 comprises at least one semiconductor laser, preferably the diode laser array of emission of lasering beam 5a.Laser resonator 3 has the diameter that is less than or equal to 3mm, therefore has approximately less than 7.5mm ²Cross-sectional area.

Disclosed profile pump solid-state laser 1 is average resonator in Fig. 1; Be also referred to as plane planar resonant device; Its implication is that end face is orthogonal to optical axis L (with respect to the angle that becomes 90 ° with optical axis L; Deviation is equal to or less than 0.05 °), this resonator comprises the laser mirror 4b of the high reflectance laser mirror 4a and the part transmission of output coupling, and this output coupled laser speculum 4b has the transmissivity between 1% to 7.5%.For some application, can between laser rods and laser mirror, introduce element 11 in the chamber, such as electric light that is used for Q switching or acoustooptic cell, perhaps be used for the etalon of wavelength tuning.Saturable absorber or bleachable absorber or SESAM also go for Q switching.Saturable absorber can serve as transmission or reflecting element.Saturable absorber can be by a kind of the processing in the material of main part of mentioning here, and can be doped with for example rare earth element.The all right directly diffusion-bonded of saturable absorber is to laser active gain material.Laser 1 can be below for example one of operator scheme in the gain that obtains of emitted energy: CW, the accurate CW operation through pump diode laser switch, perhaps mean the pulse mode of pumping modulation.Fig. 1 discloses the gain media 2 with planar end surface 4, and said planar end surface 4 is covered by flat reflectivity laser mirror 4a and output coupled laser speculum 4b.In another advantageous embodiments; At least one end face 4 can have the shape of convexity, depression, aspheric surface convexity or aspheric surface depression; The flat surfaces that has the angle (being so-called wedge shape) between 89.7 °-90.3 ° perhaps or even with respect to optical axis L (laser output shaft); With the very slight asymmetric or thermal lens problem of compensation, thereby the reflectivity laser mirror 4a that directly is deposited on the end face 4 adopts the shape of end face 4 separately with output coupled laser speculum 4b.Such laser mirror 4a, 4b at the two ends of laser resonator 3 allows beam-shaping or allows the adjustment thermal lens.Because very short laser chamber uses raised or sunken end face in the laser gain material manufacture, to need high accuracy.A critical nature of such curved end face is need be with respect to the centrality that is equal to or less than the angle that 3 arcs divide of optical axis L.Gain medium 2 most preferably is made up of low gain laser active material.

Disclosed solid-state laser 1 can also comprise the q switch that places the chamber outside in Fig. 1.It can place on the output coupler and serve as extra reflecting surface to improve endovenous laser power; Up to since the bleaching (for example; Saturable absorber or SESAM) and the q switch is switched, perhaps activation q switch and reflectivity go back to the laser that gets into output coupling light total transmissivity from the total reflection of output coupling light energetically via control assembly.

Disclosed solid-state laser 1 also comprises cooling in Fig. 1, and it is not shown specifically.The example that cooling is arranged for example discloses in Fig. 7 at Fig. 2.

Disclosed embodiment has such advantage in Fig. 1, that is, the minor diameter of circular gain medium is less than or equal to 3mm, and corresponding cross-sectional area is approximately less than 7.5mm ², it allows the pump light 5a of the pumping source 5 in the gain medium 2 to have uniform high strength more or less, thereby makes lasing uniform high strength in gain medium 2.In addition, the higher relatively reflectivity of the output coupler 4a in the scope between 92.5% and 99% allows effective real estate to give birth to high-intensity outgoing laser beam B.In addition, be that two end faces, 4 cremasteric reflex coating 4a, 4b have reduced the loss of laser at end face 4 places, this also has contribution to high-intensity laser beam B.All measure combinations allow to set up can launch the diode side pumped solid-state laser of high-quality laser beam, and it can focus on about 1W/mm ²With 10 ⁸W/mm ²Between scope in intensity.Therefore, solid-state laser 1 according to the present invention shows high efficiency, thus the power that makes the moderate pump power of pumping source 5 enough produce to have expectation and the laser beam B of quality.In Fig. 1, the cross section of gain medium 2 is circular.The cross section of gain medium 2 can have other shape, such as rectangle, triangle, polygon or square.

Fig. 1 a at length shows gain medium 2, and shows on the right side end face 4 that is covered by the polishing metal piece or the surperficial 4c that are combined on the end face 4, and forms high reflection (HR) laser mirror 4a thus.Left end face 4 is applied by the substrate 4d such as metal level or semiconductor layer, thereby forms output coupler (OC) laser mirror 4b.

Fig. 1 b at length shows another embodiment of the gain medium 2 with laser mirror 4a and 4b, and laser mirror 4a and 4b comprise the crystal structure 4e that is applied by the substrate 4d such as metal level or semiconductor layer.Crystal structure 4e is bonded on the end face 4.Crystal structure 4e can serve as stress and reduce element to improve the stable of emission laser and to reduce the thermal lens effect, and it is having contribution to high laser stability in working range widely.Crystal structure 4e can also contrast the more stable optical coating of optical coating that directly is deposited on the crystal has contribution, therefore often owing to thermal overload is damaged.

Fig. 1 c at length shows another embodiment of the gain medium 2 with laser mirror 4a and 4b, and laser mirror 4a and 4b are made up of the substrate 4d such as metal level or semiconductor layer that is coated on the end face 4. Such laser mirror 4a and 4b are attached to the end face 4 of gain medium 2, thereby form the high reflector laser speculum 4b corresponding to laser mirror 4a, with reflector laser B at least in part.

Fig. 1 d illustrates the embodiment that comprises q switch or saturable absorber 11.Fig. 1 e illustrates another embodiment that comprises q switch or saturable absorber 11.In the embodiment according to Fig. 1 d and Fig. 1 e, q switch 11 can also be arranged between laser active medium 2 and the output coupler (OC).It also is possible making up certainly to the disclosed embodiment of Fig. 1 e Fig. 1.

Fig. 2 illustrates the advantageous embodiments of the solid-state laser 1 of the monolithic profile pump that comprises the laser crystal that is connected with conduction-type cooler 6 heat conduction ground or gain media 2.Conduction-type cooler 6 also keeps gain media 2.Pumping source 5 is arranged in the side of gain media 2.Reflector 7 is arranged in the opposite side of pumping source 5.Except reflector 7, conduction-type cooler face 6c also can comprise reflection characteristic, for example comprises reflection characteristic through suitable coating, thereby makes cooler face 6c also can be used as reflector.The 2a place gets into gain media 2 and leaves gain media 2 at relative 2b place, side the pump light 5a of pumping source 5 in the side.Depend on the absorption of the laser beam 5a in gain media 2; Outgoing beam 5b (meaning the not part of absorbed laser beam 5 in gain media 2) is from gain media 2 outgoing; Thereby there is not absorbed/remaining pump light 5b to hit reflector 7 and reflection at least in part; Thereby cause reflection lasering beam 5c, this reflection lasering beam 5c gets into gain media 2.Depend on gain media 2 and as the optical characteristics of the pumping source 5 of diode laser, laser beam 5f can or cross gain media 2 in another direction in parallel direction.Fig. 2 discloses the pump-coupling light in the laser crystal 2 has been coupled in laser beam 5a input.Pump light by diode laser 5 emissions is directed into crystal 2 through slit 6e.Slit 6e can also be filled the pump light transparent material, such as YAG (yttrium-aluminium-garnet) or sapphire, therefore helps the heat transfer of symmetry more uniformly, and in addition, it finally makes solid-state laser stable.In addition, this transparent material can be designed as and is used for the pumping optical waveguide, distributes at the inner pump light of laser crystal with further improvement.This embodiment discloses the solid-state laser gain media 2 of cooling symmetrically, and wherein the laser crystal 2 is arranged symmetrically and remained in the cooler 6.In most preferred embodiment; The solid-state laser 1 that comprises the monolithic profile pump of laser resonator composite structure 3 is made up of the gain medium with longitudinal axis L 2; Wherein laser comprises conduction-type cooler 6; This conduction-type cooler 6 comprises the contact-making surface 6c that contacts gain medium 2, thereby contact-making surface 6c with respect to the longitudinal axis L of gain medium 2 most preferably, arrange symmetrically.Most preferably, this embodiment allows cooling laser gain media 2, thereby makes the cooling that has symmetry with respect to longitudinal axis L.A purpose of conduction-type cooler 6 is heat is transferred to unshowned radiator from gain medium 2.Radiator can be the outer surface of conduction-type cooler 6 for example.Conduction-type cooler 6 can also connect with other cooler (such as thermoelectric (al) cooler and/or forced air cooling radiator, perhaps thermoelectric (al) cooler and/or not water cooling system shown in figure 2).Conduction-type cooler 6 is made up of the material that is suitable for transmitting heat, and most preferably, conduction-type cooler 6 is by processing such as the metal of copper or pottery or crystalline material or the another kind of material that is applicable to reflector here mentioned.As disclosed in Fig. 2, conduction-type cooler 6 comprises the next door that is arranged in gain medium 2 and is arranged in the condenser chamber 6d of the opposite side of side 2a.Pump light 5a gets into gain medium 2 through side 2a.Reflector 7 is arranged among the condenser chamber 6d, and this means that also reflector 7 can be the reflecting surface of at least one sidewall of condenser chamber 6d, thereby this sidewall can also coatedly have reflectance coating.Through between gain media 2 and conduction-type cooler 6, adopting hot compound; Such as the heat radiator thickener; Perhaps such as the liquid metals of gallium; The mixture that perhaps contains the liquid metals of one or more solid metallic particles can take further step to improve the heat transfer from gain media 2 to conduction-type cooler 6.

For the laser resonator structure 3 of the monolithic of on the pump light 5a of wide region power, operating, the heat transfer of symmetry is necessary.Laser crystal 2 with the space 6d that is replaced by contact-making surface 6c becomes unstable under high pumping light 5a power, and laser resonator structure 3 stops to produce laser emission.The heat transfer of the symmetry among the embodiment causes the thermal lens of symmetry shown in figure 2, can not make laser resonator structure 3 instabilities like this, and allows on the pump light 5a of wide region power, to produce laser emission.Also can be through the asymmetrical heat transfer of angled end face 4 compensation corresponding to thermal lens, but this has limited the laser resonator structure to the only valid function of a specific pump light 5a power.

Fig. 2 a illustrates another advantageous embodiments of the solid-state laser 1 of the monolithic profile pump that comprises the laser crystal that is connected with conduction-type cooler 6 heat conduction ground or gain media 2.Laser 1 comprises the reflector of relatively arranging with respect to longitudinal axis L and side 2a 7, and reflector 7 is arranged in gain medium 2 next doors just or reflector 7 is arranged on the gain medium 2 just.

Fig. 3 illustrates another embodiment of the solid-state laser 1 of the monolithic profile pump that comprises the laser crystal that is connected with conduction-type cooler 6 heat conduction ground or gain media 2.Pumping source 5 is arranged in the side of gain media 2.Compare with embodiment according to Fig. 2; Embodiment according to Fig. 3 discloses the indirect pump light that laser beam 5a input is coupled to the laser crystal 2, and is wherein, disclosed like Fig. 3; Before getting into gain media 2, at least a portion of laser beam 5a is reflected at the inner surface 6i of cooler 6.Inner surface 6i be cooler 6 be directed to the surface in the gap of gain medium 2 from diode laser 5.The advantage that is used for the longer path of pump light 5 is to mix better/diffusion pump light 5 and to gain media (crystal 2) pumping more uniformly.This path also helps uses the different diode laser 5 with distinct transmit angle, this means and can use the diode laser with high or low brightness.Disclosed exemplary embodiment is symmetrical with respect to plane C in Fig. 3.For example, as disclosed in Fig. 3, the width of the internal clearance 6m of cooler 6 can change, and perhaps, for example, as disclosed among Fig. 2, the width of the internal clearance 6m of cooler 6 can have identical width.

The heat management of cooler 6 and temperature control are the most advantageously provided by air cooling, also possibly use thermoelectric-cooled, but water-cooled can be suitable also.

Fig. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the solid-state laser 1 of the monolithic profile pump that comprises the laser crystal that is connected with cooler 6 heat conduction ground or gain media 2.Gain media 2 on the y direction L by the tubular part 6b of externally plane of crystal 2c and cooler 6 between flowing fluid (particularly water or comprise the cooling fluid of water) surround, tubular part 6b arranges with respect to longitudinal axis L with one heart.In disclosed example, three pumping sources 5 separate with 120 ° with respect to the longitudinal axis L of gain media 2, and arrange along a side of gain media.Each reflector 7 of three correspondences that is arranged in the opposite side of corresponding pumping source 5 is arranged to; Make the pump light 5a of pumping source 5 get into gain media 2; And as the outgoing of the part of pump light 5a, do not have absorbed/remaining pump light 5b to leave gain media 2 with respect to side 2a; From gain media 2 outgoing; Thereby the pump light 5b of outgoing hits reflector 7 and at least in part by reflector 7 reflections, forms the outgoing pump light 5c of reflection, and at least a portion of outgoing pump light 5c gets into gain media 2 once more.Fig. 4 discloses the pump-coupling light in the laser active medium 2 has been coupled in pump light 5a input.This embodiment discloses the gain media 2 of cooling symmetrically; Because the laser crystal 2 is arranged and remains in the cooler 6 symmetrically; Cooler 6 comprises the tubular part 6b that arranges with one heart with respect to laser active medium 2, and the surperficial 2c of tubular part 6b and laser crystal 2 defines the volume that fluid cooling media can flow through.Cooler 6 can also make up as the solid-state hollow tubular member of surrounding gain media 2 by Ei, and preferably directly contacts with gain media 2.Solid-state cooler 6 like this can for example be made up by the metal such as copper.Disclosed embodiment is symmetrical with respect to longitudinal axis L, thus element reflects device 7 arrange with 120 ° angle of correspondence with pumping source 5, but any other layout of angular distribution of symmetry all possibly be useful.

Fig. 5 shows the laser 1 with the embodiment similar design shown in Fig. 2, but it comprises with respect to longitudinal axis L with 90 ° of isolated two diode lasers 5.Laser 1 comprises conduction-type cooler 6, and this conduction-type cooler 6 comprises the contact-making surface 6c that contacts gain medium 2, thereby contact-making surface 6c arranges with respect to the longitudinal axis L of gain medium 2 symmetrically.Contact-making surface 6c can also be used as reflector, and wall 7, the 7a of condenser chamber 6d, especially sidewall 7a.

Fig. 6 shows another laser 1 with the embodiment similar design shown in Fig. 2.Laser 1 comprises conduction-type cooler 6, and this conduction-type cooler 6 comprises the contact-making surface 6c that contacts gain medium 2, thereby contact-making surface 6c arranges with respect to the longitudinal axis L of gain medium 2 symmetrically.Conduction-type cooler 6 comprises a top 6h and two bottom 6g, thereby gain medium 2 is clipped between top 6h and two the bottom 6g.Conduction-type cooler 6 comprises slit 6e, and it allows the light of diode laser 5 to get into gain medium 2.The conduction-type cooler 6 relative with slit 6e comprises condenser chamber 6d, thereby makes contact-making surface 6c arrange symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis L of gain media 2.Condenser chamber 6d comprises reflector 7, with the light of reflection from gain medium 2 outgoing.The sidewall 7a of condenser chamber 6d also can be used as reflector.

Fig. 7 shows another laser 1 with the embodiment similar design shown in Fig. 2.Laser 1 comprises heat conduction formula cooler 6; For example the metal cools device 6; And conduction material 6k is with gain medium 2 and cooler 6 hot links; Thereby make when the light of diode laser 5 is launched into gain medium 2 and heated gain medium 2, between gain medium 2 and cooler 6, produce hot-fluid 6f.Contact-making surface 6c with gain media 2 of conduction material 6k arranges with respect to the longitudinal axis L of gain media 2 symmetrically.

Figure 10 is schematically illustrated corresponding to the Energy distribution by the signal strength signal intensity on x direction and y direction of the gain medium 2 emitted laser bundle B of disclosed laser 1 in Fig. 7.The hot-fluid 6f of symmetry causes oval energy density.An advantage is according to an embodiment of the invention, most preferably, the Temperature Distribution of symmetry is arranged in gain medium 2, is similar to disclosed Energy distribution among Figure 10.More preferably, Temperature Distribution keeps symmetry or roughly symmetrical in the wide region that is input to the power in the gain medium 2 by diode laser 5.This effect through with respect to longitudinal axis L symmetrically cooling laser gain media 2 realize.This arranges that the operating period that allows at laser reduces thermal aberration.Cooling geometry according to symmetry of the present invention has been avoided uncompensated thermal gradient, birefringence and other optical aberration that it causes lensization usually, is caused by stress.Because the cooling geometry of symmetry, laser 1 according to the present invention this effect can not occur.The most advantageously, high power, accurate CW diode array 5 are used to profile pump gain medium 2, are used for being created in the high-peak power pulse of millijoule to the pulse energy zone of joule.Gain medium 2 typically is bar or flat board.Can almost not have during operation according to laser 1 of the present invention to operate in the wide energy range of thermal aberration.Therefore the parts of thermal aberration be need not compensate, thereby cheapness, the reliable laser device of high power laser light caused to provide.

Another kind provides the measure of high performance operation laser device 1 (particularly realizing high strength, high impulse energy and high pulse repetition rate) through disclosing to the following illustrative embodiment shown in Fig. 9 at Fig. 7.Fig. 7 shows the cross-sectional view of the laser device 1 that comprises the laser rods 2 that is arranged in the cooler 6.Contact-making surface 6c with gain media 2 of conduction material 6k arranges with respect to the longitudinal axis L of gain medium 2 symmetrically.Laser 1 is a monolithic solid state laser 1; This monolithic solid state laser 1 comprises like disclosed laser resonator structure 3 among Fig. 1; It has the high reflector 4a of laser on an end face of laser rods 2, and on another end face of laser rods 2, has output coupler 4b.Laser rods 2 materials comprise for example Er:YAG.Laser rods 2 can for example have the diameter of 1mm or 1.4mm or 2mm.Diode laser array 5 has the wavelength in to 815nm or 955nm to the 985nm scope at 760nm.Figure 20 shows the absorption coefficient as the Er:YAG material of the function of wavelength.Be known that the wavelength of selecting diode laser array 5, thereby make its maximum absorbance corresponding to laser active material 2.Another aspect of the present invention is, has been found that such wavelength selects to have the shortcoming that the pump light of diode laser array 5 is absorbed by laser rods 2 to heavens.This causes pump light absorbed effect in the zone of the side 2a in laser rods 2, thereby only has the pump light of the amount of minimizing can get into the center of laser rods 2, and most here electronics should be activated.In order to overcome this effect, have been found that the dominant wavelength of selecting diode laser 5, thereby make the absorption that minimizing takes place in laser rods 2.Based on Figure 20; This can realize through the dominant wavelength of selecting diode laser 5; Thereby make dominant wavelength with respect to the skew of the peak absorbance rate of gain medium 2, the dominant wavelength of diode laser 5 even can be selected at low or even the minimum absorption coefficient place of gain medium 2.Depend on the low gain laser active material of use, the deviation from the pump light wavelength selected to the pump light specific absorption rate peak can change.For example, the wavelength of diode laser 5 can squint up to 15nm with respect to the peak absorbance rate line of gain medium 2, preferably squints up to 10nm, and its Er:YAG that for example uses is about 964nm, is the mean value center in high-absorbility zone.In addition, as disclosed in Fig. 9 at Fig. 7, the pump light of diode laser 5 is realized the uniform illumination to gain medium 2 by advantageously guiding with the light that preferably uses diode laser 5.

The path of pump light 5 is schematically illustrated in Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, and wherein diode laser 5 is launched pump light 5a, and it gets into gain medium 2, and it partly crosses gain medium 2 and leaves gain medium 2 as outgoing pump light 5b.The wavelength of pumping semiconductor laser is for example in the scope between 760nm and 985nm.Outgoing pump light 5b is reflected at reflector 7 places of condenser chamber 6d and is scattered back as the reflected pump light 5c that gets in the gain medium 2 once more; Its biggest ground, partly cross gain medium 2, and even the outgoing pump light 5d that can be used as reflection leave gain medium 2.

For example, 100% of total emitted energy of diode laser 5 can get into gain medium 2, and 64% of total emitted energy can be absorbed in gain medium 2, and total emitted energy 36% leave gain medium 2 as outgoing pump light 5b.Be reflected at reflector 7 places and get into gain medium 2 with the form of reflected pump light 5c, and the about 10% outgoing pump light 5d as reflection of total emitted energy leaves gain medium 2 as about 36% outgoing pump light 5b of total emitted energy.

Disclosed like Fig. 8, diode laser 5 most preferably arranges with respect to longitudinal axis L with reflector 7 by this way, makes in longitudinal axis L and diode laser 5 and the reflector 7 each all have distance B 1, the D2 that equates.In other words, in a preferred embodiment, the equal in length of the light path between the length of the light path between pumping source 5 and the longitudinal axis L and longitudinal axis L and the reflector 7 or about equally.Fig. 9 more clearly discloses the path of the light of diode laser 5, thereby the path of the pump light 5c of reflection gets into gain medium 2 and leaves gain medium 2 as outgoing pump light 5d from the right side that illustrated purpose is illustrated in reflector 7.Pump light 5a by diode laser 5 emission gets into gain medium 2, and the part of pump light 5a as outgoing pump light 5b from gain medium 2 outgoing.Outgoing pump light 5b is in reflector 7 places reflections, thereby makes the pump light 5c of reflection get into gain medium 2 once more, and the part of the pump light 5c of reflection as the outgoing pump light 5d of reflection from gain medium 2 outgoing.In Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 the beam path of disclosed pump light advantage be gain medium 2 preferably equably or roughly illuminated equably.An advantage of such illumination of gain medium 2 is that it allows to realize high power density and preferably also allows very similarly good beam profile of realization and gaussian intensity profile.

In most preferred embodiment; The wavelength of pumping source 5 (being diode laser 5) is selected with respect to the character of gain medium 2; Make pump light 5a 30% (more preferably to 70%; About 50% to 65%) absorbed by gain medium 2, remaining as outgoing pump light 5b from gain medium 2 outgoing.Such wavelength guarantees that gain media 2 is by irradiation equably.Most preferably, the wavelength of pumping source 5 is selected in the scope between the 985nm at 955nm, and wherein the wavelength of pumping source 5 depends on the dopant material of use, thereby makes and can be made at the diode laser 5 of the wavelength emission of needs.If gain media 2 comprises holmium or thulium, most preferably, the wavelength of pumping source 5 is selected in the scope between the 815nm at 760nm.

The most advantageously; Disclosed like Fig. 7; Contact zone 6c and therefore 6 hot-fluid 6f is symmetrical with respect to longitudinal axis L from gain medium 2 to cooler, thus feasible as Fig. 7 to the disclosed light path 5a of Fig. 9,5b, 5c, 5d cause gain medium 2 along longitudinal axis L at the center the hottest effect.This embodiment has such advantage, and it can provide high impulse energy and high power, and the temperature effect that causes owing to the heating to gain medium 2 is minimum.This embodiment has additional advantage, and it allows high-repetition-rate, and this is that the temperature effect that causes owing to the heating to gain medium 2 is little, and owing to this effect causes the effective cooling to gain medium 2.

Figure 11 a illustrates laser power, and it is the average optical power output of conduct through the function of the electric current that is used for different pulse repeating frequency and different pulse length of diode laser 5.The solid-state laser 1 of two same structures is shown as and uses the pulse length of 100 μ s under 500Hz, to operate.The solid-state laser 1 of two same structures is shown as and uses the pulse length of 200 μ s under 250Hz, to operate.The solid-state laser 1 of two same structures is shown as and uses the pulse length of 200 μ s under 500Hz, to operate.The solid-state laser that Figure 11 a also shows two same structures only has very little variation, this means that the variation according to solid-state laser of the present invention with same structure is very little.

Disclosed like Figure 11 b, solid-state laser 1 according to the present invention produces high relatively laser power, and it is the average optical power output in wide repetition rate.Disclosed like Figure 11 b, solid-state laser 1 can from about 100Hz to more than the 1000Hz operation.

The effect of above-mentioned measure of the present invention can be seen among the disclosed zlasing mode figure in Figure 12 and Figure 13, wherein show the energy density of the laser beam B in the plane with direction x and y.Figure 12 shows the energy density of emitted laser bundle B, and laser rods 2 is by water cooling.Figure 13 shows the energy density of emitted laser bundle B, and laser rods 2 is by the layout cooling according to Fig. 2.Effectively the effect of cooling preferably, low repeatability and low heat loads and high-repetition-rate and more high heat load the quality of laser beam B is distorted.Gain medium 2 most preferably is column or oval column.This ellipse column have can balance because such as distortion at for example Fig. 2, Fig. 2 a, Fig. 3 or Fig. 5 laser beam that the conduction-type cooler 6 of disclosed cooler 6 is caused in Fig. 7, thereby make have big in Figure 12 the laser beam B of disclosed energy density can be implemented.

Used the laser crystal 2 that comprises the Er:YAG laser rods to be described according to Fig. 7 to the embodiment mode by way of example of Fig. 9.Can comprise the laser rods of other suitable material at Fig. 1 disclosed all embodiment in Figure 16, to realize and to arrive the described identical or similar effects of Fig. 9 like Fig. 7.Most preferably, gain medium 2 is the low gain materials such as Er:YAG, Er:YSGG, Ho:YAG or Ho:Tm:YAG.

Figure 14 illustrates the cross-sectional view of profile pump solid-state laser 1.Laser 1 is included in fixing gain medium 2 between bottom 6g and the top 6h of cooler 6.Laser 1 also comprises substrate 61.The array of diode laser 5 is arranged along the gain medium 2 that is used for its pumping.The array of semiconductor laser 5 is fixed on the plate 6n such as printed circuit board (PCB).Disclosed like Figure 14, gain medium 2 most preferably has free end 2d, and it is not arranged in the cooler 6, thus the preferably about 1mm of the length of the free end 2d on longitudinal axis L direction.Free end 2d serves as stress and reduces element to improve the stable of emission laser and to reduce thermal lensing effect, and this causes the high laser stability in wide working range again.Most preferably, disclosed all embodiment comprise the free end 2d as disclosed among Figure 14 in Fig. 2, Fig. 2 a, Fig. 3, Fig. 5, Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, and this free end preferably has the length of about 1mm.Figure 15 illustrates another cross-sectional view A-A according to the embodiment that gain medium 2 is shown of Figure 14, and it has the shape of bar, and it is fixed between the bottom 6g and top 6h of cooler 6.Pumping source 5 (diode laser array) is arranged in gain medium 2 next doors.

Figure 16 illustrates the laser resonator structure 3 that comprises gain medium 2, pumping source 5, output coupler 4b and the high reflector 4a of separated laser.If be arranged on one of the end face of main medium 2 disclosed total reflector laser speculum 4a becomes too hot owing to high intracavity power in Fig. 1 a the time; Possibly need such embodiment; Thereby make and do not use the reflector laser speculum 4a that is arranged on one of end face, and be to use separated reflector laser speculum 4a.

Figure 17 shows pump light 5 (following curve) and emitted laser bundle B (top curve) and time relation.Pump light 5 is with the gain medium 2 of gain medium 2 pumpings to emission of lasering beam B.In disclosed example, in case gain medium 2 emission of lasering beam B, pump light 5 just stops, and this causes the very short laser pulse between 1 to the 5 μ s pulse length.Thereby can make gain medium 2 during the longer time period, realized longer pulse by pumping through prolonging pump light 5, this causes the longer pulse of laser B.Figure 18 shows pump light 5 in the longer time period (below curve) and emitted laser bundle B (above curve) and time relation.For example, pump light 5 can be launched as Figure 18 is disclosed regularly, thereby makes laser pulse B launch regularly.Figure 19 shows corresponding to the pump light 5 (following curve) that drives pump diode 5 with at CW pattern (continuous wave mode) another time diagram of the electric current of operate lasers and emitted laser down.

Figure 21 illustrates the end view of monolithic solid state laser 1, and wherein laser beam B is by lens 8a, 8b expansion and focusing, so that laser beam B is focused on the target 10.Figure 22 illustrates the end view of monolithic solid state laser 1, and wherein laser beam B is by lens 8a, 8b expansion and focusing, so that laser beam B is focused in the optical fiber 9.In a preferred embodiment, the diameter of optical fiber 9 in the scope of 250 μ m, most preferably is less than or equal to 200 μ m at 100 μ m, and in a preferred embodiment, the laser beam B that enters into optical fiber 9 has the diameter that is less than or equal to 100 μ m.Other lens can be disposed in after the exit end place or exit end of optical fiber 9.Have less than 7.5mm ²The advantage according to gain medium 2 of the present invention of cross-sectional area be that outgoing laser beam B can be focused the diameter that is less than or equal to 100 μ m.Known gain medium 2 have 3.5mm or even bigger diameter, this causes the laser beam B of such gain medium 2 can only focus on the problem of the diameter of about 400 μ m, thereby does not allow to produce high-intensity laser beam.In addition, need diameter at the optical fiber 9 of 300 μ m in the scope of 500 μ m.Therefore, be, can launch high-intensity laser beam B according to the advantage of solid-state laser 1 of the present invention, and because the minor diameter of laser beam, can use diameter is the little optical fiber that for example is less than or equal to 200 μ m.Therefore high-intensity relatively laser beam B can be passed through optical fiber 9.

In a preferred embodiment, especially, according to the wavelength of laser 1 of the present invention between 1700nm and 3200nm.Most preferably, use the wavelength of about 2950nm, this is because this wavelength is the main local maximum in the water absorption spectrum in MIR (in the infrared) scope.Another water absorption peak is arranged, but this wavelength does not give over to treatment or ablation vital tissues in ultraviolet ray range.Most preferably, gain media 2 can comprise the er-doped crystal laser bar of the laser that is used for the scope between the 2.73 and 2.95 μ m that is created in.Laser can produce under the TEM00 pattern and focus on consumingly, to overcome thermal effect.Can service time pulse duration control to obtain uniform time pulse pattern.Diode or semiconductor laser pumping 5 can comprise diode array, and this diode array can be by optical correction with the profile pump gain media.Er-doped crystal laser gain media 2 diode side pumped can be transmitted in the wavelength between the 2.73 and 2.95 μ m.This pumping can realize through the post that for example is configured between 955 to 985nm, launch or the InGaAs diode laser of array; And under the power rank that can begin, can under CW (continuous wave) or QCW (quasi c. w.) operator scheme, transmit from the peak power of 40W.Use the output coupling of optimizing, light can be 10% to optical efficiency at least, and can realize the magnitude up to 35%.One embodiment of the present of invention are; Those that possibly reach before these efficient magnitudes ratios are higher; Its reason is the design of seeking minimum thermal effect and cavity loss of the present invention, and the beam path of optimization pump light is can realize the CW operation of high energy pulse or laser.

In a further advantageous embodiment; Especially; Between 1675nm and 2100nm, gain media 2 comprises mixing holmium and/or mixing the crystal laser bar of thulium of the laser that is used for the scope between the 1.67 and 2.1 μ m that is created in thus according to the wavelength of laser 1 of the present invention.Laser can produce under the TEM00 pattern, to overcome thermal effect.Can service time pulse duration control to obtain uniform time pulse pattern.Can be transmitted in the wavelength between the 1.67 and 2.1 μ m at the diode side pumped crystal laser gain media 2 of mixing holmium and/or mixing thulium.This pumping can realize at the AlGaAs of post of launching between 760 to 815nm or array diode laser or the GaSb diode laser for example between 1600 to 2050nm, launched through for example being configured to; And under the power rank that can begin, can under CW (continuous wave) or QCW (quasi c. w.) operator scheme, transmit from the peak power of 20W.Use the output coupling of optimizing, light can be 10% to optical efficiency at least, and can realize the magnitude up to 85%.

The optical gain material 2 that is fit to can comprise following crystal:

The Er:LiYF that launches with 1.73 μ m in the transition ₄(Er:YLF);

The Er:LiYF that launches with 2.80 μ m in the transition ₄

The Er:Y that launches with 2.79 μ m in the transition ₃Sc ₂GasO ₁₂(Er:YSGG); The Er:Gd that launches with 2.8 μ m in the transition ₃Sc ₂GasO ₁₂(Er:GSGG);

The Er:Gd that launches with 2.82 μ m in the transition ₃GasO ₁₂(Er:GGG);

The Er that launches with 2.69 μ m in the transition, Tm:Y ₃Al ₅O ₁₂(TE:YAG);

The Er:KYF that launches with 2.81 μ m in the transition ₄At Ho ³⁺⁵I ₆ ⁵I ₇The Ho that launches with 2.84 μ m in the transition, Yb:KYF ₄

The Er:Y that launches with 2.94 μ m in the transition ₃Al ₅O ₁₂(Er:YAG);

The Er:Y that launches with 2.71 μ m in the transition ₃AlO ₃(Er:YALO);

Er:KGd (the WO that launches with 2.8 μ m in the transition _4s(Er:KGW);

The Er:Al that launches in the transition ₃O ₃

The Er:Lu that launches with 2.7 μ m in the transition ₃O ₃

The Er:CaF that launches with 2.75-2.85 μ m in the transition ₂

The Cr that launches with 2.7 μ m in the transition, Tm, Er:Y ₃Al ₅O ₁₂(CTE:YAG);

The Er:BaLu that launches with 2.8 μ m in the transition ₂F ₈

The Er:BaY that launches with 2.7 μ m in the transition ₂F ₈(Er:BYF); And with the Cr:ZnSe of 2-3 μ m emission.

CTH:YAG or Cr:Tm:Ho:YAG with 2080nm, 2097nm and 2130nm emission

Ho:YAG with the 2097nm emission

Ho:YLF with 1850 to 2075nm emissions

Ho:Tm:YAG with 2091 to 2097nm emissions

Tm:YAG with the 2013nm emission

Tm:Cr:YAG with the 2017nm emission

Tm:YLF with 1675 to 2050nm emissions

Tm:YAP with 1965 to 2020nm emissions

Tm:Lu:YAG with the 2020nm emission

Side diode pumping erbium laser and Tm, Ho, Yb:KYF ₄Another embodiment of laser is that when with pulse operation, this pulse mode is highly to repeat on time and intensity.For example, this performance can help accurate, foreseeable cutting, and can improve cutting efficiency.In dentistry and medical use, this characteristic is consistent with the less heat or the thermal denaturation of tissue, thereby can prepare in order to fully recover faster.

The invention is not restricted to mix Er, mix the low gain laser active material that Ho mixes or mixes Tm, but also can use the high gain lasers active material, such as Nd:YVO ₄, Nd:YAG, Er: glass and a lot of other materials.In the situation of using the high gain lasers active material, the invention has the advantages that very good robustness, this robustness can resist imbalance and because the imbalance that produces in time that thermal effect causes that is caused by impact event and vibration.

Because the effective reciprocation of itself and biological tissue and water; For example organizing operation, organizing cutting, in the field that tissue ablation, dental operation, plastic surgery operations, bone cutting and soft tissue surfaces are handled, be useful for example as surgery instrument according to laser of the present invention.

Figure 23 discloses according to therapeutic system of the present invention, and wherein hand-held device 20 is attached to table-top unit.Hand-held device 20 comprises according to solid-state laser 1 of the present invention, and this laser emission is directed to the laser beam 21 of target surface 23 along optical path 22.Optical path 22 comprises solid-state laser 1, forms and deflection unit 24 as the laser output coupler that for example is implemented as diverging lens, light beam, and this light beam forms and deflection unit 24 can be divided into two parts, and promptly light beam forms and the beam deflection part.Optical path 22 finishes at contact window 25 places, and the laser beam 26 that forms at contact window 25 places is from hand-held device 20 outgoing and target surface 23.Contact window preferably uses the window sealing of highly transparent, under the situation that does not have energy consumption or beam intensity, passes this window so that have the laser beam of specific wavelength.In addition, contact window 25 defines specific zone on target surface 23, in this zone, the laser beam 26 of formation can target surface 23, and therefore define treatment region at target surface.Because this therapeutic system 20 can use in medical use, therefore can contact with living tissue, need clean contact window between treatment each time and/or sterilize.Therefore the lid 27 of contact window 25 must resist rodent cleaning medium, and in addition, lid 27 can and can separately clean or abandon from hand-held device 20 dismountings, with the attached new lid 27 that is used for treating each time.This 27 can be snap-in shape device (snap-on like device), allows that the user is attached under the situation that does not contact it covers 27 with dismounting, thereby the sterilization of higher degree is provided.

In order in corresponding to the outlet opening in the target area on the target surface 23 25, to form and focussed laser beam, light beam forms and 24 pairs of coherent laser beams 21 execution by solid-state laser 21 emissions of deflection unit are widened.Therefore, in optical path 22, arrange the speculum 28 that optionally moves, to allow the deflection of laser beam.The example of the preferred embodiment of the light beam formation on deflection unit is disclosed in WO2009/150210.

In the operating period of solid-state laser 1, produce unnecessary heat, in order to keep laser operation, must unnecessary heat be removed from solid-state laser 1.Therefore on solid-state laser 1, arrange cooling unit 29, this cooling unit 29 comprises chamber 30, and cooling fluid circulates in this chamber 30.Cooling unit 29 is connected to the coolant circulation system in the table-top unit via cooling fluid feed tube 31.Therefore can remove a large amount of heat energy from solid-state laser 1, so that laser remains under the safe operating parameter, even long operation also is like this under high duty ratio.

Form and deflection unit 24 in order to control solid-state laser 1 and light beam; In hand-held device 20, arrange control unit 32; This control unit 32 also comprises at least one high current capacity buffer 33, and for example, this high current capacity buffer 33 is implemented as tantalum or niobium capacitor.Be connected with power supply in the table-top unit via supply lines 34 corresponding to the control unit 32 of high current capacity buffer 33, this power supply is provided for electric energy that current buffer 33 is charged.

Control unit 32 can with control switch unit 35 and be connected, this controls switch unit 35 can make the user of hand-held device 20 control the basic operation of solid-state laser, for example controls the emission of laser beam.

A major defect based on the therapy system of laser of prior art is, is the unusual task of difficulty to the maintenance of laser.Usually the Service Technicians must arrive the scene, can not be implemented to having transported of maintenance site because in a single day laser system before is configured and just operates, and this is because such transporting can seriously damage laser system.Because according to the firm embodiment of solid-state laser of the present invention, laser does not need the processing of SC, therefore under not hurtful situation, can easily realize changing to laser, especially be transported to maintenance site.Therefore the advantageous embodiments of therapeutic system is, hand-held device 20 comprises detachable connector 36, uses this detachable connector 36, and hand-held device 20 can be connected with table-top unit via flexible pipe 37.Connector 36 can be screw-type or bayonet type connector component, also has the connector component 38 of arranging especially and calibrating, and this connector component 38 is used to connect the hollow wire 31 and supply lines 34 in the hand-held device 20, and it is corresponding to pipe and line in the flexible pipe 37.Another advantage of this embodiment is that each hand-held device with solid-state laser 1 of launching at specific wavelength can be connected to table-top unit.Therefore under the situation that does not need a plurality of therapeutic systems to use; Only through simply reusing; Just can use the wavelength of special selection to treat, correspondingly will provide the table-top unit of operand power and operation medium supply to be connected with the various selections of the hand-held device that designs separately.

Figure 24 discloses another embodiment of therapeutic system, especially discloses unit hand-held device (stand alone hand-held device) 39.It is identical that basic functions element and before Figure 23 describe, and especially, solid-state laser 1 is realized according to the present invention.Because device 39 is stand-alone device, the cooling of solid-state laser 1 can not realize through the liquid cooled system, but must in hand-held device 39, all accomplish.Therefore cooling unit 29 is implemented as solid-state cooling unit, and it can for example comprise the natural air cooling device.Because the limited amount of the treatment that use mobile handsets 39 can be realized; The reason of for example supplying owing to energy; The repetition rate of laser element 1 and the heat that is therefore produced by solid-state laser, the free air cooling just is enough to solid-state laser has been remained in the normal operating parameter.According to an embodiment, cooling unit 29 can comprise material 40, and the reversible phase of this material 40 changes in the operating temperature range of laser.As what known, the phase change of material need need much more heat energy than the heating in a phase.For example the phase change takes place in paraffin usually when about 42 ° temperature, and this is very suitable for receiving the unnecessary heat of solid-state laser 1.During operation suspension, the paraffin of heating arrives surrounding environment with the heat emission of storage, thereby the phase of carrying out from liquid to the solid changes, and therefore self prepares for use next time.

The energy that is used for operate lasers and control unit 32 is provided by electrical energy storage means 41, and this electrical energy storage means 41 for example is implemented as lithium ion or lighium polymer secondary battery.After having carried out repeatedly treatment operation, hand-held device 39 is connected to electric power system via connectivity port 42, thereby for next operation circulates electrical energy storage means 41 is recharged.

In order to dispose the required unit hand-held device 39 of treatment that will carry out, hand-held device also comprises user interface 43, and preferably, this user interface 43 has display and input unit.This user interface 43 is connected to control unit and allows the independent configuration to the laser operation parameter, and does not need hand-held device 39 to be connected with the external control unit.

Figure 25 discloses therapeutic system, its comprise be arranged in the housing 44 according to solid-state laser 1 of the present invention.This solid-state laser 1 emission of lasering beam 21, this laser beam 21 is directed to photocon 45 by optical couping device 46.This optical couping device 46 can be based on the effect of non-imaging or image optics device, optical fiber-concentrator or conical fiber.Photocon 45 can be for example single fiber or many fiber optic components; Wherein the purpose of optical couping device 46 is with diameter to be that about 60% laser beam 21 of fibre diameter is directed in the photocon 45; Be that the laser beam 21 of about 150 to 550 μ m is incorporated into the single fiber element wherein with diameter; Perhaps in the situation of many fibre-optic light guides element 45, be introduced in many optical fiber of 75 to 200 μ m.

Housing 44 can also comprise the device that is used to produce the device of gas-pressurized and/or is used to produce fluid under pressure.With respect to surrounding environment; Gas-pressurized can have normal pressure or negative pressure; The gas that wherein has normal pressure can be used to blow away the material of ablating at the place, target area, and the gas-pressurized with relative negative pressure can be used for siphoning away from the target area material of ablation (comprising the liquid that is present in the target area).The device 47 that is used to produce negative gas-pressurized is disclosed in Figure 25; The conduit in refuse storehouse 48 is led in its merging; Thereby allow to be siphoned away the material of ablation and it is collected the litter-bin 48 that is used for carrying out the safety removal, wherein laser penetration target surface from the target area.

At least photocon 45 is connected to hand-held device 50 via flexible pipe 49.Flexible pipe can be that optical fiber strengthens flexible pipe, wherein is furnished with photocon 45 at least.From the reason of simplifying, the flexible pipe that wherein is furnished with many lines is plotted as single line in Figure 25.The purpose of flexible pipe is to protect layout line therein, moves freely so that make with housing 44 hand-held devices 50 arranged apart.In another embodiment, flexible pipe can self be made up of the optical light guides element, and wherein photocon comprises the protection flexible cover, and the flexible pipe with low-down diameter and higher degree of flexibility is provided like this.Hand-held device 50 is for example solid-state hand-held devices, is similar to dentist's drilling equipment.In hand-held device 50 inside, photocon 45 and 52 places, working end that provide the pipeline 51 of fluid under pressure and/or gas-pressurized to be disposed in hand-held device 50 like being used in the example of Figure 25.The port of export 53 is disposed in 52 places, working end; This port of export is connected to photocon 45; And another port of export is connected to pipeline 51, in the embodiment that describes, the port of export that is connected to pipeline be arranged in the port of export that is connected to photocon 45 around; The place that siphons away the material of ablation around like this in the working region provides active tip (working tip), laser beam target surface in this working region.

From the reason of sterilization, working cap 54 can place on the top of the active tip 5 of extending the port of export, and forbids the contact of active tip, forbids that especially the end of photocon 45 contacts with target surface or with the material of ablating.This is even more important for clinical practice, wherein must avoid shifting biomaterial from a patient to another patient.Head protector 54 can be the disposable apparatus that uses of single or can reuse but the device that can thoroughly clean, thereby reduce the cleaning that keeps hand-held device 50 sterilizations.

Hand-held device 50 can also comprise console switch 55, and this console switch 55 is connected to the control unit 56 in the housing 44 via flexible pipe.This console switch 55 can be for example simple ON/OFF switch, the operation of control solid-state laser 1 and the device that control is used to produce gas-pressurized and/or fluid under pressure.Other possible control switch provides more complicated possibility, depends on how the user controls the operation of the various devices that are used to carry out treatment.

According to the embodiment of the invention, hand-held device 50 can be from solid-state laser 1 dismounting.Therefore hand-held device 50 and/or housing 44 can comprise connector component 57, and this connector component 57 allows hand-held device 50 is broken off from flexible pipe 49, perhaps flexible pipe 49 is broken off from housing 44.Another kind of embodiment also is possible, wherein has only connector component 57 to be attached to flexible pipe, thereby removes single-piece hand-held device and flexible pipe from housing.Because an operating area of therapeutic system is clinical practice, must carry out the thorough cleaning and disinfection to each parts that contacts with biomaterial.At photocon 45 is that it is fit closely using head protector 54 in the situation of high complexity and very expensive material (for example sapphire), because it has alleviated the requirement of the inner pipeline of cleaning hand-held device 50 and flexible pipe 49.In addition, hand-held device 50 can be the device that single uses, so its new hand-held device replacement that can break off, be dropped from flexible pipe and be used to use next time.On the other hand, photocon 45 can be SiO ₂, it is the material that is dirt cheap as photocon, with hand-held device 50 abandon with flexible pipe 49 and treatment each time all to use new parts will be the scheme that is fit to.Hand-held device 50 is broken off from flexible pipe 49, and flexible pipe is broken off separately from housing 44, the possibility of carrying out independent disinfecting steps is provided, hand-held device can for example be sterilized in the high-pressure sterilizer unit, and flexible pipe can be immersed in the antiseptic solution.

Electrical connector 57 is provided for the independent coupling part with pipeline and photocon aligning, thus the tight connection of setting up liquid and/or gas.In addition, when laser beam when flexible pipe 49 switches to hand-held device 50, do not have junction loss.This is equally applicable to link that flexible pipe is connected with housing 44.

Figure 26 a discloses the describing of the simplification of active tip, and wherein pipeline is supplied to the tip with fluid under pressure, and fluid under pressure is provided with the material of ablation to have negative the pipeline of pressure is siphoned away.In the embodiment that describes, photocon 45 is implemented as many fibre-optic light guides element, and it comprises many single optical fibers 61.It is terminal 59 that pipeline 58 is transported to active tip with fluid under pressure, and another pipeline 60 provides to have negative the gas-pressurized of pressure and its are also had outlet opening on active tip terminal 59.The single fiber 61 of photocon 45 is providing the pipeline arranged around of gas-pressurized.Be used to provide the pipeline of fluid under pressure 58 to surround optical fiber 61, so fluid under pressure transmit between the neighboring of the neighboring of the pipeline that gas-pressurized is provided and the pipeline that fluid under pressure is provided, thus encirclement single optical fiber 61.When laser can be operated, each single fiber 61 was all to the target surface emission of lasering beam.The liquid that is provided by pipeline 58 also is directed into the target area, with the material of flush away ablation.In order to remove the material of ablating from the target area; The liquid that provides is inhaled into the material of ablation the pipeline 60 of negative to pressure is provided, the potential histologic lesion that therefore keeps the target area cleaning and avoid the insertion owing to the scattering of laser beam or unnecessary heat to cause.

Figure 26 b shows another embodiment of active tip terminal 59 with the mode of front view.Single fiber light guide element 45 is disposed in the centre of active tip terminal 59, by the port of export that is used for fluid under pressure 62 with have the port of export that be used for gas-pressurized 63 of negative and surround pressure.Because liquid is used to wash the target area, this liquid is siphoned away by pipeline 63 with the material of the ablation mode through negative-pressure gas then, thus its have with Figure 26 a in a similar function of embodiment describing.

Figure 26 c discloses another embodiment of active tip terminal 59 with the mode of front view, and wherein 61, one of several optical fiber connectors at pipeline arranged around photocon are used to provide 62, one of fluid under pressures to be used to provide the gas-pressurized 62 with negative pressure.In addition, can also on tip end, arrange illuminace component 64, this light-emitting component may be implemented as light-emitting diode; Perhaps; Preferably, this illuminace component 64 is implemented as photocon separately, perhaps can provide an optical fiber of the photocon of laser beam.In addition; Another photocon perhaps provides the optical fiber of the photocon of laser beam also can be used as image collection parts 65; These image collection parts 65 with image be directed in the housing graphical analysis and material components and therefore for the operator provides the view clearly to the target area, this point is impossible based on human eye to the supervision of target area only.

Active tip terminal 59 can also comprise sonic transducer, corresponding to the active tip of sonic transducer, and the perhaps electrode of radio frequency sending set, both all are provided at the further application possibility of target area ablator.

Figure 26 d discloses the end view of active tip terminal 59, the terminal top surface of photocon 45 outstanding active tip wherein, and wherein photocon also has the end of shaping, such as (skew) 66 of tilting.The inclined-plane can be covered by a dielectric layer or a layer layout, perhaps based on the total internal reflection operation, thereby makes the laser beam that is transmitted by photocon 45 leave this element with the angle different with the parallel axes of photocon, for example, leaves this element perpendicular to this parallel axes.This embodiment can ground different with operative orientation ablator, especially can be on the zone on the operative orientation next door of active tip ablator.

For integrality, the further preferred form of embodiment is following:

I.)

-a kind of medical laser apparatus,

-be included in this application the laser of describing,

-comprising coupling unit, this coupling unit allows laser is coupled at least one photocon (for example, fiberoptics device, doughnut optics, hinged handel) best,

-being coupled at least one photocon, this photocon is designed to replaceable and can sterilizes perhaps as disposable unit

Pathogenic agglomerate (gall stone, arteriosteogenesis, kidney stone, the vesical calculus etc.) in-treatment body; Wherein, For the evaporation of the explosivity through moisture in the agglomerate or through by moisture or directly in the agglomerate front or the shock wave that causes of the explosivity of the tissue that contains moisture on every side evaporation; Use high impulse energy or high energy pulse to destroy them, photocon is near these agglomerates in the body.

-use the advantage of such laser to be, be applicable to the patient individually in order to make treatment, can in wide region, adjust pulse energy, pulse duration and intensity (pulse energy of time per unit) and repetition rate.Another advantage of laser described herein is, reduces because heat damage that the flash lamp pumping Optical Maser System that can buy causes or relatively poor the ultrasonic energy that guides.

II.)

-a kind of medical laser apparatus,

-be included in this application the laser of describing,

-comprising coupling unit, this coupling unit allows laser is coupled at least one photocon (for example, fiberoptics device, doughnut optics, hinged handel) best,

-being coupled at least one photocon, this photocon is designed to replaceable and can sterilizes perhaps as disposable unit

-these photocons (at least one) are connected to hand-held device, and it can be removable and possibly be sterilizable or be designed to disposable unit

-hand-held device also possibly comprise coupling unit; It is coupled to laser at least one photocon best; Be directed to then on the point that will treat or be directed in the photocon, this photocon can be removable and possibly be sterilizable or be designed to disposable unit

-in these photocons at least one; Also may be useful in take and/or suck fluid and/or gas away from this device subsidiary pipeline and/or electrical lead wire (for example; Switch activation signal, index signal ...), and/or be used to transmit from the data of the point that will treat or the direct light optical line (illumination, laser, target laser ...) to the point that will treat.

-be used for the treatment of (animal or human's class) disease of eye; For example; Glaucoma and cataract (subordinate treatment be cataract surgery), cause the glaucomatous interior intraocular pressure that increases (the subordinate treatment is trabeculotomy or iris ablation art) usually, be used for the Vitrea treatment of " muscae volitantes " or turbid glass body (the subordinate treatment is a vitrectomy) through the follow-up insertion artificial lens of ultrasonic emulsification for cataract (decomposition crystalline lens).Last but be not least important, crystalline lens is proofreaied and correct and can be used this laser to realize.

-use the advantage of such laser to be, be applicable to the position that will treat individually in order to make treatment, can in wide region, adjust pulse energy, pulse duration and intensity (pulse energy of time per unit) and repetition rate.For example, during ultrasonic emulsification for cataract, use laser much milder than the ultrasonic disruption device that can buy or flash of light pumped solid-state laser to lenticular decomposition, this be because the heat energy that uses still less and control better.As long as it is not near health tissues or not in the lenticular inside that will decompose, the lens tissue in the crystalline lens zone is decomposed, and just can use high impulse energy and high-repetition-rate to carry out work.As long as near near the zone lenticular edge or the health tissues, in order to work more accurately, laser energy and repetition rate will reduce.Lower repetition rate has prevented that heat energy from accumulating and then cause it to be destroyed in tissue.Use ultrasonic wave, crystalline lens is decomposed by shock wave, is caused by hollow bubble at shock wave in laser.If only adopt optical fiber or a little optical fiber to remove tissue, so hollow bubble when using some optical fiber more greatly and/or longer.The dissipation of shock wave that its risk is to get into health tissues is too big.To no longer guarantee complete, mild lenticular removing so.Therefore, be favourable at the suction channel or the some optical fiber of passage of irrigation fluid arranged around that are used to remove material, like this, under some situation, the exit direction of having revised of light causes some cutting through optical fiber connector.All above-mentioned possibilities also are very favorable when removing vitreum (vitreum ablation art).In some situation, (for example, becoming 90 ° with light in the photo-conduction cell) laterally appears in laser is significant, for example to avoid during vitreum ablation art amphiblestroid direct infringement.In addition, in trabeculotomy, can in eyes, produce little opening accurate, that limit, and generation internally is used for the passage that is fit to that the control chamber flow goes out.At last; Because the possibility of the very good adjustment of laser described herein; Can realize the accurate crystalline lens correction of unprecedented middle infrared laser, this has also brought with excimer laser or femto secondary laser device and has compared significantly reduced acquiring and maintaining cost.Ideally, the medical laser apparatus can receive several handpiece unit or have the fiber unit of handpiece, with cover eyes or the operation relevant and correction treatment (contain break etc.) with eyes widely perhaps even whole scopes.

III.)

-a kind of medical laser apparatus,

-be included in this application the laser of describing,

-comprising coupling unit, this coupling unit allows laser is coupled at least one photocon (for example, fiberoptics device, doughnut optics, hinged handel) best,

-being coupled at least one photocon, this photocon is designed to replaceable and can sterilizes perhaps as disposable unit

-these photocons (at least one) are connected to hand-held device, and it can be removable and possibly be sterilizable or be designed to disposable unit

-hand-held device also possibly comprise coupling unit; It is coupled to laser at least one photocon best; Be directed to then on the point that will treat or be directed in the photocon, this photocon can be removable and possibly be sterilizable or be designed to disposable unit

-in these photocons at least one; Also may be useful in take and/or suck fluid and/or gas away from this device subsidiary pipeline and/or electrical lead wire (for example; Switch activation signal, index signal ...), and/or be used to transmit from the data of the point that will treat or the direct light optical line (illumination, laser, target laser ...) to the point that will treat.

-be used for the disease of treatment (animal or human) brain or other organ, accurately to remove tissue part with the mode that limits.Example is to causing the for example cerebrocentric treatment of epileptics, thus can be to thinking that ill zone removes accurately.Another possibility is the deposit of removing in blood vessel or on the blood vessel (for example, artery sclerosis).An example is the arteria carotis calcification of the increase in the very large crowd of about 50 years old population.Deposit comes to light in the mantle of blood vessel usually, rather than outside at the blood vessel of transmission blood.Here, laser also must carry out very trickle adjustment aspect two of pulse energy and repetition rates.In skull and vascular operation, the short pulse duration is necessary, to guarantee that surrounding tissue is caused heat damage hardly, does not produce any shock wave to such an extent as to still can not lack very much, and this can be dispersed into surrounding tissue with mechanical energy again, thereby with its destruction.Optimum pulse greatly between 1 to 50 μ s (also referring to 1981 by the disclosed Pulsed Laser of Joseph T.Walsh Ablation of Tissue:Analysis of the removal process and tissue healing, the document is merged in the application) and the quantity that depends on the pulse energy of setting and be directed to the photo-conduction cell of the position that will treat.

IV.)

-a kind of medical laser apparatus,

-be included in this application the laser of describing,

-comprising coupling unit, this coupling unit allows laser is coupled at least one photocon (for example, fiberoptics device, doughnut optics, hinged handel) best,

-being coupled at least one photocon, this photocon is designed to replaceable and can sterilizes perhaps as disposable unit

-these photocons (at least one) are connected to hand-held device, and it can be removable and possibly be sterilizable or be designed to disposable unit

-hand-held device also possibly comprise coupling unit; It is coupled to laser at least one photocon best; Be directed to then on the point that will treat or be directed in the photocon, this photocon can be removable and possibly be sterilizable or be designed to disposable unit

-in these photocons at least one; Also may be useful in take and/or suck fluid and/or gas away from this device subsidiary pipeline and/or electrical lead wire (for example; Switch activation signal, index signal ...), and/or be used to transmit from the data of the point that will treat or the direct light optical line (illumination, laser, target laser ...) to the point that will treat.

-be used for treating the disease of (animal or human) bone.Use the treatment of this laser to be intended for the operation (be separated from each other or divide open from hyperblastosis, stapetoplastics) of fusion phonophore; And the operation carried out of adversary's bone and craniomaxillofacial surgery operation, wherein must avoid the use of method to the hurtful shortage accuracy of face nerve.Another major advantage of laser described herein is, compares with flash of light pump laser or machine work instrument, causes in bone tissue, producing quite a spot of pyrolytic damage.Therefore rehabilitation has been handled optimised and fast a lot doubly.Osteocyte can more easily be grown to together and blood coagulation and/or carbonization take place hardly, so osteocyte can directly connect once more and the joint is surrounded by quite a spot of hyperplasia.Except treatment, the treatment of cartilage and disc tissue has also been constituted the part of orthopaedics to bone.For alleviate and even eliminate pain, also can be in the hyperplasia in joint with the mode smoothing of accurate qualification.The Another application field is in the fracture incident, to prepare bone for the Connection Element that temporarily or for good and all bonds (such as the boring that is used for screw and other implantation).In the situation of the fracture that is boning or improperly/engaging relatively poorly, can accurately prepare breakaway poing, thereby fracture can be grown to together best.The Another application field is the cancer cell of accurately removing in the bone, such as, giant-cell tumor or other optimum or malignant tumors.

In dermatology, laser parameter can change by this way, promptly; On the one hand, use very short pulse meeting to cause with the low-down or insignificant ablation that the heat of surrounding tissue is imported, on the other hand; In darker skin layer; With the heat stack of mode through producing of long pulse and high-repetition-rate, they produce the thermal activation of collagen contraction or the stimulation that fibrillation is grown, thereby energy is also to the loses heat of organizing around pore or the ablated area.

For the embodiment of above-mentioned form, laser self or photocon can be installed on the positioner, its automatically an axle on X, Y and/or the Z direction on the path of pre-programmed, automatically move, perhaps in the space, manually move.In addition, target can be manually or on three whole at most dimension axles, is being moved under the laser with the mode of pre-programmed.After beam deflector can also directly be assemblied in laser or photocon, this beam deflector with mode manual or pre-programmed with laser beam at least one upper deflecting.Through operate help (such as, online X-ray is kept watch on or other processing, such as OCT (optical coherence tomography)), help accurate operation, through operate help, treat the doctor and can onlinely see and see exactly the place of his ablator at that time.The difference (calcification in bone and nerve fiber, the blood vessel, for example, artery sclerosis etc.) of tissue can be identified, and the spatial dimension of the material that will ablate or ablate can be kept watch on and consider.

Laser parameter is via perhaps " semiconductor laser ", laser diode drive control of driver, and the various operator schemes of said driver control are switched such as continuous wave, quasi c. w. (pulse), gain.Can the control impuls repetition rate, pulse energy (via the electric current of " semiconductor laser "), impulse form (sawtooth, sine, rectangle, trapezoidal ...) and rise and fall time.Usually in order to prevent unwanted heat load in the laser crystal, select to have the rectangular pulse of short rise and fall time.Supply lines between laser diode drive and the laser is long more; Rise time is slow more; Sometimes because the fall time that lead inductance that causes through kelvin effect and/or resistance cause is also slow more, and cause more energy not to be used or to laser crystal pumping ineffectually.If it is particularly advantageous that laser diode drive is installed near laser.Can almost direct most important parameter corresponding to the laser pulse that produces be set by the user, such as electric current, the repetition rate pulse duration of laser diode drive.Photocon can be hinged handel, hollow optical fiber, optical transmitter and based on sapphire, germanium oxide; Si oxide or based on fluoride or the current ceramic fibre of developing (such as; Current developing transparent based on aluminium; List or many glass fibers of zirconium, the pottery of magnesium etc.) other.

The method that is used for the coupling light guiding element, most important ground, the method for a plurality of photocons that are used to be coupled is known to those skilled in the art.Yet its cost benefit is basic.From the reason in space, it is rational that a plurality of photo-conduction cells are coupled in the base station.Because the photo-conduction cell in middle infra-red range is very expensive; Attempt in hand-held device, only to be coupled with an optical fiber that is directed to this hand-held device; In this hand-held device, this optical fiber is divided into several photo-conduction cells and brings to the tip of hand-held device.

Reference numerals list

1 solid-state laser

2 laser income media

3 resonator structure

4 end faces

5 pumping sources

6 conductibility coolers

7 reflectors

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20 hand-held devices

21 laser beams

22 optical paths

23 target surfaces

24 light beams form, deflection unit

25 contact windows

26 laser beams

27 lids

28 speculums

29 cooling units

30 chambeies

31 pipes

32 control units

33 current buffers

34 supply lines

35 control switch unit

36 connectors

37 flexible pipes

38 connector components

39 independent hand-held devices

40 phases change material

41 electrical energy storage means

42 connectivity ports

43 user interfaces

44 housings

45 photocons

46 optical couping devices

47 are used to produce the device of gas-pressurized

48 refuse storehouses

49 flexible pipes

50 handheld units, hand-held device

51 pipelines

52 working distal tip, active tip

53 ports of export

54 working caps, head protector

55 console switchs

56 control units

57 connector components

58 pipelines

59 active tip are terminal

60 pipelines

61 fibers

62 are used for the port of export of fluid under pressure

63 are used for the port of export of gas-pressurized

64 illuminace components

65 image collection parts

66 inclined-planes

Claims (59)

1. the solid-state laser of a monolithic profile pump (1); Comprise the laser resonator structure (3) that constitutes by the gain medium with the longitudinal axis (L) (2); And comprise conduction-type cooler (6); Wherein laser resonator structure (3) is included in the end face (4) that forms linear light path resonant cavity therebetween; In the said end face (4) at least one comprises the laser mirror (4a, 4b) of deposition partial reflection at least above that especially, and gain medium (2) comprises the side (2a) of the pump light (5a) that is used to receive pumping source (5), and wherein pump light (5a) is produced by diode laser (5); Conduction-type cooler (6) comprises the contact-making surface (6c) that contacts with gain medium (2); And said solid-state laser (1) comprises the reflector of relatively arranging with respect to the longitudinal axis (L) and side (2a) (7), and wherein gain medium (2) is the low gain material.

2. according to the solid-state laser (1) of claim 1, wherein gain medium (2) has less than 7.5mm ²Cross-sectional area.

3. according to the solid-state laser (1) of claim 2, wherein contact-making surface (6c) is arranged with respect to the longitudinal axis (L) of gain medium (2) symmetrically.

4. according to the solid-state laser (1) of claim 3, wherein conduction-type cooler (6) comprises the condenser chamber (6d) that is arranged in gain medium (2) next door and relatively arranges with side (2a), and wherein pump light reflector (7) is arranged in the condenser chamber (6d).

5. according to the solid-state laser (1) of claim 4; Wherein diode laser (5) and reflector (7) are with respect to the such layout of the longitudinal axis (L); Make and have the distance (D1 that equates between in the longitudinal axis (L) and diode laser (5) and the reflector (7) each; D2), thus make that the length of the light path between length and the longitudinal axis (L) and the reflector (7) of the light path between the pumping source (5) and the longitudinal axis (L) is identical or roughly the same.

6. according to the solid-state laser (1) of one of claim 2 to 5; Wherein two end faces (4) all comprise laser mirror (4a, 4b); Wherein one of laser mirror is a high reflector laser speculum (4a), and especially, this high reflector laser speculum has 99% to 100% reflectivity; And wherein another laser mirror (4b) is an output coupler.

7. according to the solid-state laser (1) of one of claim 2 to 6, wherein the wavelength of laser resonator structure (3) emission at 1700nm in the scope of 3200nm.

8. according to the solid-state laser (1) of claim 7, wherein output coupler (4b) has the reflectivity in the scope between 92.5% and 99%.

9. according to the solid-state laser (1) of one of aforementioned claim; Wherein gain medium (2) has the free end (2d) that is not arranged in the cooler (6); Thereby the preferably about 2mm of the length of free end (2d) on the direction of the longitudinal axis (L), and most preferably be about 1mm.

10. according to the solid-state laser (1) of one of aforementioned claim, wherein gain medium (2) comprises YAG or the YSGG or the YLF crystalline body of doped with rare-earth elements, and this crystalline body is doped with neodymium, ytterbium, erbium, thulium, chromium and/or holmium.

11. according to the solid-state laser (1) of one of aforementioned claim, wherein the wavelength of diode laser (5) is selected like this, makes the dominant wavelength of diode laser (5) squint with respect to the absorption peak zone of gain medium (2).

12. according to the solid-state laser (1) of claim 11, wherein the wavelength of pump light (5a) is selected at the low absorption coefficient place of gain medium (2).

13. solid-state laser (1) according to one of aforementioned claim; Wherein conduction-type cooler (6) comprises the contact-making surface (6c) that contacts and keep gain medium (2) with gain medium (2), and conduction-type cooler (6) is made up of metal, pottery or crystalline material.

14. according to the solid-state laser (1) of claim 13, said solid-state laser comprises two contact-making surfaces (6), wherein said contact-making surface (6c) with respect to the longitudinal axis (L) of gain medium (2) relative to one another, arrange symmetrically.

15. solid-state laser (1) according to one of claim 1 to 11; Wherein conduction-type cooler (6) comprises the outer tubular member (6b) of arranging with one heart with respect to the longitudinal axis (L), and the outer surface (2c) of gain medium (2) and outer tubular member (6b) are defined for the inner space (6a) of cooling fluid.

16. solid-state laser (1) according to one of aforementioned claim; Said solid-state laser comprises with respect to separated in a circumferential direction at least two pumping sources of the longitudinal axis (L) (5), and comprises the corresponding pump light reflector of relatively arranging with respect to the longitudinal axis (L) and side (2a) (7).

17. solid-state laser (1) according to one of aforementioned claim; Said solid-state laser comprises lens (8a, 8b) and comprises the optical fiber (9) with the diameter between 100 μ m and the 250 μ m, and wherein the laser beam (B) that is arranged to solid-state laser (1) of lens (8a, 8b) focuses in the optical fiber (9).

18. according to the solid-state laser (1) of one of aforementioned claim, wherein gain medium (2) is column or oval column.

19. solid-state laser (1) according to one of aforementioned claim; Wherein the laser mirror of partial reflection (4a, 4b) is deposited on the end face (4) of gain medium (3) at least; Wherein the packing density of deposition layer above that is greater than 0.9; Be preferably more than 0.95, and most preferably greater than 0.99.

20. according to the solid-state laser (1) of one of aforementioned claim, wherein pumping source (5) has the wavelength between 955 to 985nm.

21. according to the solid-state laser (1) of one of claim 1 to 19, wherein pumping source (5) has the wavelength between 760 to 815nm.

22. according to the solid-state laser (1) of one of claim 1 to 19, wherein pumping source (5) has the wavelength between 1600 to 2050nm.

23. solid-state laser (1) according to one of aforementioned claim; Wherein pump light (5a) is through in side (2a) the feed-in gain medium (2); Wherein about 30% to 70% of pump light (5a); Preferably, pump light (5a) about 30% to 50%, (2b) locates from gain medium (2) outgoing in relative side as outgoing pump light (5b); And wherein be reflected device (7) reflection of outgoing pump light (5b), thereby make that (2b) locates to get into again gain medium (2) in relative side for the pump light (5c) of reflection.

24. according to the solid-state laser (1) of one of aforementioned claim, wherein pumping source (5) is implemented as diode laser matrix, and is parallel to the longitudinal axis (L) layout.

25. according to the solid-state laser (1) of one of aforementioned claim, wherein the low gain material is to have the stimulated emission cross section that is equal to or less than Er:YAG to be＜=3.0*10 ^-20Cm ²The gain medium of stimulated emission cross section.

26. according to the solid-state laser (1) of one of aforementioned claim, wherein solid-state laser (1) is withstood the attraction of 100G at least.

27. solid-state laser (1) according to one of aforementioned claim; Wherein because the single-piece designs of laser; The high reflector of laser (4a) directly is deposited on the gain media (2), and output coupler (4b) directly is deposited on the opposite end on the gain media (2).

28. method that is used to operate the solid-state laser (1) of monolithic profile pump; This solid-state laser (1) comprises the laser resonator structure that is made up of the gain medium with the longitudinal axis (L) (2); Wherein pump light (5a) is through in side (2a) the feed-in gain medium (2); Wherein (2b) locates from gain medium (2) outgoing the part of pump light (5a) in relative side as outgoing pump light (5b); And wherein outgoing pump light (5b) is reflected, thereby makes that (2b) locates to get into again gain medium (2) to the pump light (5c) that reflects in relative side.

29. be used to operate the method for solid-state laser (1) according to claim 22; Wherein gain medium (2) by cooling symmetrically, therefore receives the heat distribution of symmetry with respect to the longitudinal axis (L) of gain medium (2) in gain medium (2) with respect to the longitudinal axis (L).

30. be used to operate the method according to the solid-state laser (1) of one of claim 22 and 23, wherein the dominant wavelength of pump light (5a) is squinted with respect to the absorption peak zone of gain medium (2).

31. be used to treat or the purposes of ablate biological tissue according to the solid-state laser (1) of one of claim 1 to 21.

32. therapeutic system; Comprise and be arranged in the housing (44) and the solid-state laser (1) of emission of lasering beam (21), the laser beam of incident be directed to optical couping device (46) in the photocon (45), solid-state laser (1) and hand-held device (50) be connected and comprise the flexible pipe (49) of photocon (45); Hand-held device (50) comprises the port of export (53) of the end that is used for photocon (45); This port of export (53) is used for laser beam is directed to target surface; Wherein, solid-state laser (1) is implemented according to one of claim 1 to 31.

33. according to the therapeutic system of claim 32, its middle shell (44) comprises the power supply with high current capacity buffer.

34. according to the therapeutic system of claim 32 or 33, its middle shell (44) comprise be used to produce just have especially and/or negative to the device of the gas-pressurized (47) of pressure.

35. according to the therapeutic system of one of claim 32 to 34, its middle shell (44) comprises the device that is used to produce fluid under pressure.

36. according to the therapeutic system of claim 34 or 35, wherein flexible pipe (49) comprises and is used for liquid or gas medium are transported to hand-held device (50) and/or carry at least one pipeline (51) of liquid or gas medium from hand-held device (50).

37. according to the therapeutic system of one of claim 32 to 36, its middle shell (44) comprises dismountable connector component (57).

38. according to the therapeutic system of one of claim 32 to 37, wherein hand-held device (50) comprises dismountable connector component (57).

39. according to the therapeutic system of one of claim 32 to 38, wherein hand-held device (50) comprises light beam formation and/or deflection unit.

40. according to the therapeutic system of one of claim 32 to 39, wherein hand-held device (50) comprises sonic transducer, particularly ultrasonic transducer.

41. according to the therapeutic system of one of claim 32 to 40, wherein hand-held device (50) comprises the photocon separative element.

42. according to the therapeutic system of one of claim 32 to 41, wherein hand-held device (50) comprises optical imagery parts (65).

43. according to the therapeutic system of one of claim 32 to 42, wherein hand-held device (50) comprises radio frequency sending set.

44. according to the therapeutic system of one of claim 32 to 43, wherein flexible pipe (49) comprises power cable.

45. according to the therapeutic system of one of claim 32 to 44, wherein flexible pipe (50) comprises at least one data line.

46. according to the therapeutic system of one of claim 32 to 45, wherein photocon (45) is implemented as the single fiber light guide element.

47. according to the therapeutic system of one of claim 32 to 46, wherein photocon (45) is implemented as many fibre-optic light guides element.

48. according to the therapeutic system of one of claim 32 to 47, wherein the port of export (53) comprises the outlet opening (62,63) that is connected to pipeline (51).

49. according to the therapeutic system of one of claim 32 to 48, wherein photocon terminal (45) be arranged at least in part outlet opening (53) around.

50. according to the therapeutic system of one of claim 30 to 47, wherein outlet opening (53) be arranged at least in part photocon end () around.

51. therapeutic system; Comprise the have emission of lasering beam hand-held device (20) of solid-state laser (1) of (21); This laser (1) also comprises control unit (32) that cooling unit (29), electricity drive solid-state laser (1), laser beam forms and deflection unit (24), be used for the laser beam (26) that forms is transmitted into contact window (25), the optical path (22) of target surface (23), the flexible pipe (37) that comprises the table-top unit of power supply, table-top unit is connected with hand-held device (20) from hand-held device (20); Contact window (25) comprises transparency cover (27); Optical path (22) comprises solid-state laser (1), laser beam forms and deflection unit (24) and contact window (25); Flexible pipe (37) also comprises mains connection, and wherein, solid-state laser (1) is implemented according to one of claim 1 to 31; Cooling unit (29) comprises chamber (30); Flexible pipe (37) comprises at least two cooling fluid feed tubes (31) that cooling chamber (30) is connected with the coolant circulation system of table-top unit, and control unit (32) comprises a high current capacity buffer (33).

52. therapeutic system; Comprise the have emission of lasering beam hand-held device (39) of solid-state laser (1) of (1); This laser (1) also comprises control unit (32) that cooling unit (29), electricity drive solid-state laser (1), laser beam forms and deflection unit (24), be used for the laser beam (26) that forms is transmitted into from hand-held device (39) contact window (25), the optical path (22) of target surface (23); Contact window (25) comprises transparency cover (27); Optical path (22) comprises solid-state laser (1), laser beam forms and deflection unit (1) and contact window (25), and wherein, solid-state laser (1) is implemented according to one of claim 1 to 31; Cooling unit (29) is implemented as solid-state cooling device (40); Control unit (32) comprises a high current capacity buffer (33), and hand-held device (39) comprises electrical energy storage means (41).

53., wherein use the smooth flat and/or the potted component that cooperatively interact to seal optical path (22) with respect to surrounding environment according to the therapeutic system of claim 51 or 52.

54. therapeutic system according to one of claim 51 to 53; Wherein hand-held device (20,39) comprises switch unit and at least two high current capacity buffers (33), and this switch unit is used for one of high current capacity buffer (33) is separately connected to control unit (32).

55. according to the therapeutic system of one of claim 51 to 54, wherein hand-held device (20,39) comprises user interface (35,43), this user interface (35,43) comprises display unit and input unit.

56. according to the therapeutic system of one of claim 51 to 55, wherein hand-held device (20,39) comprises image acquisition unit and image analyzing unit.

57. according to the therapeutic system of one of claim 51 to 56, wherein hand-held device (20,39) can disassemble from table-top unit.

58. according to the therapeutic system of one of claim 51 to 57, wherein transparency cover (27) can disassemble from hand-held device (20,39).

59. according to the therapeutic system of one of claim 52 to 58, wherein solid-state cooling device (40) is a phase-change material.

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