Optical fiber diffuser and method of making
First Claim
1. An optical fiber device comprising a polymeric optical fiber including a proximal end for coupling to a source of light and a diffusing region, said polymeric optical fiber comprising a core and a cladding around said core, said diffusing region comprising a length of said polymeric optical fiber in which said cladding is partially removed to expose said core and in which the exposed core and the remaining cladding have a roughened surface for outwardly diffusing light carried through said polymeric optical fiber.
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Abstract
An optical fiber device includes a polymeric optical fiber having a proximal end for coupling to a source of light, and a diffusing region. The polymeric optical fiber includes a core and a cladding around the core. The diffusing region includes a length of the polymeric optical fiber in which the cladding is partially removed to expose the core and in which the exposed core and the remaining cladding have a roughened surface for outwardly diffusing light carried through the polymeric optical fiber. The diffusing region is preferably formed by abrasion, for example by directing a particle jet at the optical fiber while rotating and translating the optical fiber with respect to the particle jet. The particle jet may include microscopic glass beads which roughen the optical fiber core. The density of scattering sites may be varied along the length of the diffusing region to produce a desired light output pattern. The optical fiber device is useful in medical applications, including as a component of catheter or endoscopic systems.
107 Citations
46 Claims
- 1. An optical fiber device comprising a polymeric optical fiber including a proximal end for coupling to a source of light and a diffusing region, said polymeric optical fiber comprising a core and a cladding around said core, said diffusing region comprising a length of said polymeric optical fiber in which said cladding is partially removed to expose said core and in which the exposed core and the remaining cladding have a roughened surface for outwardly diffusing light carried through said polymeric optical fiber.
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21. A method for fabricating an optical fiber device, comprising the steps of:
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a) providing an elongated optical fiber including a core and a cladding around the core, said optical fiber having a longitudinal axis; and b) treating a selected region of said fiber to partially remove said cladding and expose said core, and to roughen a surface of the exposed core and the remaining cladding so as to form a diffusing region of said optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A light delivery device, comprising:
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an optical fiber device comprising a polymeric optical fiber including a proximal end for coupling to a source of light and a diffusing region positioned distally of said proximal end, said polymeric optical fiber comprising a core and a cladding around said core, said diffusing region comprising a length of said polymeric optical fiber in which said cladding is partially removed to expose said core and in which the exposed core and the remaining cladding have a roughened surface for outwardly diffusing light carried through said polymeric optical fiber; and a carrier device suitable for positioning said diffusing region near a selected region in a human body. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A light delivery catheter comprising:
an elongated, flexible tube having a distal end and a proximal end, and an optical fiber device positioned within said flexible tube for carrying light through said flexible tube, said optical fiber device comprising a polymeric optical fiber including a proximal end for coupling to a source of light and a diffusing region positioned distally of said proximal end, said polymeric optical fiber comprising a core and a cladding around said core, said diffusing region comprising a length of said polymeric optical fiber in which said cladding is partially removed to expose said core and in which the exposed core and the remaining cladding have a roughened surface for outwardly diffusing light carried through said polymeric optical fiber.
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46. A method for fabricating an optical fiber device, comprising the steps of:
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a) providing an elongated optical fiber including a core and a cladding around the core, said optical fiber having a longitudinal axis; b) directing a particle jet at the optical fiber for partially removing said cladding and exposing said core and for roughening the exposed core and the remaining cladding; c) rotating said optical fiber about said longitudinal axis with respect to said particle jet during step b); and d) translating said optical fiber along said longitudinal axis with respect to said particle jet during step b) so as to form a diffusing region of said optical fiber in which said region has a roughened surface.
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Specification