Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
An instrument suitable for focusing a laser beam to a small spot in a focal plane characterized in that said instrument comprises: a laser source for producing a laser beam; means associated with the laser beam source for expanding the cross-section of the laser beam and for collimating the expanded laser ¡beam; a lens for focusing the expanded laser beam to a small spot on said focal plane, said focusing lens having a cross-section larger than the cross-section of the expanded laser beam; means located between the expanded and collimating means and the focusing lens for moving the expanded beam laterally in relation to the focusing lens to allow the small spot to be adjusted and moved in the focal plane.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
An instrument suitable for focusing a laser beam to a small spot in a focal plane characterized in that said instrument comprises: a laser source for producing a laser beam; means associated with the laser beam source for expanding the cross-section of the laser beam and for collimating the expanded laser ¡beam; a lens for focusing the expanded laser beam to a small spot on said focal plane, said focusing lens having a cross-section larger than the cross-section of the expanded laser beam; means located between the expanded and collimating means and the focusing lens for moving the expanded beam laterally in relation to the focusing lens to allow the small spot to be adjusted and moved in the focal plane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
An instrument according to claim 1 further characterized in that said beam moving means comprise two scanning galvanometer mirrors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
An instrument according to claims 1 and 2 further characterized in that a means for interrupting the laser beam is located in the path of said laser beam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
An instrument according to claim 3 further characterized in that power level detection means are associated with said laser beam, said power level detection means being located so that the power level of said laser beam can be monitored with said laser beam blocked by said interrupting means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
An instrument according to claims 1 through 4 further characterized in that means for attenuating the laser beam to control its power are provided.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
75 words
An instrument according to claims 4 through 5 further characterized in that said power level detection means comprises: a radiometer window located at the path of said laser beam capable of trasmitting the major portion of said laser beam and of reflecting a minor portion of said laser beam; a radiometer mounted so as to intercept the reflected laser beam; and circuitry to translate the output from said radiometer into an indication of power level.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
An instrument according to claims 1 through 6 further characterized in that said laser beam source is a C02 laser producing an infrared laser beam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
An instrument according to claim 7 further characterized in that a visible laser beam source producing a visible laser beam is provided and means for aligning said visible beam on said infrared laser beam are also provided so that said infrared laser beam can be located in said focal plane using the visible laser beam.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
83 words
A method for the repair of body structures characterized in that it comprises: . generating an infrared laser beam; positioning the body structure to be repaired at the focal plane of said laser beam; bringing the surfaces to be joined into close proximity with one another; focusing said infrared laser beam to a spot less than 200 microns in diameter; and directing said beam spot on to the juncture of the surface to be repaired for a time sufficient to effect the repair.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
83 words
A method for the repair of body structures characterized in that it comprises: . generating an infrared laser beam; positioning the body structure to be repaired at the focal plane of said laser beam; bringing the surfaces to be joined into close proximity with one another; focusing said infrared laser beam to a spot less than 200 microns in diameter; and directing said beam spot on to the juncture of the surface to be repaired for a time sufficient to effect the repair.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 8 further characterized in that said infrared laser beam is located at the juncture of the surfaces to be repaired by directing a visible laser beam, which is co-linear with and which has a focal point coincident with said infrared laser beam, at the juncture of the surfaces to be repaired.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
24 words
A method according to claims 9 through 10 further characterized in that said body structures are blood vessels less than 1 milimeter in diameter.