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

• US 9,329,350 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2014
• Issued: 05/03/2016
• 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:
  US14/518,292
• Publication Number:
  US 20150066004A1
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 and a silica core, wherein a proximal end portion of the optical fiber is configured to receive electromagnetic radiation;

a component made of a doped silica material and defining a bore, 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 an SMA connector extending within the lumen of the alignment assembly and configured to receive the optical fiber.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the SMA connector includes a cylindrical press-fit component.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the SMA connector is slotted.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further including:

a distal coupling nut defining a cavity therein, wherein a distal end portion of the SMA connector is configured to be received within the cavity of the distal coupling nut.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further including:

a proximal coupling nut defining a cavity therein, wherein a proximal portion of the holder is configured to be received within the cavity of the proximal coupling nut.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further including:

a grip extending between a proximal end and a distal end of the grip, wherein the proximal end of the grip is configured to receive the proximal coupling nut therein, and wherein the distal end of the grip is configured to receive the distal coupling nut therein.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further including:

a boot coupled to the grip, the boot extending distally of the distal end of the grip.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. An apparatus, comprising:

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

a component made of a doped silica material and defining a bore, 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 slotted cylindrical connector configured to be press-fit within the lumen of the alignment assembly and to receive the optical fiber therein.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, 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.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, 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.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the holder defines a longitudinally extending air gap between the alignment assembly and a distal portion of the component.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, further including:

a distal coupling nut defining a cavity therein, wherein a distal end portion of the SMA connector is configured to be received within the cavity of the distal coupling nut.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further including:

a proximal coupling nut defining a cavity therein, wherein a proximal portion of the holder is configured to be received within the cavity of the proximal coupling nut.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further including:

a grip extending between a proximal end and a distal end of the grip, wherein the proximal end of the grip is configured to receive the proximal coupling nut therein, and wherein the distal end of the grip is configured to receive the distal coupling nut therein.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further including:

a boot coupled to the grip, the boot extending distally of the distal end of the grip.