US 12,242,113 B2
Dual port optical switching apparatus
Eyal Benisty, Kfar Hachoresh (IL); Stanislav Kramer, Haifa (IL); and Assaf Gelstein, Haifa (IL)
Assigned to Lumenis, Ltd., (IL)
Filed by LUMENIS LTD., Yokneam (IL)
Filed on Feb. 14, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/175,670.
Application 17/175,670 is a continuation of application No. 16/862,280, filed on Apr. 29, 2020, granted, now 10,955,619.
Application 16/862,280 is a continuation of application No. 14/874,491, filed on Oct. 5, 2015, granted, now 10,746,936, issued on Aug. 18, 2020.
Application 14/874,491 is a continuation of application No. PCT/IB2014/060704, filed on Apr. 14, 2014.
Claims priority of application No. 1306832 (GB), filed on Apr. 15, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2021/0231880 A1, Jul. 29, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G02B 6/35 (2006.01); A61B 18/00 (2006.01); A61B 18/20 (2006.01); G02B 6/42 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 6/3514 (2013.01) [A61B 18/201 (2013.01); G02B 6/4296 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00017 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00172 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00696 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00744 (2013.01); A61B 2018/2025 (2013.01); G02B 6/4292 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
a flexible wave guide, the flexible wave guide comprising having a hollow core within a silica substrate whereby an inner surfaces of the silica substrate are coated with a reflective surface;
a dual port switching adapter, the dual port switching adapter comprising:
a connection part for mounting to a base unit,
an input beam port to receive a main laser beam from a base unit,
a first output port detachably connected to the flexible wave guide for directing the main laser beam into the hollow core of the flexible wave guide, and
a second output port for connection to an articulated arm and for directing the main laser beam to an articulated arm; and
a switching element moveable between a first position and a second position to direct an input beam to one of the first output port or the second output port, the dual port switching adapter further comprising an auxiliary guide beam source, and a beam combiner to direct an auxiliary guide beam to the first output port, the auxiliary guide beam being controllable to be directed into the silica substrate of the flexible wave guide.