Multi-Channel Fiber Laser Combining for High-Power Stone Ablation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical lasers, such as the Chromium (Cr3+) Thulium (Tm3+) fiber lasers, which are solid-state, lamp-pumped, pulsed lasers that emit light having a wavelength of about 2.1 µm, are expensive, cumbersome, and have low wall-plug efficiencies and are inefficient for certain applications.
Innovation Solution
A fiber laser system comprising a plurality of fiber lasers, which are combined into a single delivery fiber that delivers the combined laser light to a target.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high-power laser light is used to achieve fast ablation and fragmentation of stones, then productivity is improved, but harmful factors increase due to large stone fragments and retropulsion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the laser system into multiple independent fiber laser channels (e.g., multiple amplifiers with different wavelengths) that operate simultaneously. Each channel contributes to the overall ablation effect, enabling high productivity while distributing the energy delivery to avoid excessive peak power in a single channel that causes retropulsion and large fragments.
2Power
If multiple fiber gain sources are multiplexed to achieve high power outputs, then power is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple fiber laser channels into a single delivery fiber using optical coupling techniques. The multiple amplifiers with different wavelengths are merged through a combination fiber, allowing high power output while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that can be integrated into existing medical laser systems.
3Power
If optical power is increased to achieve high-power laser light, then power is improved, but reliability decreases due to fiber laser damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the total optical power across multiple fiber laser channels, so that no single fiber carries the full high power load. Each fiber operates at a manageable power level that avoids damage, while the combined output achieves the required high power for effective stone ablation.
4Power
If lamp-pumping is used to achieve high power output, then power is improved, but energy efficiency worsens due to low wall-plug efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces lamp-pumping with diode pumping in the fiber laser system. Diode pumping provides significantly higher wall-plug efficiency compared to lamp pumping, as diodes convert electrical energy to optical energy more directly and with less heat loss, while still achieving the required high power output for medical applications.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The fiber laser system delivers high-power, multi-channel amplifier fiber laser for medical applications, which are combined into a single delivery optical fiber, maintaining optical power below a practical threshold to avoid damage to the fiber lasers, and minimizing the effects of the fiber lasers, while maintaining the optical power in each fiber laser below a practical threshold to avoid damage.
Implementation Method 1
A fiber laser system comprising a plurality of fiber lasers, which are combined into a single delivery fiber that delivers the combined laser light to a target
Implementation Method 2
high-power, multi-channel amplifier fiber laser
Data Source
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AI summary
The techniques described herein relate to a laser system, including: a plurality of fiber laser amplifiers; a beam combiner configured to combine laser light outputs from the plurality of fiber laser amplifiers; an optical delivery fiber configured to receive the combined output from the plurality of laser amplifiers into the delivery fiber and configured to deliver the combined output to a target; one or more diode lasers configured for providing optical pump pulses to the plurality of fiber laser amplifiers, wherein the laser light outputs from the plurality of fiber laser amplifiers are generated in response to the provided optical pump pulses.