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Optical fiber having proximal taper for ophthalmic surgical illumination

  • US 10,441,157 B2
  • Filed: 12/02/2015
  • Issued: 10/15/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2015
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An ophthalmic illumination apparatus, comprising:

  • a condenser;

    an optical fiber having a core diameter and configured to transmit a light beam output by a light source and focused by the condenser, the optical fiber including;

    a proximal portion configured to receive the light beam focused by the condenser onto a focal point at the proximal portion, the proximal portion comprising a first tapered portion comprising a proximal end having a core diameter D1 and a terminal end having a core diameter D2, wherein D1 is greater than D2 and a distance from the proximal end to the terminal end of the first tapered portion is greater than or equal to 100*(D1

    D2),a distal portion configured to emit the light beam to illuminate a surgical field, anda central portion extending between the proximal portion and the distal portion, wherein the core diameter is constant over the central portion;

    wherein at the focal point on the proximal portion of the optical fiber, a numerical aperture of the light beam (NAbeam) equals (a numerical aperture of the optical fiber (NAfiber)) divided by N, wherein N equals the core diameter D1 divided by a core diameter of the central portion;

    wherein;

    the central portion of the optical fiber has a length in the range of 10 millimeters (mm)-1000 mm; and

    the central portion is configured such that the numerical aperture of the light beam NAbeam is equal to a numerical aperture of the central portion NAfiber.

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