GB2312985A

GB2312985A - Gas laser with disposable module

Info

Publication number: GB2312985A
Application number: GB9709178A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alex Harel; David Biran
Original assignee: Optomedic Medical Technologies Ltd
Current assignee: Optomedic Medical Technologies Ltd
Priority date: 1996-05-07
Filing date: 1997-05-06
Publication date: 1997-11-12
Also published as: GB9709178D0; DE19719472A1; IL118174A0

Description

2312985

FIELD OF THE, INVENTION

The present invention relates to gas lasers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Gas lasers generally include, inter alia, delicate, complicated and/or high voltage components and sub-systems. Usually it is difficult, tedious, and sometimes dangerous, for an end user to replace or to perform maintenance on a gas laser in a laser system. Replacement or maintenance is strictly reserved for skilled technicians or factory personnel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide a novel gas laser which allows an end user to perform simple and quick maintenance or replacement. The gas laser of the present invention is packaged as a single disposable module with quick disconnect/connect built-in connectors for all the relevant supplies of the gas laser, such as high voltage, cooling fluid, low voltage, test and communication. The module is configured to be quickly and accurately replaced by another module without any need for realignment or recalibration by the end user. Manufacturing tolerances may be sufficient to obviate the need for realignment or recalibration. Alternatively or additionally, self-realignment and self-recalibration apparatus may be integrally formed with the module.

An important feature of the present invention is that the spatial optical pointing path of the laser is maintained within strict tolerances and a high degree of repeatability necessary for the proper operation of the system. Thus the end user can simply discard a faulty gas laser module and reliably install a new module.

There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a gas laser having a spatial optical pointing path, the gas laser including a disposable module including a lasing medium, a cavity structure and/or an activator, the disposable module being mountable in a laser system and being replaceable by an end user with another disposable module such that the spatial optical pointing path is substantially unchanged without any need for special tools.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the as laser includes at least one quick disconnect/connect built-in connector for connection with all the relevant 1 supplies of the gas laser, such as high voltage, cooling fluid, low voltage, test and communication. Preferably a guiding element is provided to help guide connection of the at least one quick disconnect/connect built-in connector. The gas laser may include sel f- realignment apparatus or self-recalibration apparatus.

There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a laser system including a gas laser having a spatial optical pointing path, the gas laser including a disposable module including a lasing medium, a cavity structure and/or an activator, the disposable module being mountable in the laser system and being replaceable by an end user with another disposable module such that the spatial optical pointing path is substantially unchanged.

There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method for end user maintenance of a gas laser in a laser system, the gas laser having a spatial optical pointing path, the method including the steps of packaging the gas laser in a disposable module, the disposable module being mountable in the laser system and being replaceable by an end user with another disposable module such that the spatial optical pointing path is substantially unchanged, and having an end user replace the disposable module with another disposable module. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which.

Fig. 1 is a simplified pictorial illustration of a gas laser system, including a gas laser and a disposable module therefor, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a simplified block diagram of the operation of the gas laser and disposable module, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 3 is a simplified pictonial illustration of the gas laser and disposable module, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 4 is a simplified pictorial illustration of a gas laser and a disposable module, constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

2 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Reference is now made to Fig. 1 which illustrates a laser system 10, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Laser system 10 preferably includes, inter alia, a gas laser 12 which may be mounted on a platform of an articulated arm assembly 16. Electrical power is supplied to gas laser 12 preferably by means of an electrical connector 18.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, gas laser 12 includes a disposable module 20, which may be installed or removed from gas laser 12 by an end user 22. Disposable module 20 is preferably a self-contained laser module which may be quickly and accurately replaced by another disposable module without any need for realignment or recalibration by end user 22.

Reference is now made to Fig. 2 which is a simplified block diagram of the operation of gas laser 12 and disposable module 20. Disposable module 20 preferably includes a lasing medium 24, such as carbon dioxide wffich may be stored in a reservoir within module 20, a cavity structure 26 formed between a pair of optical elements 28, such as, but not necessarily, a pair of nrors, and an activator 30, such as a pair of electrodes 32. Disposable module 20 may be cooled by cooling fluid 34, such as water or forced air.

Reference is now made to Fig. 3 which further illustrates gas laser 12 and disposable module 20. Disposable module 20 preferably includes a housing 40 in which are assembled any essential elements for the operation of gas laser 12, preferably lasing medium 24, cavity structure 26 and activator 30 (all not shown in Fig. 3). Housing 40, preferably formed with a pair of guide rails 42, is preferably mounted on a base 44. Housing 40 is shown to be generally cylindrical in shape in Fig. 3, although it is appreciated that housing 40 may be configured with any other arbitrary shape.

Housing 40 and base 44 are preferably sized and shaped to fit into a mounting recess 46 formed in a chassis 48. Guide rails 42 preferably matingly slide into slots 50 formed in chassis 48. Preferably located at the bottom of mounting recess 46 is an interface board 52.

Chassis 48 preferably houses internal assemblies (not shown in Fig. 3) necessary for the operation of gas laser 12, such as high voltage components and electronics, test and 3 communication electronics, and a heat exchanger which circulates coolincy fluid 34 for cooling disposable module 20.

Base 44 and interface board 52 preferably include a plurality of corresponding male and female quick disconnect/connect built-in connectors, herein referred to as quick connectors. The quick connectors on interface board 52 are preferably in communication with the internal assemblies of chassis 48, such as by means of cables, wires andlor tubing (not shown) located in chassis 48, as is known in the art.

The quick connectors on base 44 are preferably in communication with corresponding internal components and sub-assemblies (not shown) inside disposable module 20, such as via cables, wires andlor tubing (not shown) located in an interface block 54.

For example, as shown in the block diagram of Fig. 2 and the pictorial illustration of Fig. 3, base 44 and interface board 52 may include a mating pair of quick high voltage connectors 56A and 56B, respectively, such as Model No. E200BX or E201BX high voltage connectors, commercially available from Alden Products Co., Brockton, MA, USA. As seen in Fig. 2, high voltage connectors 56A and 56B may be in communication with high voltage electronics 57. In addition there may be provided a mating pair of quick low voltage connectors 58A and 58B, respectively, such as Model No. 8SO-009SM-131S or IIDA0920 connectors, commercially available from Daeda, Inc. Low voltage connectors 58A and 58B may include connections for various functions, such as test and communication, designated by reference numeral 59. Furthermore, base 44 and interface block 54 may include a mating pair of inlet quick cooling fluid connectors 60A and 60B, and a mating pair of exit quick cooling fluid connectors 62A and 62B, respectively, such as Model No. PLMD 120-04 or PLMD 200-04 quick couplings, commercially available from CPC Inc. Fluid connectors 60A, 60B, 62A and 62B may be in fluid communication with a heat exchanger 64. Preferably, fluid connectors 60A, 6013, 62A and 62B are connected and disconnected with a push-pull action. Alternatively, they may be disconnected with the aid of an additional release mechanism, depending on the type of quick cooling fluid connector chosen.

As seen in Fig. 3, one or more guide pins 70 may be provided on base 44 to further facilitate mating of the quick connectors.

As seen in Figs. 1 and 3, gas laser 12 is characterized by a spatial optical pointing path 75. It is a particular feature of the present invention that disposable module 20 is configured to be 4 quickly and accurately replaced by another module 20 without any need for realignment or recalibration by the end user 22 (Fig. 1). Spatial optical pointing path 75 is maintained within strict tolerances and a high degree of repeatability necessary for the proper operation of gas laser 12 and laser system 10 (Fig. 1). Thus end user 22 can simply discard a faulty gas laser module and reliably install a new module.

Manufacturing tolerances may be sufficient to obviate the need for realignment or recalibration. Alternatively or additionally, selfrealignment apparatus 80 and/or self-recalibration apparatus 82 may be integrally formed with module 20. Alternatively, self-realignment apparatus 80 and/or self-recalibration apparatus 82 may be mounted outside of disposable module 20 in chassis 48 of gas laser 12.

The quick connectors of disposable module 20 are preferably push/pull type of quick connectors. It is appreciated that other types of quick connectors may be employed.

Reference is made now to Fig. 4 which illustrates a gas laser 90 and disposable module 92, constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. Disposable module 92 preferably includes a housing 94 to which is attached a guide rail 96. Quick connectors 98 are preferably attached to an end plate 100. Disposable module 92 operates in substantially the same manner as disposable module 20 described hereinabove with reference to Figs. 1 - 3, except that by sliding disposable module 92 along a track (not shown) in which slides guide rail 96, quick connectors 98 may be pushed into mating contact with corresponding connectors (not shown).

It is appreciated that various features of the invention which are, for clarity, described in the contexts of separate embodiments may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims which follow:

C L A 1 M S 1 A gas laser having a spatial optical pointing path, said gas laser comprising..

a disposable module compilsing:

at least one of the following laser elements: a lasing medium, a cavity structure and an activator, said disposable module being mountable in a laser system and being replaceable by an end user with another disposable module such that said spatial optical pointing path is substantially unchanged.

2. A gas laser according to claim 1 and comprising at least one quick disconnect/connect built-in connector for connecting said laser with at least one of the following sources: high voltage, cooling fluid, low voltage, test and communication.

3. A gas laser according to claim 2 and comprising a guiding element for guiding connection of said at least one quick disconnect/connect built-in connector.

4. A gas laser according to any of claims 1 - 3 and comprising at least one of self-realignment apparatus and self-recalibration apparatus.

5. A laser system comprising. a gas laser having a spatial optical pointing path, said gas laser comphisinga disposable module comprising: at least one of the following laser elements: a lasing medium, a cavity structure and an activator, said disposable module being mountable in said laser system and being replaceable by an end user with another disposable module such that said spatial optical pointing path is substantially unchanged.

6. A method for end user maintenance of a gas laser in a laser system, the gas laser having a spatial optical pointing path, said method comprising the steps of..

6 packaging said gas lasel- In a disposable module, said disposable module being mountable in said laser system and being replaceable by an end user with another disposable module such that said spatial optical pointing path is substantially unchanged; and having an end user replace said disposable module with another disposable module.

1

Claims

AMENDMENTS TO THE-CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED AS FOLLOWS:

CLAIMS A gas laser having a spatial optical pointing path, said gas laser comprising.. a disposable module compiising: at least one of the following laser elements: a lasing medium, a cavity structure aryd an activator, said disposable module being mountable in a laser system and being replaceable by an end user with another disposable module such that said spatial optical pointing path is substantially unchanged.
2. A gas laser according to claim 1 and comprising at least one quick disco nnect/connect built-in connector for connecting said laser vAth at least one of the following sources: high voltage, cooling fluid, low voltage, test and communication.
3. A gas laser according to claim 2 and comprising a guiding element for guiding connection of said at least one quick disconnect/connect built-in connector.
4. A gas laser according to any of claims 1 - 3 and comprising at least one of self-realignment apparatus and self-recalibration apparatus.
5. A laser system comprising: a gas laser having a spatial optical pointing path, said gas laser comprising. a disposable module comprising: at least one of the following laser elements: a lasing medium, a cavity structure and an activator, said disposable module being mountable in said laser system and being replaceable by an end user with another disposable module such that said spatial optical pointing path is substantially unchanged.
6. A method for end user maintenance of a gas laser in a laser system, the gas laser having a spatial optical pointing path, said method comprising the steps of..

packaging said gas laser in a disposable module, said disposable module being mountable in said laser system and being replaceable by an end user with another disposable module such that said spatial optical pointing path is substantially unchanged; and having an end user replace said disposable module with another disposable module.
7. A gas laser substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
8. A laser system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

CA