Modular surgical laser systems

What is this patent about?

’097 is related to the field of surgical and therapeutic laser systems, specifically those utilizing semiconductor light sources for medical and dental procedures. The background context involves the need for improved portability and versatility in clinical environments, moving away from bulky, tethered equipment toward modular systems that offer better fiber management and more intuitive user interfaces.

The underlying idea behind ’097 is the integration of a multi-wavelength laser engine into a modular, wireless architecture that simplifies the delivery of therapeutic light. By combining multiple laser chips and detector chips through a series of filters and reflectors, the system merges distinct wavelengths into a single output fiber. This allows a practitioner to switch between or combine different therapeutic effects without changing hardware, all while maintaining a sterile field through wireless control and autoclavable components.

The claims of ’097 focus on a portable laser transmission system that utilizes a battery-powered console acting as the central hub for laser generation and control. The system is defined by its specific connection architecture, which includes a laser transmission fiber ending in a ferrule that seats into a specialized housing. This housing facilitates a secure, aligned connection to a disposable application tip, while the entire firing sequence is managed by a wireless foot switch to eliminate physical cable obstructions.

In practice, the invention works by utilizing a unique fiber-to-fiber coupling mechanism that employs precision spacers and optical lenses to maximize light transfer efficiency between the main console and the surgical tip. The system can be implemented either as a stationary console with a tethered handpiece or as a fully mobile, battery-operated handheld unit. The use of a slotted cylindrical housing allows for automatic alignment of ferrules, ensuring that even with minor manufacturing variances, the laser energy is focused accurately into the delivery fiber.

This approach differs from prior solutions by replacing rigid, single-wavelength delivery with a disposable tip architecture that pre-encases the fiber at specific angles. Unlike traditional systems where fibers are repeatedly bent or stressed during insertion into cannulas, these tips are factory-set at angles ranging from 0° to 90°. This reduces mechanical strain on the glass and ensures consistent beam quality, while the wireless foot switch and touch-screen interface provide a level of ergonomic freedom not found in older, hard-wired surgical lasers.