Multi-Source Ho:YAG Laser Pulse Combining for Higher Frequency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Holmium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Ho:YAG) laser generators have a practical limit to the frequency of laser pulse generation, which affects the effectiveness of the laser resonator and requires increased cooling mechanisms, limiting the efficiency of medical procedures like lithotripsy.
Innovation Solution
A medical laser system comprising multiple laser sources generating series of laser pulses offset in time, combined using a rotating mirror to create a composite series with a higher frequency, allowing for increased pulse frequency without significant cooling capacity enhancement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the frequency of laser pulse generation is increased in conventional Ho:YAG laser generators, then the treatment efficiency is improved, but the effectiveness of the laser resonator decreases and the cooling requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides a single high-frequency laser source into multiple lower-frequency laser sources (e.g., four 15Hz sources to achieve 60Hz composite output). Each laser source operates independently at a manageable frequency, and their pulses are combined through precise temporal offset and beam combining optics to create the effect of a higher frequency system without overloading any single resonator.
2Productivity
If the frequency of laser pulse generation is increased in conventional Ho:YAG laser generators, then the treatment efficiency is improved, but the cooling apparatus capacity must be increased
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling load is segmented across multiple independent laser sources, each operating at a lower frequency with its own manageable cooling requirements. The composite high-frequency output is achieved by combining pulses from these multiple sources, so the cooling apparatus only needs to handle the thermal load of individual lower-frequency sources rather than a single high-frequency source.
3Productivity
If multiple laser sources are used to increase pulse frequency, then the laser pulse frequency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple lower-frequency laser beams into a single composite high-frequency beam using beam combining optics. The individual laser sources are synchronized with precise temporal offsets, and their beams are combined through optical elements (such as dichroic mirrors or beam combining cavities) to create a unified output that behaves like a single high-frequency laser source.
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 solution enables a higher frequency of laser pulses, enhancing the effectiveness of medical procedures like lithotripsy while maintaining manageable cooling requirements, thereby improving treatment efficiency without increasing the cooling apparatus's capacity.
Implementation Method 1
A medical laser system comprising multiple laser sources generating series of laser pulses offset in time
Implementation Method 2
combined using a rotating mirror to create a composite series with a higher frequency
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure provides a laser generator comprising several laser sources where each laser source is arranged to generate a series of laser pulses offset in time from the other series of laser pulses generated by the other laser sources. The offset series of pulses are combined to provide a composite series of laser pulses with a higher frequency than each of the series of pulses have individually. Further, the present disclosure provides that the pulses of the composite series of laser pulses are non-equidistant from each other.