US3913582A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Laser device with articulated arm
Assignee: Laser Industries Ltd
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Filing: 1973-10-17
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Granted: 1975-10-21
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Expires: 1993-10-17
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for conducting a laser beam from a laser, through an articulated arm, to an output device, said apparatus being constructed so that the output device is easily maneuvered. In one embodiment, a beam from a laser mounted on an optical bench is directed to a first mirror that reflects the beam upward along the axis of a vertical shaft. At the top of the shaft, a second mirror, mounted on a conical bearing and rotatable about the axis of the vertical shaft, reflects the laser beam along the axis of a horizontal sleeve to a third mirror that is mounted on a sleeve bearing so that it is rotatable about the horizontal axis. In like fashion, the beam from the third mirror is successively incident on fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth mirrors all of which are rotatable about the axis of the shaft down which the incident beam propagates. Finally, the beam from the eighth mirror enters the output device. The second through eighth mirrors are all mounted in the articulated arm and are interconnected by sleeve bearings and, in some cases, hollow tubes. The arm is supported by a counterbalancing system that is connected to the arm at a point between the third and fourth mirrors.
Inventors
- 👤 Uzi Sharon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 08:05
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K26/00; B23K26/02; B23K26/06; B23K26/064; B23K26/0643; A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/201; B23K26/08; B23K26/0869; B23K26/0876; B23K26/0884; B23K26/14; B23K26/1462; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00973; A61B90/00; A61B90/50; A61B2090/5025; A61B2090/504; A61B2218/00; A61B2218/001; A61B2218/002; A61B2218/005; A61M; A61M13/00; A61M13/003
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
Apparatus for guiding a laser beam comprising: an articulated structure; a series of beam redirecting means supported by said structure and arranged to successively reflect said beam, said articulated structure providing means for varying the position of the beam redirecting means to vary at least one of the position and direction of the beam from the last of said beam redirecting means; means for rotating at least a portion of the articulated structure about a first axis; a supporting arm coupled at one point to said portion of the articulated structure that is rotatable about said first axis, said supporting arm being rotatable about a second axis spaced apart from and parallel to said first axis; and means for supporting both said articulated structure and said supporting arm.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
Apparatus for guiding a laser beam comprising: an articulated structure; a series of beam redirecting means supported by said structure and arranged to successively reflect said beam, said articulated structure providing means for varying the position of the beam redirecting means to vary at least one of the position and direction of the beam from the last of said beam redirecting means; means for rotating at least a portion of the articulated structure about a first axis; a supporting arm coupled at one point to said portion of the articulated structure that is rotatable about said first axis, said supporting arm being rotatable about a second axis spaced apart from and parallel to said first axis; and means for supporting both said articulated structure and said supporting arm.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for supporting the articulated structure and the supporting arm also provides for their rotation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
101 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the means for supporting the articulated structure and the supporting arm is a vertical shaft; said first axis is horizontal; said second axis is also horizontal and is intersected by the vertical axis of said vertical shaft; and the coupling between the supporting arm and the articulated structure comprises a mounting secured to said articulated structure, said structure being rotatable in said mounting about a third axis, and means for securing said mounting to said supporting arm and for rotating it about a fourth axis, said first, second, third, and fourth axes being approximately parallel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein a counterweight is attached to said supporting arm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the center of gravity of said articulated structure, supporting arm and counterweight is approximately in line with the vertical axis of the vertical shaft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the articulated structure is supported on a vertical shaft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said vertical shaft contains a conical bearing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the center of gravity of the load borne by the supporting arm is approximately in line with the axis of the vertical shaft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the supporting arm is coupled to the articulated structure by a coupling that can rotate about the portion of the articulated structure to which it is secured, whereby the rotational moment of inertia of the supporting arm about said portion of the articulated structure is decoupled from the moment of inertia of the articulated structure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said mounting is rotatable on said articulated structure about an axis perpendicular to said first axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
86 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: an adjustable mirror positionEd in the path of the laser beam to direct said beam along a desired path in the articulated structure; and means for adjusting the position of the adjustable mirror so that a laser beam incident on the mirror at the point where said path intersects the mirror can be directed along said path, said adjustable mirror remaining fixed in position with respect to the laser beam and its source once the mirror is so adjusted.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the articulated structure comprises a series of interconnected hollow shafts and the desired path along which the laser beam is directed is along the axis of said shafts.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the desired path along which the laser beam is directed is the axis of rotation of a first rotatable element in said articulated structure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for mounting a laser in approximately a horizontal position and for directing said laser beam to the first of the beam redirecting means supported by the articulated structure.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the articulated structure contains at least one sleeve bearing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
116 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the means for supporting the articulated structure and the supporting arm is a vertical shaft; the articulated structure comprises: first means connected to said vertical shaft and rotatable about a horizontal axis; second means connected to said first means and providing for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the horizontal axis of said first means; and third means connected to said second means and providing for rotation about an axis perpendicular to said axis of said second means; and the beam redirecting means are supported in the articulated structure to redirect the beam along the horizontal axis, said axis of said second means, and said axis of said third means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein: the articulated structure further comprises fourth means connected to said third means and providing for rotation about an axis perpendicular to said axis of said third means; and a beam redirecting means is supported in said articulated structure to redirect the beam along said axis of said fourth means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a surgical instrument attached to the end of the articulated structure.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising means for establishing with an inert gas a positive gas pressure at the operating end of the surgical instrument.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said mounting is rotatable about a portion of the articulated structure to which it is secured.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said mounting is rotatable on said articulated structure about an axis perpendicular to said first axis.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said vertical shaft is rotatable about its vertical axis and said first axis intersects said vertical axis.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-20 | 1979-04-21 | 1979-10-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-20 | 1983-04-21 | 1983-10-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-20 | 1987-04-21 | 1987-10-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |