This invention relates to an advance in the delivery of laser beams to internal surgical sites using optical fibers with a novel distal tip design made using a fusion assembly procedure suitable for directing laser beams out of the side of an optical fiber. This side-fire fiber delivery tip assembly is fabricated by fusing a transparent tube onto the distal ends of a laser beam delivery fiber and an associated coaxial stub fiber that have beveled and parallel end faces that meet inside of the transparent tube. The result is a rugged fiber delivery tip assembly that is almost entirely solid, except for a very narrow gap between the beveled end surfaces of the two fibers. A loose fitting transparent capsule is placed over this fiber tip to contain a transparent perfluorocarbon lubricating oil or a perfluorocarbon heat-transfer agent that serves as a cooling agent for the fiber tip assembly.

An Optical fiber with modified distal end and related methods are provided. The optical fiber extends from a proximal end portion to a distal end portion and includes a core, a cladding, a coating, and an optional jacket. The distal end portion comprises a portion with an enlarged outer diameter.

A method of welding a protective structure to a tip of a surgical laser fiber involves inserting the optical fiber into a length of tubing, and positioning the fiber and the tubing in a rotatable fixture arranged to simultaneously rotate the fiber and tubing while laser radiation is directed through a transparent material of the tubing, so that one or both contacting surfaces of the tubing and the fiber absorb the laser radiation and heat up to weld the tubing to the fiber. The tubing may be a length of polymer material.

Various methods, systems, and devices for treating tissue ablation are disclosed. Some embodiments disclosed herein pertain to methods of treating tumors, systems used for irradiating tissue and tumors with electromagnetic radiation, components and devices of that system, and kits for providing systems used for irradiating tissue and tumors with electromagnetic radiation. In some embodiments, the system provides sub-ablative infrared radiation that is absorbed by nanoparticles. In some embodiments, the nanoparticles absorb the radiation converting it into heat energy. In some embodiments, though the infrared radiation itself may be sub-ablative, the heat energy generated by the nanoparticles is sufficient to cause thermal coagulation, hyperthermia, and/or tissue ablation.

A treatment probe for treating an eye of a patient includes an elongate body that defines a handle and a treatment fiber that is housed within the elongate body. The treatment fiber is configured to deliver treatment light energy to the eye. A contact member is disposed on an end of the elongate body. The contact member has a contact surface for positioning on a surface of the eye, two side edges that are positioned on opposite sides of the contact surface, and a fluid channel. The contact surface conforms to the shape of the eye's sclera and the two side edges are shaped to direct fluid that is present on the surface of the eye toward the fluid channel when the contact member is moved laterally across the surface of the eye. The fluid aggregates within the fluid channel and contacts a distal end of the treatment fiber.

Embodiments of an apparatus and method for sealing and cutting of tissue during surgeries, especially in general, endoscopic, laparoscopic and robotic, are described. In one aspect, an apparatus comprises a laser system and a laser beam delivery unit. The laser unit is configured to emit a laser beam suitable for tissue sealing and cutting. The laser beam delivery unit is detachably coupled to the laser unit, and is configured to guide and direct the laser beam to seal and cut tissue. Use of optical fiber guided sensors described herein further enhances the safety and efficacy of the apparatus.

This invention relates to an advance in the delivery of laser beams to internal surgical sites using optical fibers with a novel distal tip design made using a fusion assembly procedure suitable for directing laser beams out of the side of an optical fiber. This side-fire fiber delivery tip assembly is fabricated by fusing a transparent tube onto the distal ends of a laser beam delivery fiber and an associated coaxial stub fiber that have beveled and parallel end faces that meet inside of the transparent tube. The result is a rugged fiber delivery tip assembly that is almost entirely solid, except for a very narrow gap between the beveled end surfaces of the two fibers. A loose fitting transparent capsule is placed over this fiber tip to contain a transparent perfluorocarbon lubricating oil or a perfluorocarbon heat-transfer agent that serves as a cooling agent for the fiber tip assembly.

A treatment probe for treating an eye of a patient includes an elongate body that defines a handle and a treatment fiber that is housed within the elongate body. The treatment fiber is configured to deliver treatment light energy to the eye. A contact member is disposed on an end of the elongate body. The contact member has a contact surface for positioning on a surface of the eye, two side edges that are positioned on opposite sides of the contact surface, and a fluid channel. The contact surface conforms to the shape of the eye's sclera and the two side edges are shaped to direct fluid that is present on the surface of the eye toward the fluid channel when the contact member is moved laterally across the surface of the eye. The fluid aggregates within the fluid channel and contacts a distal end of the treatment fiber.

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 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.