Method for irradiation and removal of material from a surface of a structure

Abstract

A method irradiates an interaction region of an inhabitable structure with laser light to remove material from the structure. The method includes releasably affixing an anchoring mechanism to the structure by vacuum pressure. The method further includes releasably affixing the anchoring mechanism to a laser head configured to receive laser light from a laser generator, such that the laser head is in a drilling position relative to the interaction region. The method further includes receiving the laser light from the laser generator and directing the laser light to the interaction region of the structure. The method further includes confining the material and removing the material from the interaction region resulting from irradiating the structure with the laser light.

1 . A method of irradiating an interaction region of a structure with laser light to remove material from the structure, the method comprising:
 releasably affixing an anchoring mechanism to the structure by vacuum pressure;   releasably affixing the anchoring mechanism to a laser head configured to receive laser light from a laser generator, such that the laser head is in a drilling position relative to the interaction region;   receiving the laser light from the laser generator;   directing the laser light to the interaction region of the structure; and   confining the material and removing the material from the interaction region resulting from irradiating the structure with the laser light.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein directing the laser light comprises reflecting the laser light by a first mirror and a second mirror. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first mirror is mounted on a first adjustable assembly in the housing, wherein alignment of the laser light can be optimized by adjusting the first adjustable assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the second mirror is mounted on a second adjustable assembly in the housing, wherein alignment of the laser light can be optimized by adjusting the second adjustable assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first mirror has a curvature adapted to modify a beam profile of the laser light. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the second mirror has a curvature adapted to modify a beam profile of the laser light. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first mirror reflects the laser light by a first non-zero angle and the second mirror reflects the laser light by a second non-zero angle, wherein the first non-zero angle is approximately equal to the negative of the second non-zero angle. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein directing the laser light comprises transmitting the laser light through a lens. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the lens is mounted in an adjustable assembly in the housing, wherein alignment and focus of the laser light can be optimized by adjusting the assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein releasably affixing the anchoring mechanism to the laser head comprises releasably coupling at least one recess of the anchoring mechanism to at least one protrusion of the laser head. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein releasably affixing the anchoring mechanism to the laser head comprises releasably coupling at least one protrusion of the anchoring mechanism to at least one recess of the laser head. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein releasably affixing the anchoring mechanism to the laser head comprises releasably coupling at least one rod of the anchoring mechanism to at least one collar of the laser head, wherein the at least one collar is configured to be releasably coupled to the at least one rod at a plurality of locations along the at least one rod.