Handheld Laser Beam Shaping with Astigmatism Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Low-level lasers often produce beams with narrow cross sections and high peak irradiance, making them difficult to apply over large areas safely, especially in medical applications, and may lack coherence, increasing the risk of injury to sensitive tissues.
Innovation Solution
A handheld low-level laser apparatus using a series of lenses to correct astigmatism and collimate infrared laser emissions, expanding the beam cross-section and increasing coherence, while also incorporating a visible laser for safer application guidance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a laser diode produces a raw laser emission, then the beam has high coherence and directionality, but the beam has narrow cross section and high peak irradiance making it difficult to apply over large areas safely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a series of lenses to expand the laser beam in the spatial dimension, transforming the narrow cross-section into a wider beam profile that can safely cover larger treatment areas while distributing the energy more uniformly
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces corrective lenses as intermediary optical elements between the laser diode and the treatment area. These lenses act as mediators that reshape the beam profile, correct astigmatism, and distribute the irradiance more evenly across the target area
2Stability of the object's composition
If a raw laser emission is used directly, then the beam has high coherence, but the beam lacks corrected astigmatism and has non-uniform irradiance distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces corrective lenses as intermediary optical elements between the laser diode and the treatment area. These lenses act as mediators that reshape the beam profile, correct astigmatism, and distribute the irradiance more evenly across the target area
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the optical parameters of the laser beam by using corrective lenses to adjust the wavefront curvature, correct astigmatism, and transform the non-uniform irradiance distribution into a more uniform profile while preserving beam coherence
3Reliability
If an infrared laser beam is used, then the beam is effective for treatment, but the beam is not humanly visible making it difficult to determine where the laser is pointing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a visible laser diode that emits visible light (color change from invisible IR to visible spectrum) to provide visual guidance of the beam location, allowing users to see where the laser is pointing while the infrared treatment beam performs the therapeutic function
4Ease of operation
If the laser beam is directed into sensitive tissue such as an eye, then high peak irradiance causes injury, but the beam's narrow cross section makes precise control difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent expands the beam in spatial dimensions to create a wider, more controllable beam profile that is easier to guide away from sensitive areas like eyes, while the visible indicator laser provides real-time visual feedback for precise control
Solution Approach 2:
The visible indicator laser changes the optical spectrum from invisible to visible, providing real-time visual feedback that enables operators to control the beam direction and avoid sensitive tissues such as eyes
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 apparatus produces a high-coherence laser beam with lower peak irradiance, enabling safer and more effective application over larger areas, reducing the risk of eye injury and enhancing wound healing by improving blood flow and vascular flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
The one or more corrective lens is further configured alone or in combination to correct the astigmatism of the IR laser emission
Implementation Method 2
The one or more corrective lens is further configured alone or in combination to correct the astigmatism of the IR laser emission and to collimate the IR laser emission
Implementation Method 3
A divergence lens is positioned in the laser path after the one or more corrective lens and is configured to receive the IR laser emission therethrough and to diverge the IR laser emission
Implementation Method 4
A front lens is positioned in the laser path after the divergence lens and is configured to receive the IR laser emission therethrough and to collimate the IR laser emission after the IR laser emission passes through the divergence lens
Data Source
AI summary
A handheld, low-level laser apparatus includes a laser diode configured to generate a laser emission having an astigmatism. The apparatus further includes one or more corrective lens configured alone or in combination to correct the astigmatism and to collimate the laser emission, a divergence lens configured to diverge the laser emission after the laser emission passes through the one or more corrective lens, and a front lens configured to collimate the laser emission after the laser emission passes through the divergence lens. A low-level laser beam producing method includes repeatedly directing an IR laser emission through a series of lenses during a first set of time periods and repeatedly directing a visible laser emission through the series of lenses during a second set of time periods, each time period of the first set of time periods being distinct from each time period of the second set of time periods.