Alignment method and tools

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11809011-B2
Application number	US-202117643858-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 13, 2021
Priority date	Dec 28, 2020
Publication date	Nov 7, 2023
Grant date	Nov 7, 2023

Abstract

A laser system includes a first laser cavity to output a laser light along a first path, a first mirror to receive the laser light from the first laser cavity, and redirect the laser light along a second path that is different than the first path, a second mirror to receive the laser light from the first mirror, and redirect the laser light along a third path that is different than the first path and the second path, a beam splitter located at a first position on the third path, a beam combiner located at a second position on the third path; and a coupling lens assembly, the coupling lens assembly including a lens located at a third position on the third path, wherein the coupling lens assembly moves the lens in x-, y-, and x-directions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A laser system, comprising:
a first laser cavity configured to output a laser light along a first path;
a first mirror configured to receive the laser light from the first laser cavity, and redirect the laser light along a second path that is different than the first path;
a second mirror configured to receive the laser light from the first mirror, and redirect the laser light along a third path that is different than the first path and the second path;
a beam splitter located at a first position on the third path;
a beam combiner located at a second position on the third path; and
a coupling lens assembly, the coupling lens assembly including a lens located at a third position on the third path, wherein the coupling lens assembly is configured to move the lens in x-, y-, and x-directions.

2. The laser system according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling lens assembly includes an outer housing configured to house:
a base frame;
a stage plate; and
a lens holder configured to support the lens, wherein the base frame, the stage plate, and the lens holder are configured to move relative to each other.

3. The laser system according to claim 2 , wherein the stage plate includes a pair of sidewalls, wherein a portion of the lens holder is configured to be disposed between the pair of sidewalls, and wherein the lens holder is configured to move toward one and the other of the pair of sidewalls.

4. The laser system according to claim 3 , wherein the base frame includes a top wall and a bottom, wherein a portion of the stage plate is configured to be disposed between the top wall and the bottom wall, and wherein the stage plate is configured to move toward one and the other of the top wall and the bottom wall.

5. The laser system according to claim 2 , further including a plurality of screw members configured to move the base frame, the stage plate, and the lens holder.

6. The laser system according to claim 5 , further comprising at least one biasing member configured to bias the stage plate in a distal direction.

7. The laser system according to claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of locking members configured to lock a position of the base frame, the stage plate, and the lens holder.

8. The laser system according to claim 1 , wherein the base frame, the stage plate, and the lens holder are configured to move independently.

9. The laser system according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of first alignment members, wherein each of the plurality of first alignment members includes an opening, and wherein one first alignment member from the plurality of first alignment members is configured to be disposed on the third path distal to the second mirror, and wherein another first alignment member from the plurality of first alignment members is configured to be disposed on the third path proximal to the second mirror.

10. The laser system according to claim 9 , further comprising an aiming laser generator, wherein the aiming laser generator is configured to deliver an aiming laser to the beam combiner, wherein a portion of the aiming laser is configured to pass through the beam combiner along a fourth path, and wherein the aiming laser generator is configured to be aligned when the aiming laser passes through the opening in at least two first alignment members from the plurality of first alignment members arranged on the fourth path.

11. The laser system according to claim 1 , further including a pair of second alignment members, each of the second alignment members having an opening, wherein each of the second alignment members are configured to be attached to the first laser cavity on the first path.

12. The laser system according to claim 11 , wherein a laser generating rod is configured to be removed from the first laser cavity before the second alignment members are attached to the first laser cavity.

13. The laser system according to claim 12 , wherein the laser generating rod is disposed on a first longitudinal axis when the laser generating rod is attached to the first laser cavity, and wherein the opening in each of the second alignment members are disposed on the first longitudinal axis.

14. The laser system according to claim 1 , further comprising an output fiber configured to deliver a laser energy from the laser system to a target.

15. The laser system according to claim 1 , wherein an alignment laser beam is directed into the laser system from a distalmost end of the third path.

16. A method for aligning a laser system, the method comprising:
delivering an alignment beam through a lens, wherein the lens is supported by a coupling lens assembly; and
adjusting the coupling lens assembly to move the lens in an x-, y-, and z-directions such that the alignment beam passes through an opening in a first alignment feature positioned at a first location and through an opening in a second alignment feature positioned at a second location, onto a first mirror contained within the laser system.

17. The method according to claim 16 , further comprising:
removing a laser rod from a laser cavity of the laser system;
attaching a third alignment feature and a fourth alignment feature to the laser cavity, wherein each of the third alignment feature and the fourth alignment feature include an opening;
removing one of the first or second alignment features from the laser system; and
adjusting one or more of the first mirror, a second mirror, and a third mirror such that the alignment beam passes through the openings in both the third alignment feature and the fourth alignment feature, onto a fourth mirror at a proximal end of the laser cavity.

18. The method according to claim 16 , further comprising:
adjusting the third mirror, located at a distal end of the laser cavity, and the fourth mirror such that the aiming beam is reflected from the fourth mirror through the opening in one of the third alignment feature or the fourth alignment feature.

19. A method for aligning a laser system having a first laser cavity, the method comprising:
delivering an aiming into the laser system via a lens, wherein the lens is supported by a coupling lens assembly;
moving the lens in one or more of the x-, y-, or z-directions such that the aiming laser impinges on a first mirror; and
moving the first mirror, a second mirror, and a third mirror such that the aiming laser beam passes through openings in a plurality of alignment devices and impinges on a fourth mirror at a proximal end of a laser cavity.

20. The method according to claim 19 , further including:
delivering a second aiming laser to the laser system onto a coupler, wherein a first portion of the aiming light passes through the coupler along a first path, and wherein a second portion of the aiming light, different from the first portion, is reflected by the coupler along a second path; and
adjusting a position of the aiming laser such that the first portion of the aiming light passes through openings in a pair of alignment devices disposed along the first path.

Assignees

• Boston Scient Scimed Inc

Inventors

• Yang Xirong
• Yang Baocheng
• Cheng Brian
• Bull Peter
• Panicker Viju
• Fan Yang-Te
• Xuan Rongwei Jason
• Hasenberg Thomas Charles
• Zhang Jian James

Classifications

• G02B7/003 Primary

  Alignment of optical elements (G02B7/001, G02B7/002 take precedence; for mirrors G02B7/1822) · CPC title

• G02B27/106

  for splitting or combining a plurality of identical beams or images, e.g. image replication · CPC title

• G02B27/14

  operating by reflection only · CPC title

• H01S3/061

  with elliptical or circular cross-section and elongated shape, e.g. rod · CPC title

• A61B18/20 Primary

  using laser · CPC title