Method and apparatus for controlling an electromagnetic energy output system

1 . A laser handpiece device adapted to generate electromagnetic energy according to a plurality of preset parameter-value combinations, the device comprising:

a graphical user interface adapted to present the plurality of preset parameter-value combinations to a user, the graphical user interface being further adapted to receive adjustment to a selected one of the plurality of preset parameter-value combinations and to store the adjusted parameter-value combination for future selection;

a touchscreen disposed on a portable assembly easily held in a hand, the portable assembly being operably connected with an electromagnetic energy source; and

a plurality of electromagnetic energy control icons displayed on the touchscreen, wherein the electromagnetic energy source is responsive to inputs caused by touching at least one of the electromagnetic energy control icons.

2 . The laser handpiece device as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a power level indicator on the graphical user interface, the power level indicator being adapted to display a level of power generated by the electromagnetic energy source, wherein:

at least one of the electromagnetic energy control icons comprises a power increase icon that controls an increase in the level of power generated by the electromagnetic energy source; and

at least one other one of the electromagnetic energy control icons comprises a power decrease icon that controls a decrease in the level of power generated by the electromagnetic energy source.

3 . The laser handpiece device as set forth in claim 2 , wherein:

at least one of the electromagnetic energy control icons comprises an energy mode icon; and the energy mode icon controls a selection one of generating electromagnetic energy in a pulsed mode and generating electromagnetic energy in a continuous wave mode.

4 . The laser handpiece device as set forth in claim 3 , wherein:

at least one of the electromagnetic energy control icons comprises a pulse length icon that controls a time length of pulses generated by the electromagnetic energy source, the time length being controlled independently of a time interval between pulses; and

the pulse length icon, when touched, causes a pulse length screen to be presented, the pulse length screen comprising:

a pulse length indicator adapted to display a value according to a length of an electromagnetic energy pulse generated by the electromagnetic energy source;

a pulse length increase icon that controls an increase in the length of a pulse generated by the electromagnetic energy source; and

a pulse length decrease icon that controls a decrease in the length of a pulse generated by the electromagnetic energy source.

5 . The laser handpiece device as set forth in claim 3 , wherein:

at least one of the electromagnetic energy control icons comprises a pulse interval icon that controls a time interval between pulses generated by the electromagnetic energy source, the time interval being controlled independently of a time length of pulses; and

the pulse interval icon, when touched, causes a pulse interval screen to be presented, the pulse interval screen comprising:

a pulse interval indicator adapted to display a value according to a length of a time interval between electromagnetic energy pulses generated by the electromagnetic energy source;

a pulse interval increase icon that controls an increase in the length of the time interval between pulses generated by the electromagnetic energy source; and

a pulse interval decrease icon that controls a decrease in the length of the time interval between pulses generated by the electromagnetic energy source.

6 . The laser handpiece device as set forth in claim 3 , wherein:

the graphical user interface further comprises a plurality of electromagnetic energy indicator icons adapted to display a plurality of properties of electromagnetic energy generated by the electromagnetic energy source;

the plurality of properties comprise an average power level and a total energy level; and

the display of the average power level is calculated, when in the pulsed mode, according to the level of power generated by the electromagnetic energy source, a pulse length, and a pulse interval.

7 . The laser handpiece device as set forth in claim 1 , the device further comprising a computer adapted to independently adjust a pulse length and a pulse interval of the pulses of electromagnetic energy according to a user input.

8 . The laser handpiece device as set forth in claim 7 , wherein the computer comprises:

a processor;

working memory;

program memory;

an interface to the electromagnetic energy source adapted to be controlled by the processor; and

a system bus that communicatively interconnects the processor, working memory, and program memory, the program memory having stored therein a power level software module that causes the processor to receive a power level input from the graphical user interface and to communicate with the interface to the electromagnetic energy source to control a power level of the electromagnetic energy source according to the power level input.

9 . The laser handpiece device as set forth in claim 8 , wherein:

at least one of the electromagnetic energy control icons comprises a power increase icon;

at least one other one of the electromagnetic energy control icons comprises a power decrease icon;

the power level software module further causes the processor to communicate with the interface to the electromagnetic energy source to control an increase in the power level of the electromagnetic energy source when the power increase icon is pressed; and

the power level software module further causes the processor to communicate with the interface to the electromagnetic energy source to control a decrease in the power level of the electromagnetic energy source when the power decrease icon is pressed.

10 . The laser handpiece device as set forth in claim 9 , wherein:

at least one of the plurality electromagnetic energy control icons comprises an energy mode icon;

the program memory further has stored therein an energy mode software module that causes the processor to communicate with the interface to the electromagnetic energy source to select one of a pulsed mode and a continuous wave mode of electromagnetic energy generation when the energy mode icon is pressed.

11 . The laser handpiece device as set forth in claim 10 , wherein:

at least one of the energy control icons comprises a pulse length icon;

the program memory further has stored therein a pulse length software module that, when the processor selects the pulse mode, and when the pulse length icon is pressed, causes the processor to present a pulse length screen on the touchscreen.

12 . The laser handpiece device as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the pulse length screen comprises a pulse length indicator, a pulse length increase icon, and a pulse length decrease icon, whereby:

the pulse length software module causes the processor to display a value in the pulse length indicator according to a length of pulses generated by the electromagnetic energy source,

the pulse length software module further causes the processor to communicate with the electromagnetic energy source to control an increase in a length of pulses generated by the electromagnetic energy source when the pulse length increase icon is pressed; and

the pulse length software module further causes the processor to communicate with the electromagnetic energy course to control a decrease in the length of pulses generated by the electromagnetic energy source when the pulse length decrease icon is pressed.

13 . The laser handpiece device as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the graphical user interface further comprises a plurality of electromagnetic energy indicator icons displaying at least one of a plurality of properties of electromagnetic energy generated by the electromagnetic energy source.

14 . The laser handpiece device as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the plurality of properties comprise an average power level and a total energy level.

15 . The laser handpiece device as set forth in claim 14 , wherein the power level software module further causes the processor to display the average power level according to the level of power generated by the electromagnetic energy source, the pulse length, and the pulse interval.

16 . The laser handpiece device as set forth in claim 10 , wherein:

at least one of the energy control icons comprises a pulse interval icon;

the program memory further has stored therein a pulse interval software module that, when the processor selects the pulse mode, and when the pulse interval icon is pressed, causes the processor to present a pulse interval screen on the touchscreen.

17 . The laser handpiece device as set forth in claim 16 , wherein the pulse interval screen comprises a pulse interval indicator, a pulse interval increase icon, and a pulse interval decrease icon, whereby:

the pulse interval software module causes the processor to display in the pulse interval indicator a value according to a time interval between pulses generated by the electromagnetic energy source,

the pulse interval software module causes the processor to communicate with the electromagnetic energy source to control an increase in the time interval when the pulse interval increase icon is pressed; and

the pulse interval software module causes the processor to communicate with the electromagnetic energy course to control a decrease in the time interval when the pulse interval decrease icon is pressed.

18 . A method of controlling the laser handpiece device of claim 1 , the method comprising:

presenting the plurality of preset parameter-value combinations to a user on the graphical user interface;

receiving a preset selection from the user on the graphical user interface; and

adjusting an operating mode of the laser handpiece device according to the preset selection.

19 . The method as set forth in claim 18 , further comprising:

presenting a modification screen to the user on the graphical user interface according to the preset selection;

receiving on the graphical user interface a modification to the selected preset; and

storing the modification as one of the preset parameter-value combinations the modification being stored for future presentation on the graphical user interface during the presenting step.

20 . The method as set forth in claim 19 , and further comprising controlling an on/off state of an electromagnetic energy source according to input received from a foot switch.

21 . The method as set forth in claim 20 , wherein the receiving of a modification comprises receiving at least one of an energy mode input, a pulsed energy mode input, a pulse interval input, a pulse length input, a continuous wave mode input, a total energy input, and a power level input.