Cyclone Biosciences, LLC

Innova Quartz Incorporated

Other

Ams Research Corporation

Innovaquartz, Inc. (ams Research Corporation)

Stephen E Griffin

Stuart F Watson

Brian Barr

Jason Guth

Teresanne Griffin

James Hyde

An article of manufacture including a fiber optic termination of a small core optical fiber for use with a surgical laser apparatus (the output from which may be characterized by a high Mfactor) or other high-power or high-energy laser (including an appropriate fiber laser) is configured for safe and efficient coupling of light at a large laser focal point and/or to enable the process of coupling of radiant intensities exceeding the silica fiber damage thresholds and/or those ionizing the air if fully focused therein. The termination may include a glass cylinder structured to include a core region and a glass cladding region the ratio of dimensions of which is substantially equal to the ratio of respectively-corresponding dimensions of the employed optical fiber. A method of propagating light through such article of manufacture.

Cooperation between laser and optical fiber

A single strand of an optical fiber with a single optical core that is dimensioned at one end to resemble a blade or a head of a flat-head screwdriver. Such strand of the optical fiber is configured for optical coupling of light between such single strand and a spectrometric/spectrophotometric apparatus while employing an input slit and/or an output slit of the apparatus. A method for fabricating such single strand. A fiber optic cable containing, as an optical medium, only such single strand. A method for handling light with the use of such optical fiber and/or the optical cable.

Fiber optic structure

An optical-fiber-based optical switch arrangement configured to redirect light from axial propagation to off-axis propagation due to axial repositioning of the optical fiber within the optical termination element and internally reflecting light in an annular fashion off the axis in one state of the switch arrangement and not in the other.

Optical fiber device with spatially selectable output

An article of manufacture including a fiber optic termination of a small core optical fiber for use with a surgical laser (characterized by a high Mfactor) or other high-power or high-energy pulse laser is configured for safe and efficient coupling of light at a large laser focal point and/or to enable the process of coupling of radiant intensities exceeding the silica fiber damage thresholds and/or those ionizing the air if fully focused therein. The termination includes a glass cylinder structured to include a core region and a glass cladding region the ratio of dimensions of which is substantially equal to the ratio of respectively-corresponding dimensions of the employed optical fiber. A method of coupling laser light characterized by an Mfactor of 25 or higher into an optical fiber with the use of same.

Laser-to-optical-fiber connection

Controller for an optical fiber

A surgical scope employing a multi-spectrum ring illuminated surgical camera with a ring lens and a plurality of sources of light set behind the camera and positioned radially about the longitudinal axis of the lens and/or scope.

Surgical endoscope employing multi-spectrum ring-illuminated surgical camera

Articles of manufacture, including terminations of or attachments to optical fibers are configured to substantially prevent axial emission and redirect radially most if not all light emanating from optical fibers. In that, a termination may include a fiber cap of a unitary construction of a tube and an optical element disposed to face a sealed end of the tube and dividing a hollow of the tube and having a conical surface, or an optical element dividing the hollow and complemented by a cone. An example of termination includes an optical fiber element having an up-tapered end with a maximum taper-diameter exceeding the core-diameter and ending at a conical element with an apex angle from about 70° to about 100°. Articles of manufacture additionally including mounting contraptions cooperating such terminations with cannulae to form an attachment to a laser system. Methods for transmitting light through such articles of manufacture.

Forming radial emissions from optical fibers

A tool for chamfering cleaved tips of optical fibers. The tool including conical bores of relatively smooth and hard material terminate at a cylindrical bore that is slightly larger than the fiber core maximum diameter and a fiber centering bore that is slightly larger than the fiber coating maximum diameter. The tool provided such that when a cleaved fiber tip is inserted into the centering bore the sharp edge falls upon the chamfering surface that, when rotated relative to the fiber, gently grinds the edge to the chamfer angle. Chamfering cannot occur on the core face due to the absence of tool surface at this dimension.

Chamfering optical fiber

Optical fiber controller

Optical fibers used to deliver laser energy inside the body are often twisted and bent when passed through tortuous routes in accessing the target tissue or pathology, e.g. during the ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy. When an irregular laser output that is produced at the start of the lasing process is channeled through a fiber that is bent at or near the bend limit, fail safe polymer claddings are damaged and can no longer contain even regular laser output in tight deflection. A common resulting fiber failure, known as 'fiber burn through', results in injuries to patients and is a major cause of damage to ureteroscopes. Discussed are the systems and methodologies providing a solution to such premature fiber failure.

Process and system for reducing laser damage to surgical instruments

Articles of manufacture, including terminations of or attachments to optical fibers are configured to substantially prevent axial emission and redirect radially most if not all light emanating from optical fibers. In that, a termination may include a fiber cap of a unitary construction of a tube and an optical element disposed to face a sealed end of the tube and dividing a hollow of the tube and having a conical surface, or an optical element dividing the hollow and complemented by a cone. An example of termination includes an optical fiber element having an up-tapered end with a maximum taper-diameter exceeding the core-diameter and ending at a conical element with an apex angle from about 70&#xb0; to about 100&#xb0;. Articles of manufacture additionally including mounting contraptions cooperating such terminations with cannulae to form an attachment to a laser system. Methods for transmitting light through such articles of manufacture.

Optical fibers for delivering laser energy inside the body are often tasked with traversing tortuous routes in accessing the target tissue or pathology, e.g. ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy. A common failure in such applications, known in the field as 'fiber burn through', has been known to injure patients and is a major cause of damage to ureteroscopes. Where irregular output that is produced at the start of a lasing interval passes through a fiber that is at or near the optical minimum bend limit, fail safe polymer claddings are damaged and can no longer contain even regular laser output in tight deflection. The invention disclosed provides a solution to premature fiber failure and collateral damage.

Growing community of inventors

Peoria, AZ, United States of America

Stephen E Griffin