An optical probe includes: an optical fiber; a reflecting portion; and a traveling direction changing portion changing a traveling direction of a laser beam of a first wavelength that has transmitted through the reflecting portion to a direction different from a traveling direction before transmitting through the reflecting portion. Further, the traveling direction changing portion is configured by a bending structure having a structure in which a portion on a distal end side of the optical fiber is bent, and the reflecting portion is provided closer to a proximal end side of the optical fiber than the bending structure.

An apparatus and method of treatment of an animal using the apparatus are disclosed. The apparatus includes a scalpel, a laser included in the scalpel, and a visible light source included in the scalpel. The visible light source provides a visible targeting beam. The method of treatment includes activating a visible targeting beam in a laser scalpel. The visible targeting beam has an illumination intensity. The method further includes illuminating a tumor that includes cancerous cells and non-cancerous cells with the visible targeting beam, activating an invisible mid-infrared laser included in the scalpel to produce a laser spot at the tumor, and ablating the cancerous cells while leaving the non-cancerous cells substantially undamaged.

One described aspect is an optical fiber comprising: a fiber core that extends along a fiber axis, is configured to transmit a laser energy along the fiber axis, and terminates at a distal end; a first cladding that extends along the fiber axis, is adjacent to the fiber core, and terminates at a distal end; a coating that extends along the fiber axis and terminates at a distal end, wherein the coating is a gold coating; a second cladding that surrounds a portion of the gold coating along the fiber axis, and terminates at a distal end; an outer jacket that extends along the fiber axis and terminates at a distal end; and a fiber tip. Associated laser systems are also disclosed.

One described aspect is an optical fiber comprising: a fiber core that extends along a fiber axis, is configured to transmit a laser energy along the fiber axis, and terminates at a distal end; a first cladding that extends along the fiber axis, is adjacent to the fiber core, and terminates at a distal end; a coating that extends along the fiber axis and terminates at a distal end, wherein the coating is a gold coating; a second cladding that surrounds a portion of the gold coating along the fiber axis, and terminates at a distal end; an outer jacket that extends along the fiber axis and terminates at a distal end; and a fiber tip. Associated laser systems are also disclosed.

Disclosed is a system provided with cooling fluid for interstitial laser therapy that limits and/or provides control of the laser ablation zone produced by a device for interstitial laser therapy, which allows for better control of the laser ablation zone and more predictive and accurate interstitial laser therapy. The device for interstitial laser therapy includes an optical waveguide having an optical output end and an optical diffuser optically coupled to, optically associated with, or positioned about the optical output end. An irrigation tube directs cooling fluid to flow out of a distal end of the irrigation tube which directs cooling fluid to flow inside of and/or outside of the optical diffuser.

Described herein are systems with interleaved light sources and methods of their use. In some embodiments, a system includes a plurality of light sources, each of which has a bright phase and a dark phase, the system being arranged and constructed so that, for a first light source and a second light source of the plurality, the bright phase of the first light source occurs during the dark phase of a second light source. The example method may further include providing light from the second light source during a dark phase of the first light source. A first and/or second light source may be a swept source or a broadband source. A first and/or second light source may be a laser.

One described aspect is an optical fiber comprising: a fiber core that extends along a fiber axis, is configured to transmit a laser energy along the fiber axis, and terminates at a distal end; a first cladding that extends along the fiber axis, is adjacent to the fiber core, and terminates at a distal end; a coating that extends along the fiber axis and terminates at a distal end, wherein the coating is a gold coating; a second cladding that surrounds a portion of the gold coating along the fiber axis, and terminates at a distal end; an outer jacket that extends along the fiber axis and terminates at a distal end; and a fiber tip. Associated laser systems are also disclosed.

An optical probe includes: an optical fiber; a reflecting portion; and a traveling direction changing portion changing a traveling direction of a laser beam of a first wavelength that has transmitted through the reflecting portion to a direction different from a traveling direction before transmitting through the reflecting portion. Further, the traveling direction changing portion is configured by a bending structure having a structure in which a portion on a distal end side of the optical fiber is bent, and the reflecting portion is provided closer to a proximal end side of the optical fiber than the bending structure.

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 system comprises a tissue cutting laser configured to emit a first laser beam to cut a tissue. The laser system also comprises a tissue sealing laser configured to emit a second laser beam to seal the tissue. The laser beam delivery unit is detachably coupled to the laser system and is configured to guide and direct the first and second laser beams to cut and seal the tissue.

One described aspect is an optical fiber comprising: a fiber core that extends along a fiber axis, is configured to transmit a laser energy along the fiber axis, and terminates at a distal end; a first cladding that extends along the fiber axis, is adjacent to the fiber core, and terminates at a distal end; a coating that extends along the fiber axis and terminates at a distal end, wherein the coating is a gold coating; a second cladding that surrounds a portion of the gold coating along the fiber axis, and terminates at a distal end; an outer jacket that extends along the fiber axis and terminates at a distal end; and a fiber tip. Associated laser systems are also disclosed.