End Fire Fiber Arrangements with Improved Erosion Resistance

• US 20130345686A1
• Filed: 12/03/2012
• Published: 12/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brown, Joe Denton
• Original Assignee: Brown, Joe Denton
• Inventors: Brown, Joe Denton
• Granted Patent: US 10,213,260 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/15
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/22 the beam being directed along or through a flexible conduit, e.g. an optical fibre; Couplings or hand-pieces therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2222 Fibre material or composition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2238 with means for selectively laterally deflecting the tip of the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2272 with reflective or refractive surfaces for deflecting the beam A61B2018/2261, A61B2018/2266 take precedence

Abstract

An end-firing optical fiber includes protective ferrule through which treatment radiation is fired in an axial direction, the protective ferrule having refractive properties that cause the radiation to disperse laterally and/or the fiber having sufficient flexibility to enable the fiber to be aimed at a tissue situated to the side of the axis along which the fiber was inserted. The fiber and protective ferrule may be mounted in a cannula, with the cannula being sufficiently flexible to enable the cannula to be withdrawn into a scope having a straight working channel, but has a pre-formed curvature that enables treatment of lateral tissues when the cannula is extended out of a scope.

Claims

1. A end-firing surgical laser arrangement, comprising:

an optical fiber having an end through which laser energy exits the fiber; and

a quartz ferrule welded to the fiber,

wherein an index of refraction of the quartz ferrule is approximately equal to that of the fiber to cause laser energy to disperse as it exits the fiber, increasing an angle over which the laser energy is directed, said fiber being sufficiently flexible to enable bending of the fiber tip in order to aim the fiber tip at a desired surface.

2. The laser arrangement of claim 1, wherein the cap is welded to the core or cladding of the fiber.

3. An arrangement for delivering treatment radiation to tissues situated laterally of an optical fiber through which the treatment radiation is delivered, comprising:

a protective ferrule surrounding and enclosing a treatment end of the optical fiber;

a cannula in which the optical fiber and protective ferrule are mounted, wherein;

treatment radiation is emitted axially from an end of the optical fiber through the protective ferrule,

the cannula has a pre-formed curvature,

the curvature of the cannula is assumed by the optical fiber mounted therein to cause treatment radiation emitted axially through an end of the fiber to be directed laterally at tissues situated to a side of the fiber, and

the cannula has sufficient flexibility to enable the cannula and fiber to straighten when withdrawn into a straight working channel of a scope, the cannula and fiber returning to the pre-formed curvature when extended out of the working channel.

4. An arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein the ferrule is a quartz ferrule.

5. An arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein the ferrule is fused to the optical fiber.

6. An arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein a position of the fiber within the ferrule is adjustable.

7. An arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein a tip of the ferrule is flat.

8. An arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein a tip of the ferrule is rounded.

9. An arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein a tip of the ferrule is recessed.

10. An arrangement as claimed in claim 3, for use in prostate tissue treatment applications.

12. An arrangement as claimed in claim 9, in which an end of the ferrule is open to permit ingress of irrigation fluid.

11. An arrangement for delivering treatment radiation to tissues situated laterally of an optical fiber through which the treatment radiation is delivered, comprising:

a protective ferrule surrounding a treatment end of the optical fiber;

a cannula to which the protective ferrule is mounted, wherein;

treatment radiation is emitted axially from an end of the optical fiber through the protective ferrule,

the cannula has a pre-formed curvature,

the curvature of the cannula is assumed by the optical fiber mounted therein to cause treatment radiation emitted axially through an end of the fiber to be directed laterally at tissues situated to a side of the fiber,

the cannula has sufficient flexibility to enable the cannula and fiber to straighten when withdrawn into a straight working channel of a scope, the cannula and fiber returning to the pre-formed curvature when extended out of the working channel, and

the fiber is movable within the ferrule to control power density of treatment radiation incident on a tissue situated in front of the ferrule.

13. A method of delivering treatment radiation to tissues situated laterally of an optical fiber through which the treatment radiation is delivered, the optical fiber having a protective ferrule surrounding a treatment end of the optical fiber, the protective ferrule being mounted in a cannula, the cannula having a pre-formed curvature, the curvature of the cannula being assumed by the optical fiber inserted therein, comprising the steps of:

inserting the cannula through a straight working channel of a scope, the cannula having sufficient flexibility to enable the cannula and fiber to straighten when withdrawn into the straight working channel, the cannula and fiber returning to the pre-formed curvature when extended out of the working channel; and

extending the optical fiber out of the cannula and causing treatment radiation to be emitted axially through an end of the fiber, the pre-formed curvature assumed by the cannula and optical fiber upon extending the cannula out of the scope causing the treatment radiation to be directed laterally at tissues situated to a side of the scope.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising the step of moving the fiber within the ferrule after extending the optical fiber out of the cannula and during emission of treatment radiation to control power density of treatment radiation incident on a tissue situated in front of the ferrule.