A system for use in TFL lithotripsy procedures uses a silica trunk fiber semi-permanently mounted in an endoscope and includes a detachable and replaceable wave guide treatment tip, including hollow wave guides and fiber tips. The system provides for ready removal and replacement of wave guides damaged during lithotripsy. The trunk fiber in the endoscope tube is of diameter 200 m, suitable for use in the lower pole of the kidney, and should be useful over-and-over with only the detachable wave guide removed and replaced, whether during a single procedure or for multiple procedures on different patients in which the endoscope tube and trunk fiber are sterilized between patients. Multiple connector assemblies are provided for optical coupling contact between the detachable wave guide and trunk fiber and include a gap for dissipation of heat between the trunk fiber and the wave guide when in optically coupling contact.

An optical fiber tip attachment comprising: a body having an opening at a first end of the body, the opening configured to receive an optical fiber; and a cavity extending from the opening through at least a portion of the body, wherein the cavity is configured to orient a cross-sectional surface of the optical fiber, from which electromagnetic radiation is delivered, at an angle to an axis of the optical fiber tip attachment at the opening.

A laser apparatus comprises a laser outputting laser light at an output location in a mean propagation direction, a surgical laser light application fiber having a fiber axis and a light entry cross section, and a device for connecting the fiber to the laser. The device comprises laser and fiber ports connecting the laser and the fiber to the device, and focusing optics arranged between the laser and fiber ports and coupling a part of the laser light output by the laser at the output location through the light entry cross section into the fiber. The focusing optics focus the laser light with a full convergence angle of not more than 2 onto the light entry cross section; and the focusing optics couple the laser light at an angle between the mean propagation direction and the fiber axis in a range from 2 to 10 into the fiber.

A method of dermocosmetic treatment for skin tissue includes a plurality of treatment laser light sources which are in communication with a rectangular-shaped optical fiber; the optical fiber includes a proximal end to receive laser light from the plurality of treatment laser light sources and a distal end to transmit overlapping laser light to the area of skin tissue to be treated; the plurality of treatment of laser light sources are activated to impinge one or more rectangular-shaped laser light images within one or more rectangular-shaped areas.

The present disclosure provides a medical optical fiber comprising a renewable distal end. The renewable distal end comprising several detachable segments where the detachable segments can be selectively and/or automatically detached to renew the distal most tip of the optical fiber.

Among the various aspects of the present disclosure is the provision of systems and methods for light-based procedures that include a fiber-optic bi-directional interface device that includes a multi-core optical fiber comprising a plurality of light-guiding cores in which a first portion of the plurality of light-guiding cores each comprise a light emission modification configured to direct light propagating along the light-guiding core in a laterally outward or sideways direction relative to the propagation axis of the light-guiding core; and a second portion of the plurality of light-guiding cores each further comprises a light collection modification configured to receive light produced by a source positioned laterally outwards or sideways relative to the propagation axis of the light-guiding core.

A probe of a target identification system can be extended via a first lumen of a viewing instrument, such as for illuminating an area beyond a distal end of the viewing instrument via an optical path of the viewing instrument. An optical response to the illumination of the area can be received via an optical path of the probe and can be split from other optical signals of the optical path. The optical response information can be used to identify characteristics of a target and to adjust parameters of a working instrument such as a working instrument contemporaneously using the probe.

A device configured to cut hair using laser light includes a handle portion and a shaving portion. The handle portion includes a battery and a laser light source. The laser light source is coupled to and configured to receive power from the battery. The laser light source is also configured to generate laser light having a wavelength selected to target a predetermined chromophore to effectively cut a hair shaft. The shaving portion includes a support and a single fiber optic supported by the support. The fiber optic has a proximal end, a distal end, an outer wall, and a cutting region positioned towards the distal end and extending along a portion of the side wall. The fiber optic is positioned to receive the laser light from the laser light source at the proximal end, conduct the laser light from the proximal end toward the distal end, and emit the light out of the cutting region and toward hair when the cutting region is brought in contact with the hair.

A device configured to cut hair using laser light includes a handle portion and a shaving portion. The handle portion includes a battery and a laser light source. The laser light source is coupled to and configured to receive power from the battery. The laser light source is also configured to generate laser light having a wavelength selected to target a predetermined chromophore to effectively cut a hair shaft. The shaving portion includes a support and a single fiber optic supported by the support. The fiber optic has a proximal end, a distal end, an outer wall, and a cutting region positioned towards the distal end and extending along a portion of the side wall. The fiber optic is positioned to receive the laser light from the laser light source at the proximal end, conduct the laser light from the proximal end toward the distal end, and emit the light out of the cutting region and toward hair when the cutting region is brought in contact with the hair.

A protective ferrule for an end-firing optical fiber arrangement combines a spherical or rounded shape with a planar end. The combination of the spherical or rounded shape and planar end provides protection for the working channel of an endoscope or catheter through which the fiber is inserted while confining and minimizing erosion of the active surface area of the fiber. The protective ferrule of may be fitted to the end of the optical fiber by the steps of heating the ferrule to expand an inside diameter so that it fits over the end of the fiber, with subsequent cooling of the ferrule causing it to contract and create a compression fit.