Patent ID: 7662147

Claim:
A method for moving the focal point of a laser beam through a medium, which comprises the steps of: directing the laser beam along a beam path to the center of a z-scanning apparatus wherein the z-scanning apparatus is moveable to change the location of the focal point in the medium in a z-direction; passing the laser beam from the center of the z-scanning apparatus to the center of a first scanning mechanism, wherein the first scanning mechanism is rotated through an angle “θ” to alter the beam path and introduce a change in the location of the focal point in the medium in an x-direction; and directing the laser beam from the first scanning mechanism to a second scanning mechanism; rotating the second scanning mechanism through an angle “ 2 θ” to compensate for the altered beam path and directing the laser beam to the center of a third scanning mechanism, wherein the third scanning mechanism is rotated through an angle “φ” to alter the beam path and introduce a change in the location of the focal point in the medium in a y-direction.