Integral optical fiber coupler
First Claim
1. A device for transferring high energy electromagnetic radiation from an excimer laser to an optical fiber, which comprises a cone-shaped coupler having a wide proximal end and a narrow distal end, wherein the proximal end is in the form of a convex surface which acts as a focussing lens adapted to receive radiation from a laser and to transmit said radiation into and through said optical fiber and the distal end is attached to the input end of the optical fiber to form an integral assembly therewith, said cone-shaped coupler being made from a material having the same refractive index as that of the optical fiber and having a taper angle θ
- defined by the equation ##EQU4## wherein N.A. is the numerical aperture of the fiber material and μ
is the refractive index of the material of the coupler at the wavelength of the incident radiation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for transferring high energy electromagnetic radiation from a laser to an optical fiber, which comprises a cone-shaped coupler having a wide proximal end and a narrow distal end, wherein the proximal end is in the form of a convex surface which acts as a focussing lens adapted to receive radiation from a laser and to transmit said radiation into and through said optical fiber and the distal end is attached to the input end of the optical fiber to form an integral assembly therewith, said cone-shaped coupler having a taper angle θ defined by the equation ##EQU1## wherein N.A. is the numerical aperture of the fiber material and μ is the refractive index of the material of the coupler at the wavelength of the incident radiation. A process for removing an obstruction by laser surgery using said device is also disclosed.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A device for transferring high energy electromagnetic radiation from an excimer laser to an optical fiber, which comprises a cone-shaped coupler having a wide proximal end and a narrow distal end, wherein the proximal end is in the form of a convex surface which acts as a focussing lens adapted to receive radiation from a laser and to transmit said radiation into and through said optical fiber and the distal end is attached to the input end of the optical fiber to form an integral assembly therewith, said cone-shaped coupler being made from a material having the same refractive index as that of the optical fiber and having a taper angle θ
- defined by the equation ##EQU4## wherein N.A. is the numerical aperture of the fiber material and μ
is the refractive index of the material of the coupler at the wavelength of the incident radiation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- defined by the equation ##EQU4## wherein N.A. is the numerical aperture of the fiber material and μ
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10. A process for removing an obstruction by laser surgery which comprises subjecting the said obstruction to high energy electromagnetic radiation through an optical fiber which is coupled to an excimer laser by a cone-shaped coupler having a wide proximal end and a narrow distal end, wherein the proximal end is in the form of a convex surface which acts as a focussing lens adapted to receive said electromagnetic radiation and to transmit it into said optical fiber to form an integral assembly input end of the optical fiber to form an integral assembly therewith, said cone-shaped coupler being made from a material having the same refractive index as that of the optical fiber and having a taper angle θ
- defined by the equation ##EQU5## wherein N.A. is the numerical aperture of the fiber material and μ
is the refractive index of the material of the coupler at the wavelength of the incident radiation. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
- defined by the equation ##EQU5## wherein N.A. is the numerical aperture of the fiber material and μ
Specification