Abstract:
A rotating handpiece is disclosed, having a parabolic mirror coupling to optical fibers which are disposed perpendicularly to an input optical fiber and an output optical fiber. The output optical fiber of the two is adapted to rotate relative to a longitudinal axis of the input optical fiber.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Serial No. 60/113,293, which was filed on Dec. 22, 1998. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to hand pieces for delivering electromagnetic radiation. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Hand pieces have existed in the prior art for delivering electromagnetic radiation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The rotating hand piece of the present invention includes a removable fiber tip and a removable trunk fiber optic. The trunk fiber optic and the fiber tip are disposed perpendicularly, with a parabolic mirror disposed there between. Slight misalignments of the trunk fiber optics, as well as imperfections on the output surface of the fiber optic, are compensated by the parabolic mirror which consistently and efficiently focuses the electromagnetic energy into the input end of the fiber tip. Moreover, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the hand piece can be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the trunk fiber optic, with the parabolic mirror continuing to efficiently couple the electromagnetic energy from the trunk fiber optic into the fiber chip. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of the rotating hand piece in accordance with the presently preferred embodiment; 
     FIGS. 2 and 2 a  are cross sectional views of two alternative embodiments of the rotating hand piece; 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the rotating band piece and a partially disassembled state; and 
     FIGS. 4-6 are other views of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring more particularly to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a cross sectional view of the rotating hand piece  10 . The rotating hand piece comprises a hand piece head  12 , a removable fiber tip  14 , and a removable trunk fiber assembly  16 . These components can be seen in a partially disassembled state in FIG. 3, wherein the axis  18  of the removable trunk fiber assembly  16  is aligned with the axis  20  of the hand piece head  12  for insertion into the hand piece head  12 . Once the axis  18  of the removable fiber assembly  16  is aligned with the axis  20  of the hand piece  12 , the removable trunk fiber assembly  16  is moved in the direction of the arrow A 1  into the hand piece head  12 , while the axis  18  and  20  are maintained in approximate alignment. The contacting surface of the outer surface of the chuck  23  engages the inner surface  25  of the rotating hand piece  10 , to thereby ensure alignment of the axis  18  of the removable trunk fiber assembly  16  and the axis  20  of the hand piece head  12 . As the removable trunk fiber assembly  16  is inserted further in the direction A 1  into the hand piece  12 , the abutting surface  28  engages with a corresponding abutting surface (not shown) within the collar  31  of the hand piece head  12 . The corresponding abutting surface  28  preferably snaps with the abutting surface  28 , as the removable trunk fiber assembly  16  is fully inserted into the hand piece head  12 . Any type of locking engagement between the abutting surface  28  and a corresponding abutting surface within the collar  31 , as known in the art, may be used to ensure that the removable trunk fiber assembly  16  is always inserted the same distance into the hand piece head  12 . As shown in FIG. 1, the distal tip  38  of the removable trunk fiber assembly  16  is brought into close proximity with the parabolic mirror  41 . In the presently preferred embodiment, the distal tip  38  of the removable trunk fiber assembly  16  comprises a window  43  for protecting the trunk fiber optic  45  from contaminants, such as -water. In the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the distal tip  38   a  is not protected with a window. As shown in FIG. 1, the fiber tip  51  of the removable fiber ti  14  is also accurately placed in close proximity to the parabolic mirror  41 . Electromagnetic energy exiting from the output rod  55  of the trunk fiber optic  45  is collected by the parabolic mirror  41  and, subsequently, reflected and focused onto the input end  59  of the fiber tip  51 . 
     In the presently preferred embodiment, the electromagnetic energy exiting from the output end  55  of the trunk fiber optic  45  comprises a wavelength on the order of 3 μm. The material of the parabolic mirror  41  is selected to provide an efficient reflection and focusing into the input end  59 . As presently embodied, the electromagnetic energy is generated from an Er:YSGG laser, and the material of the parabolic mirror  41  comprises a gold plating to provide reflectivity of approximately 99.9 percent. Other materials may be selected in accordance with design parameters. Other reflective surfaces and materials for the parabolic mirror  41  may be selected, in accordance with the laser being used and the desired efficiency of reflection. For example, if a lower reflectivity is selected, then additional cooling may be needed for the parabolic mirror  41  (such as a greater flow rate of cooled and/or filtered air across the surface of the parabolic mirror  41 ). FIGS. 4 a ,  4   b  and  4   c  illustrate various views of the parabolic mirrors  41  of the presently preferred embodiment. The flat surface of the parabolic mirror  41 , which is closest to the fiber tip  51 , is preferably provided with two recessed areas  66  and  69 . These two recessed areas mate with corresponding protrusions (not shown) on the floor  71  of the internal chamber  73  of the handpiece head  12 . A spring loaded plunger  76  presses against the upper surface  79  of the parabolic mirror  41  under the pressure of the spring  81 . A screw cap  83  holds the spring  81  against the spring loaded plunger  76 . The combination of the spring loaded plunger  76 , the recessed areas  66 , 69  of the parabolic minor  41 , and the corresponding protrusions on the pressure of the spring  81 . A screw cap  83  holds the spring  81  against the spring loaded plunger  76 . The combination of the spring loaded plunger  76 , the recessed areas  66 ,  69  of the parabolic minor  41 , and the corresponding protrusions on the floor  71 , together, accurately align the parabolic mirror  41  for efficient coupling of electromagnetic energy between the output end  55  of the trunk fiber optic  45  and the input end  59  of the fiber tip  51 . In modified embodiments, either or both of the output end  55  of the trunk fiber optic  45  and the input end  59  of the fiber tip  51  is/or provided with an anti-reflective coating. Although it is preferred to have the trunk fiber optic  45  perfectly aligned in relation to the parabolic  41  and the fiber tip  51 , the alignment between these three elements is seldomly perfect. In the presently preferred embodiment, the misalignment of the axis of the trunk fiber optic  45  and the axis of the fiber tip  51  is within plus or minus 1 percent error. 
     In a modified embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 a , a pentaprism (five-sided prism)  41   b  is used instead of the parabolic mirror  41  for coupling the trunk fiber optic  45  to the fiber tip  51 . 
     In addition to slight misalignment of the axis of the trunk fiber optic  45 , slight imperfections on the output end  55  of the trunk fiber optic  45  may also be present. The parabolic mirror  41  corrects for both of these slight errors, by collecting the electromagnetic energy from the output end  55  of the front fiber optic  45  and, subsequently, focusing the electromagnetic energy into the input end  55  of the fiber tip  51 . 
     The parabolic mirror  41  may also comprise molypdium, in a preferred embodiment. 
     The clamp assembly  91  operates to firmly grip and hold the trunk fiber optic  45 . In the presently preferred embodiment, the clamp assembly  91  is provided with at least one slit, which extends from the distal end  93  of the clamp assembly  91  to a region  95  just distal of the set screw  97 . As presently embodied, the at least one slit extending from the distal end  93  to the region  95  just distal of the set screw  97  comprises two slits, which are adapted to allow the clamp assembly  91  to be compressed by the chuck  23  onto the trunk fiber optic  45 . The chuck  23  thus the at least one slit extending from the distal end  93  to the region  95  just distal of the set screw  97  comprises two slits, which are adapted to allow the clamp assembly  91  to be compressed by the chuck  23  onto the trunk fiber optic  45 . The chuck  23  thus presses against the portion of the clamp assembly  91 , wherein the portion is defined between the distal end  93  and the region  95 , to thereby have the clamp assembly  91  squeeze and hold the trunk fiber optic  45  in place. In the presently preferred embodiment, the set screw  97  is used lo hold the chuck  23  in place and prevent rotation thereof. In the illustrated embodiment, the outer surface of the clamp assembly  91  is provided with threads  99  for engaging with corresponding threads on the inner surface of the chuck  23 . In the presently preferred embodiment, the chuck  23  is screwed onto the threads of the clamp assembly  91 , before the removable trunk fiber assembly  16  is inserted into the handpiece  12 . The chuck  23  is screwed onto the clamp assembly  91  to a predetermed tightness, and then the set screw  97  is secured thereto to securely hold the chuck  23  to the clamp assembly  91 . Subsequently, the removable trunk fiber assembly  16  is inserted and secured into the handpiece head  12 . 
     The rotating handpiece  10  of the presently preferred embodiment uses the electromagnetically induced cutting system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,741,247, the entire contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG  1 , separate fair and fluid lines  111 , 113  run parallel to one another in the distal direction toward the feed channels  115 , 117 . The feed channels  115 ,  117 , carrying a supply of air and water, respectively, feed into a circumferential chamber  119 . Referring to figures  5   a - 5   c , the circumferential chamber  119  is formed in the fiber tip ferrule  121  is formed in a tapered section  121  of the fiber tip ferrule  123 . As can be seen from FIG. 5 b , for example, four orifices  125  are disposed in the tapered section  121  of the fiber chip ferrule  123 . Air traveling to the circumferential chamber  119  from the feed channel  115 , and water traveling into the circumferential chamber  119  from the feed channel  117 , are both initially mixed in the circumferential chamber  119 . Subsequently, the initially-mixed air travels through the circumferential chamber  119  and enters through the orifices  125 . The air and water is further mixed and atomized within the internal chamber  133 . The atomized water under air pressure subsequently travels along the fiber chip  51  in a direction toward the output end  136  of the fiber tip  51 . In the presently preferred embodiment, three o-ring seals  139  are provided to seal the inside of the rotating handpiece from the air and water. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, the removable trunk fiber assembly  16  is preferably provided with three radial ports for introducing air, water, and (optionally) cooling air. More particularly, a fluid radial channel  161  feeds fluid (e.g., water) into the fluid channel  111 , an air radial channel  163  feeds air into the air channel  113 , and an optional cooling-air radial channel  165  feeds cooling air along a cooling-air channel, which exits in close proximity to the parabolic mirror  41 . In a preferred embodiment, the exit angle of the cooling air channel directs cooling air directly onto the parabolic mirror  41 , so that the cooling air is reflected from the parabolic mirror  41  onto the input end  59  of the fiber tip  51  and, subsequently, onto the window  43 . In FIG. 2, the cooling air exits from an orifice  181   a  and is channeled directly onto the input end  59   a  of the fiber tip  51   a . Subsequently, the air is directed onto the parabolic mirror  41  and reflected onto the output end  55  of the trunk fiber optic  45 . This configuration could also be implemented for the system of FIG. 1, wherein the cooling air subsequently is directed onto the window  43 . Alternatively, in the embodiment of FIG. 2, the cooling air exiting the orifice  181   a  can be channeled directly onto the parabolic mirror  41 , focusing onto the input end  59   a  of the fiber tip  51 . In the embodiments of both FIG.  1  and FIG. 1, the cooling air is subsequently channeled in the direction of the arrows A 2  through channels formed in the chuck  23 . As shown in FIG. 3 a , the chuck  23  preferably has portions of its two sides removed, to thereby form channels for passage of the cooling air. The cooling air travels through the channels of the chuck  23  under a vacuum pressure and, subsequently, is drawn into a removal port  191 . Upon entering the removal port  191  under the vacuum, the cooling air travels in a direction opposite to the arrow A 1  and exits the removal trunk fiber assembly  16 . The four 0-rings  196  insulate the radial channels  161 , 163 , 165  from one another. FIG. 6 a  illustrates a side elevation view of the assembled rotating handpiece  10  and FIG. 6 b  illustrates a modified embodiment of the rotating handpiece  10 , wherein the neck is slightly bent. In FIGS. 6 a  the portion indicated by reference numeral  203  is adapted to rotate about an axis of the rotating handpiece  10 . The portion  205  does not rotate. Similarly, in FIG. 6 b , the portion  207  is adapted to rotate about an axis of the rotating handpiece, and the portion  209  docs not rotate. In the embodiment of FIG. 6 b , the trunk fiber optic is configured to be slightly flexible, since the trunk fiber optic will need to bend and flex as the portion  207  is rotated relative to the portion  209 . In either of the embodiments of FIGS. 6 a  and  6   b , the user holds the rotating portion ( 203  or  207 ) with his or her thumb and two fingers (such as is conventional in the art) and allows the stationary portion ( 205  or  209 ) to rest on a portion of the hand bridging the user&#39;s forefinger and thumb. The three fingers holding the rotating portion ( 203  or  207 ) contact the rotating portion and can rotate the rotating portion, as the fixed portion ( 205  or  209 ) does not rotate and rests on the portion of the hand bridging the hand and the forefinger.