Methods and apparatus related to a launch connector portion of a ureteroscope laser-energy-delivery device

• US 8,888,378 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 11/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Zerfas, Jeffrey W., Jortberg, Paul, Tumminelli, Richard P.
• Primary Examiner(s): PEACE, RHONDA S
• Application Number:
  US13/828,911
• Publication Number:
  US 20130195412A1
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: 385 76- 79, 606/15, 606/16
• US Class Current: 385/78
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/24 with a catheter A61B18/26, A61B18/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00494 Stomach, intestines or bowel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00505 Urinary tract
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00982 combined with or comprising means for visual or photographic inspections inside the body, e.g. endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2222 Fibre material or composition
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/4297 having protection means, e.g. protecting humans against accidental exposure to harmful laser radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2423 of the distal end
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/26 using light guides for illumination G02B23/2469
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/036 core or cladding comprising multiple layers multicore optical fibres G02B6/02042; microstructured properties G02B6/02295; omniguide fibres G02B6/023
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3813 for transmission of high energy beam coupling high energy sources and light guides G02B6/4296
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4203 Optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4296 coupling with sources of high radiant energy, e.g. high power lasers, high temperature light sources

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.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

an optical fiber extending along a longitudinal axis and having a cladding layer, wherein a proximal end portion of the optical fiber is configured to receive electromagnetic radiation;

a component having a bore in 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;

a holder having a proximal portion coupled to a proximal end portion of the launch connector;

an alignment assembly extending distally of the holder and configured to prevent the optical fiber from bending away from the longitudinal axis, the alignment assembly defining a lumen extending therethrough, and

a connector extending within the lumen of the alignment assembly and configured to receive the optical fiber;

wherein the holder is further configured to receive a proximal portion of the alignment assembly therein and wherein the proximal portion of the alignment assembly includes a first diameter, the alignment assembly further including a second portion having a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is different than the first diameter.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the portion of the cladding layer is heat-fused to the bore between a proximal end of the bore and a distal end of the bore.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bore has a substantially uniform inner-diameter.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical fiber and the component collectively define the launch connector when the portion of the cladding layer is heat-fused to the bore, a proximal end of the launch connector having a polished, substantially flat surface.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the component includes a fluorine-doped silica material that has an index of refraction lower than an index of refraction of the cladding layer of the optical fiber.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the portion of the cladding layer is a first portion of the cladding layer, the bore is a first bore, the optical fiber has a coating on a second portion of the cladding layer and not on the first portion of the cladding layer, the second portion of the cladding layer is disposed outside of the first bore of the component and disposed within a second bore of the component, and the second bore of the component has an inner-diameter greater than an inner-diameter of the first bore of the component.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the holder defines a longitudinally extending air gap between the alignment assembly and a distal portion of the component.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the component is made of a doped silica material.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical fiber is silica based.

10. A method comprising:

receiving a component having a bore in communication with a distal opening of the component and a proximal opening of the component;

mating an inner-surface of the bore of the component with an outer surface of a proximal end of an optical fiber, the optical fiber extending along a longitudinal axis;

heating, after the mating, the component and the optical fiber such that the inner-surface of the bore of the component is fused to the outer-surface of the optical fiber, the component and the optical fiber collectively defining a launch connector end when fused;

coupling a holder having a proximal portion to a proximal end portion of the launch connector end;

coupling an alignment assembly to the holder, the alignment assembly defining a lumen extending therethrough and extending distally of the holder and being configured to prevent the optical fiber from bending away from the longitudinal axis; and

disposing a connector within the lumen of the alignment assembly.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the heating defines an interface, the component comprises doped silica wherein the doped silica component has a doping concentration such that electromagnetic radiation from the optical fiber and incident on the interface is substantially internally reflected.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

removing a portion of a polymer-based jacket disposed on the outer-surface of the optical fiber before the mating.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the outer-surface of the optical fiber is associated with a cladding layer of the optical fiber, the method further comprising:

removing a portion of an acrylate coating disposed on the outer-surface of the optical fiber before mating.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the outer-surface of the optical fiber is associated with a cladding layer of the optical fiber, and the component is a doped silica component which is doped with a fluorine concentration greater than a fluorine concentration within the cladding layer.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the outer-surface of the optical fiber has an index of refraction higher than an index of refraction associated with the component.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the component is cut from a doped silica pre-form, and the doped silica pre-form has a bore with an inner-diameter less than an inner-diameter of the bore of the component.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the optical fiber has a coating removed from a portion of a cladding layer before the portion of the cladding layer is heat-fused to the bore.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the component is made of doped silica.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein the optical fiber is silica based.

20. The method of claim 10, wherein the alignment assembly includes a first portion received within the holder and having a first diameter, the alignment assembly further including a second portion having a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is different than the first diameter.