EFFICIENT LASER AND FLUID CONDITIONING AND CUTTING SYSTEM
A fluid conditioning system is adapted to condition the fluid used in medical and dental cutting, irrigating, evacuating, cleaning, and drilling operations. The fluid may be conditioned by adding flavors, antiseptics and/or tooth whitening agents such as peroxide, medications, and pigments. In addition to the direct benefits obtained from introduction of these agents, the laser cutting properties may be varied from the selective introduction of the various agents.
1 . An apparatus for implementing a medical procedure, comprising:
a fluid router comprising a conditioned fluid and being constructed to route the conditioned fluid, which comprises a conditioning agent, into a volume relative to the apparatus; and
an electromagnetic energy source constructed to route electromagnetic energy at a peak concentration through a portion of the conditioned fluid and to emit the peak concentration of electromagnetic energy into the volume;
wherein the fluid router comprises an output for directing the conditioned fluid into the volume, the conditioned fluid being distributed in such a way that, when placed into the volume and irradiated with the electromagnetic energy, a portion of the conditioned fluid in the volume substantially absorbs a portion of the electromagnetic energy, thereby causing the portion of the conditioned fluid in the volume to expand, and when placed into the volume above an operating site to expand and impart disruptive forces onto the operating site.
2 . The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein:
the portion of the conditioned fluid comprises a first portion of the conditioned fluid; and
a second portion of the conditioned fluid does not absorb the electromagnetic energy and is deposited onto the operating site.
3 . The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 , wherein:
the portion of the electromagnetic energy comprises a first portion of the electromagnetic energy, wherein the first portion of electromagnetic energy is substantially absorbed into the first portion of the conditioned fluid; and
a second portion of the electromagnetic energy from the electromagnetic energy source is not substantially absorbed into the first portion of the conditioned fluid and is directed onto the operating site.
4 . The apparatus as set forth in claim 3 , wherein:
a part of conditioning agent in the first portion of the conditioned fluid interacts with the electromagnetic energy; and
conditioning agent in the second portion of the conditioned fluid does not interact with the electromagnetic energy and is deposited onto the operating site.
5 . The apparatus as set forth in claim 4 , wherein an amount of the part of the conditioning agent in the first portion of the conditioned fluid that interacts with the electromagnetic energy is deposited onto the operating site.
6 . The apparatus as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the fluid output places a combination of fluid particles into the volume, the combination of fluid particles being sized, shaped and distributed in such a way that, when placed into the volume and irradiated with said electromagnetic energy source, a portion of the fluid particles in the volume substantially absorb the electromagnetic energy, thereby causing the portion of fluid particles to expand and impart disruptive forces onto the operating site.
7 . The apparatus as set forth in claim 6 , wherein:
the fluid output comprises an atomizer; and
the conditioning agent comprises one of a medicating agent, a combination of saline and water, an antiseptic, an astringent, an anesthetic, and a disinfectant.
8 . The apparatus as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the medicating agent comprises at least one of an antibiotic, iodine and a steroid.
9 . The apparatus as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the conditioned fluid comprises at least one of vitamins, herbs and minerals.
10 . The apparatus as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the electromagnetic energy source is constructed to focus or direct a peak concentration of electromagnetic energy into the volume, the electromagnetic energy having a wavelength which is substantially absorbed by the fluid particles in the volume, and wherein the electromagnetic energy source comprises an Er, Cr:YSGG laser and the conditioned fluid comprises water.
11 . An apparatus for cutting a target surface, comprising:
a fluid router adapted to place fluid particles into an interaction zone, the interaction zone being defined as a volume relative to the fluid router; and
an electromagnetic energy source adapted to deliver a peak concentration of the electromagnetic energy into the interaction zone, the electromagnetic energy having a wavelength which is substantially absorbed by the fluid particles in the interaction zone, the absorption of the electromagnetic energy by the fluid particles causing the fluid particles in the interaction zone to expand, and when the interaction zone is disposed above a target surface causing the fluid particles to expand and impart disruptive mechanical forces onto the target surface, to thereby cut the target surface;
wherein an efficiency of cutting of the apparatus is greatest when the peak concentration of electromagnetic energy is delivered into the interaction zone, as compared to what an efficiency of cutting of the apparatus would be if a peak concentration of electromagnetic energy were delivered onto the target surface.
12 . An apparatus for cutting a target surface, comprising:
a fluid router adapted to place fluid particles into an interaction zone, the interaction zone being defined as a volume relative to the fluid router; and
an electromagnetic energy source adapted to deliver a peak concentration of electromagnetic energy into the interaction zone, the electromagnetic energy having a wavelength which is substantially absorbed by the fluid particles in the interaction zone, the absorption of the electromagnetic energy by the fluid particles causing the fluid particles in the interaction zone to expand, and when the interaction zone is disposed above a target surface causing the fluid particles to expand and impart disruptive mechanical forces onto the target surface, to thereby cut the target surface;
wherein an efficiency of cutting of the apparatus is greatest when the fluid router places the fluid particles into the interaction zone, as compared to what an efficiency of cutting of the apparatus would be if the fluid router did not place fluid particles into the interaction zone.
13 . An apparatus for imparting mechanical forces onto a target surface comprising:
an electromagnetic energy source adapted to direct electromagnetic energy into an interaction zone, the electromagnetic energy traveling through and defining an energy path volume, which extends from the electromagnetic energy source to and into the interaction zone; and
a fluid output adapted to place a plurality of fluid particles into the interaction zone, the interaction zone being defined as a volume disposed both relative to the fluid router and within the energy path volume, the electromagnetic energy having a wavelength which is substantially absorbed by given fluid particles of the plurality of fluid particles within the interaction zone, the given fluid particles being dispersed throughout the interaction zone, the absorption of the electromagnetic energy by the given fluid particles causing the given fluid particles in the interaction zone to expand, and when the interaction zone is disposed above a target surface causing the fluid particles to expand and impart disruptive mechanical forces onto the target surface.
14 . The apparatus as set forth in claim 11 , wherein:
the electromagnetic energy source emits electromagnetic energy having one of a wavelength within a range from about 2.69 to about 2.80 microns and a wavelength of about 2.94 microns;
the electromagnetic energy source comprises one of an Er:YAG, an Er:YSGG, an Er, Cr:YSGG and a CTE:YAG laser;
the electromagnetic energy source and the fluid router are configured in a manner sufficient to effectuate an impartation of disruptive forces to a target surface comprising one of tooth, bone, cartilage and soft tissue; and
the fluid particles comprise water and are output from an atomizer.
15 . The apparatus as set forth in claim 12 , wherein:
the fluid router comprises an atomizer; and
the fluid particles comprise water.
16 . The apparatus as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the fluid particles comprise an anesthetic.
17 . The apparatus as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the electromagnetic energy source emits electromagnetic energy having one of a wavelength within a range from about 2.69 to about 2.80 microns and a wavelength of about 2.94 microns.
18 . The apparatus as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the electromagnetic energy source comprises one of an Er:YAG, an Er:YSGG, an Er, Cr:YSGG and a CTE:YAG laser.
19 . The apparatus as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the electromagnetic energy source and the fluid output are configured in a manner sufficient to effectuate an impartation of disruptive forces to a target surface comprising one of tooth, bone, cartilage and soft tissue.
20 . The apparatus as set forth in claim 13 , wherein:
the fluid output comprises an atomizer; and
the fluid particles are atomized fluid particles.