A window for use with high energy laser (HEL) systems utilizes a combination of window and cooled mirror technologies. The present window is adapted to receive an elongated focus beam at one or more adjacent diamond plates. The plates are positioned in base members by peripheral edges thereof. Heat generated by the absorption of radiation from the beam is transferred directly to heat exchangers in the base members through the peripheral edges. The geometry of the window ensures that heat transfer is bidirectional. The very short distance the heat must travel results in a very small rise in temperature of the window with a correspondingly small amount of optical distortion.
A beamsplitter apparatus for use with high-power radiation is disclosed. The apparatus includes a thermally conductive frame with a central aperture. The frame holds a window in the central aperture at the window's periphery. The window includes a diamond substrate with an optional coating formed thereon. Because the substrate is diamond and the frame is thermally conductive, the window is less susceptible to thermal effects caused by absorption of the incident radiation by the window. Thus, the original flatness of the widow surfaces is preserved, and variations in its index of refraction will be minimal. The result is that high-power radiation beams reflected from and transmitted by the widow remain substantially undistorted.
The system and method of delivery of laser radiation comprises a flexible hollow waveguide connectable at a first end to a low power laser source, such as a CO.sub.2 laser, a rigid hollow waveguide having a proximal end and a distal end, a coupler for coupling the second end of the flexible hollow waveguide to the proximal end of the rigid hollow waveguide and a diamond tip partially disposed within and extending from the distal end of the rigid waveguide. The diamond tip has an entrance face for receiving laser radiation and at least one exit face for transmitting laser radiation toward an area of biological tissue. The exit end of the diamond tip may be flat, parallel to the entrance face, curved, to act as a lens providing a focusing function, or beveled, to create one or more blade edges to limit the point(s) of exit of the laser radiation and to provide a cutting edge which may be used in combination with the radiation to simultaneously create and photocoagulate the tissue at an incision.
