Methods and apparatus related to a launch connector portion of a ureteroscope laser-energy-delivery device
First Claim
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
- an optical fiber being made of a silica-based material, a proximal end portion of the optical fiber having an outer-layer portion, the proximal end portion being included in at least a portion of a launch connector configured to receive electromagnetic radiation and being mechanically connected to a source of electromagnetic radiation; and
a component having a bore therethrough, the component being made of a doped silica material, the bore having an inner-layer portion heat-fused to the outer-layer portion of the optical fiber, the component having an index of refraction lower than an index of refraction associated with the outer-layer portion of the optical fiber;
wherein an entirety of a proximal end of the launch connector includes a substantially flat surface, andan outer-surface of the silica-based optical fiber has an index of refraction higher than an index of refraction associated with the doped silica component.
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Abstract
In one embodiment, an apparatus includes an optical fiber made of a silica-based material. A proximal end portion of the optical fiber has an outer-layer portion. The proximal end portion can be included in at least a portion of a launch connector configured to receive electromagnetic radiation. The apparatus also includes a component that has a bore therethrough and can be made of a doped silica material. The bore can have an inner-layer portion heat-fused to the outer-layer portion of the optical fiber. The component can also have an index of refraction lower than an index of refraction associated with the outer-layer portion of the optical fiber.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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an optical fiber being made of a silica-based material, a proximal end portion of the optical fiber having an outer-layer portion, the proximal end portion being included in at least a portion of a launch connector configured to receive electromagnetic radiation and being mechanically connected to a source of electromagnetic radiation; and a component having a bore therethrough, the component being made of a doped silica material, the bore having an inner-layer portion heat-fused to the outer-layer portion of the optical fiber, the component having an index of refraction lower than an index of refraction associated with the outer-layer portion of the optical fiber; wherein an entirety of a proximal end of the launch connector includes a substantially flat surface, and an outer-surface of the silica-based optical fiber has an index of refraction higher than an index of refraction associated with the doped silica component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus, comprising:
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an optical fiber being made of a silica-based material and having a cladding layer and a silica core, wherein a proximal end portion of the optical fiber is configured to receive electromagnetic radiation and is configured to mechanically connect to a source of electromagnetic radiation; and a component made of a doped silica material, the component having a bore in fluid communication with a proximal opening of the component and a distal opening of the component, a portion of the cladding layer of the proximal end portion being in contact with the bore to define an interface such that electromagnetic radiation from the optical fiber and incident on the interface is substantially internally reflected, the optical fiber and the component collectively defining a launch connector; wherein an entirety of a proximal end of the launch connector includes a substantially flat surface, and an outer-surface of the silica-based optical fiber has an index of refraction higher than an index of refraction associated with the doped silica component. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method, comprising:
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receiving a doped silica component having a bore in fluid communication with a distal opening of the doped silica component and a proximal opening of the doped silica component; moving an inner-surface of the bore of the doped silica component over an outer-surface of a proximal end of a silica-based optical fiber, the proximal end being configured to mechanically connect to a source of electromagnetic radiation; heating the doped silica component and the silica-based optical fiber such that the inner-surface of the bore of the doped silica component is fused to the outer-surface of the silica-based optical fiber, the doped silica component and the silica-based optical fiber collectively defining a launch connector end when fused; modifying a proximal end of the silica-based optical fiber and a proximal end of the doped silica component such that an entirety of the proximal end of the silica-based optical fiber and an entirety of the proximal end of the doped silica component define a substantially flat surface; and the outer-surface of the silica-based optical fiber has an index of refraction higher than an index of refraction associated with the doped silica component. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification