LASER SCANNING METHOD AND APPARATUS

摘要

This invention is a laser scanning method and apparatus having a scanning hand piece (18) connected at the free end (20) of a hollow wave guide (14) to scan a beam of laser energy (22) in a predetermined pattern to uniformly ablate in an enlarged target area. The hand piece (18) includes a hollow shaft motor (40) having a conduit mounted therein for conducting the beam of laser energy (22). The conduit (54) has a proximal end (56) in axial alignment with the longitudinal axis (60) of the hollow shaft (48) and in light energy communication with the laser energy generator (12). The distal end (58) of the conduit (54) is mounted in the hollow shaft (48) so that it is eccentrically positioned with respect to the axis (60) of the hollow shaft (48). When the motor (40) is energized, the hollow shaft (48) rotates the distal end (58) of the conduit (54) in a predetermined circular pattern to scan the laser energy uniformly and thoroughly over the tissue in the target area.