Patent ID: 6233269
Filing Date: 2001-05-15
Classification: A61B,H01S

Abstract:
An apparatus for protecting at least one component of a light source, comprising:means for shielding said at least one component, wherein said means for shielding is held by said light source and has a plurality of locations that are substantially transparent to an emission wavelength of said light source, and wherein said means for shielding is positioned such that during the use of said light source, one of said substantially transparent locations of said means for shielding is disposed between said at least one component of said light source and an object that is to be irradiated, wherein said means for shielding comprises a thin strip or sheet of film, glass or crystalline material having an area that is greater than a cross-sectional area of a light beam emitted by said light source to thereby provide said plurality of substantially transparent locations of said means for shielding; andmeans for advancement of said means for shielding upon activation of said light source or an element thereof in order to be able to dispose a different one of said substantially transparent locations of said means for shielding between said at least one component of said light source and an object that is to be irradiated,wherein said film, glass or crystalline material is movably disposed in a cartridge that is removably disposed in a housing for said light source, and wherein said means for advancement of said means for shielding acts upon a take-up reel of said cartridge to advance said film, glass or crystalline material.