Diode laser device for photocoagulation of the retina

摘要

A diode laser device and method of use for achieving transcutaneous laser photocoagulation of the retina is described. A diode laser is used since it is much more efficient than the ion or dye lasers presently used for laser photocoagulation, and therefore will not require forced air of water cooling and can be made for compact. In addition, the diode laser can be used with standard 110 v wall sockets, and does not require the high power, three phase sockets required for the ion lasers. The end result is that compared to the ion laser device, the diode laser device can be brought directly into the operating room, which makes it ideal for transcutaneous delivery.PPA characteristic of diode lasers is that the emitted light diverges rapidly. In addition, the diode laser beam is emitted from a rectangular edge of a diode, and the light emitted along the longer sides of the rectangular edge will diverge more rapidly than that light emitted along the shorter sides of the rectangular edge. As a result, the emitted beam will become shaped as an ellipse as it travels from the rectangular edge.PPIn one embodiment of the invention, the elliptical laser beam is shaped into a circle by an optical system before it is coupled to the fiber optic cable of the delivery system. In another embodiment, the fiber optic cable is directly coupled to the rectangular edge of the diode, making the optical system for shaping unnecessary.