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Abstract

Apparatus and method for laser surgery in which laser energy, pulsed or continuous, is focussed to a focus spot of ten to thirty microns which is located within tissue, or the like to cause highly localized heating. The pulsed radiation is in the TEM(oo) mode, has a wavelength of approximately 1064 nanometer, the pulses being not in excess of 100 nanoseconds and the pulse rate being approximately 2000 per second. Where the laser beam is continuous or pulsed, it has a wavelength of approximately 1400 to 1800 nanometer, or in photoablative modes, having a wavelength of 190 to about 300 nanometers. The focus spot may be caused to move relative to the axis of a handpiece; and to liquid may flow across the exposure site to remove debris. A handpiece may have an endoscope including a glass contact tip at its distal end to receive light and to acquire an image of the exposure site probes for eye surgery include a quartz rod in a sheath, the quartz rod having a beveled distal end surface through which the laser radiation is emitted and may have infusion and aspiration passages with ends coplanar with the beveled end surface of the quartz rod.

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