Optical fiber tip diffuser and method of making the same

• US 7,113,675 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2003
• Issued: 09/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Trusty, Robert M., Sheetz, Jane A., Nield, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Doan, Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US10/741,393
• Publication Number:
  US 20050135749A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• Field of Search: 385/15, 385/31, 385/38
• US Class Current: 385/38
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 11/32 using changes in transmittance, scattering or luminescence in optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0008 the light being emitted at the end of the fibre

Abstract

An optical fiber for use with a laser device including a source of light energy, as well as a method of making same, where the optical fiber has a proximal end in communication with the light source and a distal end positionable at a treatment site. The optical fiber includes: a core having a proximal portion, a distal portion and a distal face proximate the distal end of the optical fiber, a layer of cladding radially surrounding the core from the core proximal portion to a designated point adjacent the core distal portion; a sleeve radially surrounding the cladding layer composed essentially of a predetermined type of material; and, a tip diffuser positioned at the distal end of the optical fiber.

Claims

1. An optical fiber for use with a laser device including a source of light energy, said optical fiber having a proximal end in communication with thc light source and a distal end positionable at a treatment site, said optical fiber comprising:

(a) a core having a proximal portion, a distal portion and a distal face proximate said distal end of said optical fiber;

(b) a layer of cladding radially surrounding said care from said core proximal portion to a designated point adjacent said core distal portion;

(c) a sleeve radially surrounding said cladding layer composed essentially of a predetermined type of material; and

,

(d) a tip diffuser positioned at said distal end of said optical fiber, said tip diffuser further comprising;

(1) a first substantially ring-shaped portion radially surrounding a designated section of said core distal portion, said first tip diffuser portion including light-scattering material therein which fluoresces in a temperature dependent manner upon being stimulated by light;

(2) a second portion terminating in a penetrating tip and being composed essentially of said sleeve type of material; and

(3) a third substantially ring-shaped portion radially surrounding an upstream section of said core distal portion, said third tip diffuser portion being composed essentially of said sleeve type material.

2. The optical fiber of claim 1, wherein said first tip diffuser portion is positioned axially at a middle section of said core distal portion.

3. The optical fiber of claim 1, wherein said core distal portion extends past a midpoint of said first tip diffuser portion.

4. The optical fiber of claim 1, further comprising a layer of optical coupling material located between said core distal portion and said first tip diffuser portion.

5. The optical fiber of claim 1, wherein said light-scattering material exhibits a temperature dependent optical fluorescence decay rate.

6. The optical fiber of claim 5, wherein said light-scattering material of said tip diffuser is alexandrite.

7. The optical fiber of claim 1, wherein said sleeve type of material is a fluoropolymer.

8. The optical fiber of claim 7, wherein said sleeve material is perfluoroalkoxy impregnated with barium sulfate particles.

9. The optical fiber of claim 1, said first tip diffuser portion further comprising a first end attached to said distal end of said sleeve and a second end attached to said second tip diffuser portion.

10. The optical fiber of claim 1, said second tip diffuser portion further comprising an end opposite said penetrating tip attached to said first tip diffuser portion.

11. The optical fiber of claim 1, said third tip diffuser portion further comprising a first end attached to said distal end of said sleeve and a second end attached to said first tip diffuser portion.

12. The optical fiber of claim 11, said third diffuser portion further comprising a feature formed in said second end for mating with said first tip diffuser portion.

13. The optical fiber of claim 11, wherein said second and third tip diffuser portions are a substantially homogeneous mixture of said light-scattering material and said sleeve type of material.

14. The optical fiber of claim 1, said second tip diffuser portion further comprising a feature formed in a first end opposite said penetrating tip for mating with said first diffuser tip portion.

15. The optical fiber of claim 1, wherein a concentration of said light-scattering material to said sleeve type of material in said tip diffuser is in a range of approximately 25–

75%.

16. A diffuser tip for an optical fiber of a laser device, wherein said optical fiber includes a core with a proximal portion and a distal portion, said diffuser tip comprising:

(a) a first substantially ring-shaped portion radially surrounding a designated section of said core distal portion, said first tip diffuser portion including light-scattering material therein which fluoresces in a temperature dependent manner upon being stimulated by light;

(b) a second portion radially surrounding a second section of said core distal portion and terminating in a penetrating tip, said second tip diffuser portion being composed essentially of a fluoropolymer material; and

,

(c) a third substantially ring-shaped portion radially surrounding a third section of said core distal portion, said third tip diffuser portion being composed essentially of said fluoropolymer material.

17. A method of making an improved diffuser in an optical fiber for use with a laser device, wherein said optical fiber includes a core having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a distal surface and a sleeve composed essentially of a predetermined type of material radially surrounding said core from said proximal portion to said distal portion, said method comprising the following steps:

(a) mixing a light-scattering material and the same type of material utilized for said sleeve into a substantially homogeneous mixture;

(b) molding a first substantially ring-shaped tip diffuser portion from said mixture sized to radially surround a designated section of said core distal portion;

(c) molding a second tip diffuser portion from the same type of material utilized for said sleeve to surround a second section of said core distal portion; and

(d) molding a third substantially ring-shaped tip diffuser portion from the same type material utilized for said sleeve to surround an upstream section of said core distal portion.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of attaching said first and second tip diffuser portions so as to have a common longitudinal axis therethrough.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of abrading an interior surface of said first tip diffuser portion prior to said attaching step.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of forming a penetrating tip of predetermined geometry at one end of said second tip diffuser portion.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising the following steps:

(a) forming a feature in one end of said third diffuser tip portion; and

,

(b) mating said first tip diffuser portion with said third diffuser tip portion.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising the following steps:

(a) forming a feature in one end of said second tip diffuser portion; and

,

(b) mating said second tip diffuser portion with said first tip diffuser portion.