Side-firing sealing caps for hollow optical fibers

✍ Scribed by Tomonori Watanabe; Yuji Matsuura

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2006
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 291 KB
• Volume: 38
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0196-8092
• DOI: 10.1002/lsm.20386

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Background and Objectives

Hollow optical fibers are useful for delivery of high‐energy infrared laser beam such as Er:YAG lasers. We propose side‐firing optics for hollow optical fibers for laser endoscopic applications mainly in oto‐rhino‐laryngology and urology.

Study Design/Materials and Methods

To produce a circular beam, cone‐shaped caps are designed and caps with slanted end are proposed for producing a spot beam in side direction. Both types of caps are fabricated by fusing and polished Pyrex and silica glass tubes.

Results

For the both of the cone‐shaped and slanted‐end caps effectively deflect laser beam as designed and these caps show high durability for Er:YAG laser light with pulse energy higher than 100 mJ.

Conclusions

By choosing the proper shape of the cap ends, these caps deflect an input laser beam to a preferred direction at low insertion losses. By using these side‐firing optics, one can easily irradiate the inside of tubular organs. Lasers Surg. Med. 38:792–797, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.