Patent ID: 7545589

Claim:
An apparatus for directing a laser beam towards a desired location, the apparatus comprising: a lens group holder comprising a hollow body having a longitudinally extending throughbore in which a group of lenses is mounted and through which the laser beam can pass, one of the lenses in the group of lenses being able to receive the laser beam and another lens of the group being able to output the laser beam; and a manipulator having a body having a throughbore adapted to receive the lens group holder containing the group of lenses, wherein the manipulator can be used to displace the lens group holder and thereby the group of lenses; and wherein: the lens group holder and manipulator are arranged such that the manipulator can be used to displace laterally the lens group holder and hence the group of lenses as a group relative to the laser beam when the lens group holder is inserted in the manipulator, and such that the manipulator can be used to tilt the lens group holder and hence the group of lenses as a group relative to the laser beam when the lens group holder is inserted in the manipulator; and the lens group holder is removably retained in the manipulator.