Method of making a surgical laser fiber from a monolithic silica titania glass rod

• US 5,755,850 A
• Filed: 03/10/1994
• Issued: 05/26/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation Incorporated (Iowa State University)
• Original Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation Incorporated (Iowa State University)
• Inventors: Martin, Steve W., Shirk, Gerald J.
• Primary Examiner(s): HOFFMANN, JOHN M
• Application Number:
  US08/209,002
• Time in Patent Office: 1,538 Days
• Field of Search: 385/123, 385/126, 385/127, 385/128, 385/141, 385/142, 385/147, 606/14, 606/15, 606/16, 606/28, 372/6, 252/582, 252/584, 128/4, 128/6, 128/395, 65/385, 65/392, 65/387, 501/38
• US Class Current: 65/387
• 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: C03B 2201/32 doped with aluminium C03B2201/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 2201/40 doped with transition metals other than rare earth metals, e.g. Zr, Nb, Ta or Zn
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 2201/42 doped with titanium
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 2201/50 doped with alkali metals
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 37/01205 starting from tubes, rods, fibres or filaments C03B37/014 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 37/027 Fibres composed of different sorts of glass, e.g. glass optical fibresC03B37/0253, C03B37/028 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C03B 37/15 with heat application, e.g. for making optical fibres fusion-splicing of light guides G02B6/255; treatment of light guides to shape optical elements G02B6/2835, G02B6/2856
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 13/006 Glass-ceramics fibres
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 13/045 Silica-containing oxide glass compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 13/046 Multicomponent glass compositions
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/02 Optical fibres with cladding with or without a coating
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/102 for infrared and ultraviolet radiation

Abstract

A new optical fiber and method of manufacturing the same developed for use with surgical laser systems. The fiber core utilizes an ultra-low expansion (ULE) material. The preferred ULE fiber consists of silicon dioxide core doped with titanium dioxide which is cladded and jacketed for chemical and abrasion resistance. The resulting fiber is stable against degradation due to thermal expansion.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a laser fiber comprising the steps of:

a) providing a preform rod consisting essentially of silica-titania glass exhibiting a coefficient of linear thermal expansion of less than about 0.5×

10^-6 /°

C. in temperatures from about 25°

C. to about 700°

C.;

b) heating the preform rod to a drawing temperature;

c) pulling the rod to form an optical fiber;

d) forming a tip on the fiber; and

e) doping the fiber tip with a laser absorbing dopant.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of doping further comprises doping the fiber tip with a predetermined concentration of the dopant.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the preform rod comprises a concentration of TiO₂ in a range of about 6 to 8 percent by weight.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the preform rod comprises a concentration of TiO₂ of about 7.5 percent by weight.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the preform rod is substantially colorless.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the concentration of TiO₂ in the silica-titania glass is about 7.5 percent by weight.

6. A method of manufacturing a laser fiber comprising the steps of:

a) providing a preform rod consisting essentially of a substantially colorless silica-titania glass having a concentration of TiO₂ in a range of about 6 to 8 percent by weight;

b) heating the preform rod to a drawing temperature;

c) pulling the rod to form an optical fiber; and

d) forming a tip on the fiber.

8. A method according to claim 6, further comprising a step of doping the fiber tip with a laser absorbing dopant.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the step of doping further comprises doping the fiber tip with a predetermined concentration of the dopant.