The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 30, 1998
Filed:
Jan. 08, 1997
Michael Hmelar, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Nubar Manoukian, Cupertino, CA (US);
Coherent, Inc., Santa Clara, CA (US);
Abstract
A side firing fiber optic probe is disclosed. The delivery end of the probe is provided with an angled face oriented to totally internally reflect the treatment beam out of the side surface of the fiber in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof. The delivery end of the probe is further configured to reduce secondary reflections which occur as the light strikes the side surface of the fiber. This result can be achieved by modifying the shape of the cladding material which surrounds the fiber core. In one approach, the ratio of the diameters of the clad to the core is increased. Other specific cladding configurations for reducing reflections can be used. In a further alternative, the surface of a glass capillary which surrounds the fiber can be optically coupled to the fiber. Each of these approaches functions to reduce unwanted light leakage from the fiber. In another aspect of the probe design, a stainless steel shield is provided which functions to protect the capillary and the fiber against cavitation effects which occur during use.