Laser systems, with a fiber storage and dispensing unit, useful in medicine and dentistry

What is this patent about?

’116 is related to the field of medical and dental laser systems, specifically focusing on the delivery and management of laser energy for surgical and therapeutic applications. In clinical environments, managing the delicate optical fibers that transport laser light from the source to the patient is a significant challenge, as excess fiber can become tangled, contaminated, or damaged, while insufficient length limits the practitioner's range of motion.

The underlying idea behind ’116 is the use of a modular fiber cartridge that serves as both a storage reservoir and a controlled dispensing mechanism for the optical delivery medium. By housing the fiber within a self-contained, removable unit that interfaces with a main laser console, the system allows for the precise management of fiber length while protecting the material from environmental hazards. This modularity ensures that the fiber—a consumable component—can be easily replaced or disposed of without requiring complex disassembly of the primary laser generator.

The claims of ’116 focus on a laser system architecture comprising a main housing and a removable fiber module that contains a reservoir of extra fiber. The independent claims specify that this module includes its own outer casing that can be attached to or detached from the main housing, with the fiber inside maintaining a light-conductive path from the internal laser source to a distal end. This distal end is further integrated with a handpiece designed for manual manipulation during medical procedures.

In practice, the invention functions by coupling a multi-emitter laser module to the fiber stored within the cartridge. The system utilizes a motorized drive wheel assembly within the module to actively extrude or retract the fiber through a guide aperture, allowing the clinician to adjust the working length on demand. To ensure high power delivery from a compact footprint, the system bundles light from multiple semiconductor laser chips into a single delivery fiber, often employing an optical lens to focus the combined beams into the cartridge's fiber core.

This approach differs from prior solutions by moving fiber management from an external spool or fixed internal length to a swappable storage unit that communicates directly with the system's control logic. Unlike traditional fixed-fiber lasers, this design facilitates the use of different fiber types for specific procedures—such as switching between a standard surgical tip and a specialized whitening module—while using the cartridge's internal geometry to maintain a safe minimum bend radius, preventing the optical degradation or breakage common in loose-fiber setups.