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.

A side-fire laser fiber (102) includes an optical fiber (112) having a distal end (116) and a fiber cap (114). The fiber cap is coupled to the distal end of the optical fiber and includes a molded reflective surface (130) and a sealed cavity (132A or 132B). The molded reflective surface defines a wall of the cavity. Laser energy discharged from the distal end along a central axis (124) of the optical fiber is reflected off the molded reflective surface in a direction that is transverse to the central axis.

The device serves for the controlled conveying of a cable. The device has a housing, having a cover plate, on which are externally mounted a drive wheel and contact wheel which can be radially pressed onto the drive wheel, between which the cable can be clamped. The cable can be conveyed by means of the drive wheel being driven by a drive unit in the interior of the housing. The rotational motion of the drive wheel is guided through a stationary light barrier by means of a counting disc, running synchronously therewith and having radial slots or holes in the circumferential area, for determining the motion and rotational speed of the drive wheel. The cover plate and the housing can be sterilized. The drive unit in the interior of the housing is not sterilizable, yet is completely enclosed by the sterilized housing and cover plate.

The present invention is directed towards medical optical fibers with protective tips for use with endoscopes for laser based treatment of internal bodily organs and method of manufacture therefor. The medical optical fibers have a short stripped medical optical fiber section and a protective tip provided thereon to encapsulate both the stripped medical optical fiber section and the jacket tip immediately therebehind.

A side-fire laser fiber includes an optical fiber having a distal end and a fiber cap. The fiber cap is coupled to the distal end of the optical fiber and includes a molded reflective surface and a sealed cavity. The molded reflective surface defines a wall of the cavity. Laser energy discharged from the distal end along a central axis of the optical fiber is reflected off the molded reflective surface in a direction that is transverse to the central axis.

The present invention relates to a medical instrument (1), comprising a tool (10), a catheter assembly and a handle (20), by means of which the tool (10) can be actuated, and to a method for producing the medical instrument. The tool (10) is a wire construction having at least two wire portions (11′, 11″, 12′, 12″, 13′, 13″) and is arranged at a distal end of the catheter assembly. The catheter assembly is formed from an outer tube (3) and an inner tube (4), which is arranged coaxially to the outer tube. Furthermore, the medical instrument (1) has an optical waveguide (2), which extends through the inner tube (4) and the exit end (2′) of which opens into a space delimited by the tool (10). At least one first wire portion (11′, 12′, 13′) is fastened, at a proximal end (11a, 12a, 13a) thereof, to the distal end of the inner tube (4), and at least one second wire portion (11″, 12″, 13″) is fastened, at a proximal end (11b, 12b, 13b) thereof, to the distal end of the outer tube (3). The outer tube (3) and the inner tube (4) are movable relative to one another, and the tool (10) can be actuated for opening and closing by means of the relative movement between the outer tube (3) and the inner tube (4). The medical instrument (1) does not have a guide wire for actuating the tool (10).

The coated optical fiber (10) includes: an optical fiber (11) including a core (111) and a cladding (112); a first buffer layer (121) covering the optical fiber (11), and having a refractive index lower than that of the cladding (112) and a Shore D hardness of D/20.0/1 or higher; a second buffer layer (122) covering the first buffer layer (121), and having a higher Shore D hardness than the first buffer layer (121); and a jacket (13) covering the second buffer layer (122).

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure apparatus and methods that provide for subtractive material processing, including efficient and precise ablation of tissues. Certain embodiments include a first laser configured to direct a first pulse of energy at a first wavelength to a region of tissue; a second laser configured to direct a second pulse of energy at a second wavelength to the region of tissue; and a control system configured to control operation of the first laser and the second laser.

The present invention provides devices and methods of manufacture related to transmitting light to a target site for diffusion Techniques are provided which allow accurate control of the illumination profile with a diffuser tip design which is easily producible, relatively inexpensive, and provides variations to obtain desired illumination profiles. This is achieved by using at least two light scattering mediums having a shape defined by an insert. The dimensions, light scattering properties, and number of such light scattering mediums may be selected individually or collectively to selectively control the illumination profile. In addition, the insert allows for other beneficial design features, such as a reduced heat retention, easily controlled and refined light scattering medium interfaces, and a smaller cross-sectional diameter than is typically achievable with other techniques. The resulting light transmission and diffusion apparatus is operable with a high efficiency, highly predictable illumination profile, and ease of use.

A catheter system for treating a treatment site within or adjacent to the heart valve within a body of a patient includes an energy source, an energy guide and an energy director. The energy source generates energy. The energy guide includes a guide proximal end and a guide distal end. The energy guide is configured to receive energy from the energy source and guide the energy from the guide proximal end toward the guide distal end. The energy director includes a director wall that defines a director interior, and a director distal end that is selectively positioned substantially adjacent to the treatment site. The guide distal end of the energy guide is positioned within the director interior. The director distal end is at least partially open toward the treatment site.