Sleeved optical fiber for reduced lateral loss and method for making the same

• US 7,447,409 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2006
• Issued: 11/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ams Research Corporation (Endo International PLC)
• Inventors: Griffin, Stephen Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): KIM, ELLEN E
• Application Number:
  US11/344,371
• Publication Number:
  US 20070189683A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,009 Days
• Field of Search: 385/123
• US Class Current: 385/123
• 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 2018/2272 with reflective or refractive surfaces for deflecting the beam A61B2018/2261, A61B2018/2266 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2277 with refractive surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/262 Optical details of coupling light into, or out of, or between fibre ends, e.g. special fibre end shapes or associated optical elements

Abstract

A fiber optic, and method for making the same, having glass cladding diameters, or overall glass diameters, or glass-clad sections upon polymer clad fiber, that are large than the bulk of the fiber.

Claims

1. A fiber optic comprising a short section of fluorine-doped tubing fused about a terminal end of a polymer clad, silica core fiber where a reflective bevel is polished on a terminal end of the fused section for the purpose of redirecting light laterally with respect to the fiber axis.

4. The fiber optic according to claim 1 where the dopant in the tubing is uniform throughout.

6. The fiber optic according to claim 1 where the dopant in the tubing varies in concentration within the radius of the tubing.

8. The fiber optic according to claim 1 where the dopant in the tubing varies in concentration along the axis of the tubing.

11. The fiber optic according to claim 1 wherein the bevel tipped fiber is further disposed within a protective silica cap.

14. The fiber optic according to claim 11 where the fiber conducts light from a laser to the terminal end for the purpose of treating tissues in surgery.

2. A fiber optic comprising a short section of fluorine-doped tubing fused about a terminal end of a fluorine-doped silica clad, silica core fiber, where a reflective bevel is polished on a terminal end of the fused section for the purpose of redirecting light laterally with respect to the fiber axis.

5. The fiber optic according to claim 2 where the dopant in the tubing is uniform throughout.

7. The fiber optic according to claim 2 where the dopant in the tubing varies in concentration within the radius of the tubing.

9. The fiber optic according to claim 2 where the dopant in the tubing varies in concentration along the axis of the tubing.

10. The fiber optic according to claim 2 where a reflective bevel is polished on a terminal end of the fused section for the purpose of redirecting light laterally with respect to the fiber axis.

12. The fiber optic according to claim 10 wherein the bevel tipped fiber is further disposed within a protective silica cap.

15. The fiber optic according to claim 12 where the fiber conducts light from a laser to the terminal end for the purpose of treating tissues in surgery.

3. A fiber optic comprising a short section of pure silica tubing fused about a terminal end of a fluorine-doped silica clad, silica core fiber where a reflective bevel is polished on a terminal end of the fused section for the purpose of redirecting light laterally with respect to the fiber axis.

13. The fiber optic according to claim 3 wherein the bevel tipped fiber is further disposed within a protective silica cap.

16. The fiber optic according to claim 13 where the fiber conducts light from a laser to the terminal end for the purpose of treating tissues in surgery.