SIDE-FIRING LASER FIBER WITH PROTECTIVE TIP AND RELATED METHODS
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a member having a distal end portion configured to be inserted into a patient'"'"'s body;
a reflector disposed within the member, the reflector having a proximal end portion including a surface angled relative to a longitudinal axis of the distal end portion of the member, the angled surface configured to redirect laser energy transmitted from a distal end portion of an optical fiber to a lateral direction offset from the longitudinal axis; and
a multilayer dielectric coating disposed on the angled surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and an apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention includes a reflector disposed within a capillary for use in side-firing optical fibers. An outer member or cap can be used to protect the capillary when being inserted through a catheter or endoscope. The endoscope is then at least partially inserted into a patient'"'"'s body to provide laser-based medical treatment. In some embodiments, a multilayer dielectric coating can be disposed on an angled surface of the reflector. In other embodiments, a multilayer dielectric coating can be positioned between a distal end surface of the reflector and an inner side of a distal end portion of the capillary. The coated reflector can be configured to increase laser energy redirected from a first portion of an optical path to a second portion of the optical path that is non-parallel to the first portion.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a member having a distal end portion configured to be inserted into a patient'"'"'s body; a reflector disposed within the member, the reflector having a proximal end portion including a surface angled relative to a longitudinal axis of the distal end portion of the member, the angled surface configured to redirect laser energy transmitted from a distal end portion of an optical fiber to a lateral direction offset from the longitudinal axis; and a multilayer dielectric coating disposed on the angled surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method, comprising:
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disposing a multilayer dielectric coating on a surface of a reflector, the surface of the reflector being angled relative to a longitudinal axis of a distal end portion of a member; disposing the reflector within the member; and disposing a distal end portion of an optical fiber within the member, the distal end portion of the optical fiber and the angled surface collectively configured to laterally redirect laser energy. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method, comprising:
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inserting a distal end portion of a first member into a patient'"'"'s body, a reflector disposed within the first member having a surface configured to redirect laser energy from a first portion of an optical path to a second portion of the optical path non-parallel to the first portion of the optical path, a multilayer dielectric coating being disposed on the surface of the reflector; and after the inserting, activating a laser source to transmit laser energy to the patient'"'"'s body, the transmitted laser energy passing through the optical path. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification