Granted Patent B2

US 7,292,759 · App. 11/186,619 · Granted Nov 6, 2007

Abstract

Claims (91)

1. An illumination device having a proximal end and a distal end, the illumination device comprising:

an elongate body having a flexible, non-rigid portion and a distally-disposed, inflexible, rigid portion;

an output portion that is rotatable relative to the distally-disposed portion;

a power fiber extending from the proximal end to the distal end;

a plurality of first optical fibers disposed within the elongate body, concentrically arranged around the power fiber, and extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the plurality of first optical fibers being capable of receiving a first type of electromagnetic energy from the proximal end and of outputting the first type of electromagnetic energy at the distal end; and

a plurality of second optical fibers concentrically arranged around the power fiber and extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the plurality of second optical fibers being capable of receiving a second type of electromagnetic energy from the distal end and of directing the second type of electromagnetic energy to the proximal end.

2. The illumination device as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising:

a plurality of third optical fibers extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the plurality of third optical fibers being capable of receiving a third type of electromagnetic energy from the distal end and of directing the third type of electromagnetic energy to the proximal end; and

a camera coupled to receive the third type of electromagnetic energy from at least part of the plurality of third optical fibers.

3. The illumination device as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the second type of electromagnetic energy is substantially the same as the third type of electromagnetic energy.

4. The illumination device as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising an electromagnetic energy sensor coupled to receive electromagnetic energy from at least part of the plurality of second optical fibers.

5. The illumination device as set forth in claim 4 , wherein the electromagnetic energy sensor includes a camera coupled to receive electromagnetic energy from at least part of the plurality of second optical fibers.

6. The illumination device as set forth in claim 4 , wherein:

the electromagnetic energy sensor is coupled to receive the second type of electromagnetic energy from at least part of the plurality of second optical fibers; and

the illumination device further comprises a camera that is coupled to receive the second type of electromagnetic energy from at least part of the plurality of second optical fibers.

7. The illumination device as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first optical fibers is capable of receiving electromagnetic energy comprising one or more of visible light, infrared light, blue light, and laser light.

8. The illumination device as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising an electromagnetic energy sensor coupled to receive electromagnetic energy from the plurality of second optical fibers.

9. The illumination device as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the electromagnetic energy sensor is coupled to receive the second type of electromagnetic energy from at least part of the plurality of second optical fibers.

10. The illumination device as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the illumination device includes at least one light altering element capable of influencing a transmission of electromagnetic energy by the plurality of first optical fibers.

11. The illumination device as set forth in claim 10 , wherein the at least one light altering element comprises at least one optical filter.

12. The illumination device as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the at least one optical filter is structured to convert blue light into white light.

13. The illumination device as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the proximal end is split and comprises a plurality of proximal members comprising a plurality of sets of optical fibers.

14. The illumination device as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the plurality of proximal members comprises:

two proximal members, each of which comprises a plurality of optical fibers that direct electromagnetic energy from the proximal end to the distal end; and

one proximal member comprising a plurality of optical fibers that direct electromagnetic energy from the distal end to the proximal end.

15. The illumination device as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a beam splitter coupled to one or more of (a) at least part of the plurality of first optical fibers and (b) at least part of the plurality of second optical fibers.

16. The illumination device as set forth in claim 15 , further comprising an electromagnetic energy sensor coupled to receive electromagnetic energy from at least part of the plurality of second optical fibers.

17. The illumination device as set forth in claim 15 , further comprising a camera coupled to receive electromagnetic energy from at least part of the plurality of second optical fibers.

18. The illumination device as set forth in claim 17 , further comprising an electromagnetic energy sensor coupled to receive electromagnetic energy from at least part of the plurality of second optical fibers.

19. The illumination device as set forth in claim 18 , wherein:

the electromagnetic energy sensor is coupled to receive the second type of electromagnetic energy from at least part of the plurality of second optical fibers; and

the camera is coupled to receive the second type of electromagnetic energy from at least part of the plurality of second optical fibers.

20. The illumination device as set forth in claim 15 , further comprising:

a plurality of third optical fibers extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the plurality of third optical fibers being capable of receiving a third type of electromagnetic energy from the distal end and of directing the third type of electromagnetic energy to the proximal end; and

a camera coupled to receive the third type of electromagnetic energy from at least part of the plurality of third optical fibers.

21. The illumination device as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the power fiber is coupled to an electromagnetic energy source comprising one of a wavelength within a range from about 2.69 to about 2.80 microns and a wavelength of about 2.94 microns.

22. The illumination device as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the power fiber is coupled to at least one of an Er:YAG laser, an Er:YSGG laser, an Er, Cr:YSGG laser and a CTE:YAG laser.

23. The illumination device as set forth in claim 22 , wherein the power fiber is coupled to at least one of an Er, Cr:YSGG solid state laser having a wavelength of about 2.789 microns and an Er:YAG solid state laser having a wavelength of about 2.940 microns.

24. The illumination device as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the target surface comprises one of tooth, bone, cartilage and soft tissue.

25. The illumination device as set forth in claim 1 , and further comprising a fluid output that is configured to output fluid at the distal end.

26. The illumination device as set forth in claim 1 , and further comprising a plurality of fluid outputs, concentrically arranged around the power fiber and being configured to output fluid at the distal end.

27. The illumination device as set forth in claim 25 , wherein the fluid output is configured to output fluid particles comprising water.

28. The illumination device as set forth in claim 25 , wherein:

the fluid output comprises an atomizer configured to place atomized fluid particles into a volume above a target surface; and

the power fiber is configured to impart relatively large amounts of energy into the atomized fluid particles in the volume above the target surface to thereby expand the atomized fluid particles wherein disruptive forces are imparted onto the target surface.

29. The illumination device as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the non-rigid portion comprises a jointed section.

30. The illumination device as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the non-rigid portion comprises a plurality of joints.

31. The illumination device as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the output portion is disposed adjacent to the rigid portion.

32. The illumination device as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the output portion is disposed distally of the rigid portion.

33. The illumination device as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the non-rigid portion assumes in a neutral position an angle of about 15 to 20 degrees between the rigid portion and a part of the elongate body adjacent to and proximal of the non-rigid portion.

34. The illumination device as set forth in claim 26 , wherein at least one substantially flexible portion comprises a jointed section.

35. The illumination device as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the non-rigid portion comprises a plurality of joints.

36. An illumination device, comprising:

an elongate body having a proximal end; a flexible, non-rigid portion; a distally-disposed, inflexible, rigid portion; and a distal end;

an output portion that is rotatable relative to the rigid portion;

a power light transmitter;

a first plurality of light transmitters disposed within the elongate body around the power light transmitter, the first plurality of light transmitters being configured to transmit electromagnetic energy from the proximal end to the distal end;

a second plurality of light transmitters disposed within the elongate body around the power light transmitter, the second plurality of light transmitters being configured to transmit electromagnetic energy from the distal end to the proximal end; and

a light sensor coupled to receive light from the second plurality of light transmitters at the proximal end.

37. The illumination device as set forth in claim 36 , wherein the second plurality of light transmitters is configured to transmit visible light from the distal end to the proximal end.

38. The illumination device as set forth in claim 37 , further comprising a beam splitter coupled to at least part of the second plurality of light transmitters.

39. The illumination device as set forth in claim 36 , further comprising a microprocessor coupled to the light sensor to interpret the light received from the second plurality of light transmitters at the proximal end.

40. The illumination device as set forth in claim 36 , wherein the first plurality of light transmitters is capable of transmitting light comprising at least one of visible light, infrared light, blue light, and laser light.

41. The illumination device as set forth in claim 40 , wherein at least one substantially flexible portion comprises a jointed section.

42. The illumination device as set forth in claim 41 , wherein the jointed section assumes in a neutral position an angle of about 15 to 20 degrees between an axis of the rigid portion and an axis of a part of the elongate body adjacent to and proximal of the jointed section.

43. The illumination device as set forth in claim 36 , wherein:

the first plurality of light transmitters comprises a first plurality of optical fibers; and

the second plurality of light transmitters comprises a second plurality of optical fibers.

44. The illumination device as set forth in claim 43 , wherein the first plurality of light transmitters comprises at least one light altering element capable of influencing light transmitted to the distal end.

45. The illumination device as set forth in claim 44 , wherein the at least one light altering element comprises at least one optical filter.

46. The illumination device as set forth in claim 36 , further comprising:

a third plurality of light transmitters extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the third plurality of light transmitters being configured to receive light from the distal end and to direct the light to the proximal end; and

a camera coupled to receive light from at least part of the third plurality of light transmitters.

47. The illumination device as set forth in claim 46 , wherein light transmitted from the distal end to the proximal end by the second plurality of light transmitters is substantially the same as light received by, and directed to the proximal end by, the third plurality of light transmitters.

48. The illumination device as set forth in claim 36 , wherein the light sensor includes a camera coupled to receive light from at least part of the second plurality of light transmitters.

49. The illumination device as set forth in claim 36 , wherein the illumination device further comprises a camera that is coupled to receive light from the second plurality of light transmitters.

50. The illumination device as set forth in claim 36 , further comprising a beam splitter coupled to one or more of (a) at least part of the first plurality of light transmitters and (b) at least part of the second plurality of light transmitters.

51. The illumination device as set forth in claim 50 , wherein the light sensor is coupled to receive light from part of the second plurality of light transmitters.

52. The illumination device as set forth in claim 50 , further comprising a camera coupled to receive light from at least part of the second plurality of light transmitters.

53. The illumination device as set forth in claim 50 , further comprising:

a third plurality of light transmitters extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the third plurality of light transmitters being capable of receiving light from the distal end and of directing the light to the proximal end; and

a camera coupled to receive light from at least part of the third plurality of light transmitters.

54. The illumination device as set forth in claim 36 , wherein:

the power light transmitter is coupled to at least one of an Er:YAG laser, an Er:YSGG laser, an Er, Cr:YSGG laser and a CTE:YAG laser; and

the illumination device further comprises a fluid output that is configured to output fluid at the distal end.

55. The illumination device as set forth in claim 36 , wherein:

the illumination device further comprises an atomizer configured to place atomized water particles into a volume above a target surface comprising one or more of tooth, bone, cartilage and soft tissue; and

the power light transmitter is configured to impart relatively large amounts of energy into the atomized fluid particles in the volume above the target surface to thereby expand the atomized water particles wherein disruptive forces are imparted onto the target surface.

56. The illumination device as set forth in claim 26 , wherein the non-rigid portion assumes in a neutral position an angle of about 15 to 20 degrees between the rigid portion and a part of the elongate body adjacent to and proximal of the non-rigid portion.

57. The illumination device as set forth in claim 26 , wherein the output portion is disposed adjacent to the rigid portion.

58. The illumination device as set forth in claim 26 , wherein the output portion is disposed distally of the rigid portion.

Assignments (11)