MODIFIED-OUTPUT FIBER OPTIC TIPS
A laser handpiece is disclosed, including a shaped fiber optic tip having a side-firing output end with a non-cylindrical shape. The shaped fiber optic tip can be configured to side-fire laser energy in a direction away from a laser handpiece and toward sidewalls of a treatment or target site.
1 . A laser handpiece, comprising a fiber optic tip having an output end, the fiber optic tip having a central waveguide surrounded by an annular fluid-movement path with a source of positive and negative pressure coupled thereto.
2 . The laser handpiece as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the source of positive or negative pressure is constructed to direct fluid to the shaped fiber optic tip.
3 . The laser handpiece as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the source of positive and negative pressure is coupled to the annular fluid-movement path to provide one or more of a positive and a negative pressure to the annular fluid-movement path.
4 . The laser handpiece as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the source of pressure and the path are configured to deliver fluid to a vicinity of the fiber optic tip as atomized fluid particles.
5 . The laser handpiece as set forth in claim 4 , wherein the source of pressure and the path are structured to place the atomized fluid particles into a volume in close proximity to the output end; and
the laser handpiece is constructed to deliver electromagnetic energy from an electromagnetic energy source into the atomized fluid particles in the volume to thereby expand the atomized fluid particles in such a way that when the volume is placed next to a target surface disruptive forces are imparted onto the target surface.
6 . The laser handpiece as set forth in claim 5 , wherein the fluid particles comprise water.
7 . The laser handpiece as set forth in claim 6 , wherein the target surface comprises tooth tissue.
8 . The laser handpiece as set forth in claim 6 , wherein the electromagnetic energy source comprises one of a wavelength within a range from about 2.69 to about 2.80 microns and a wavelength of about 2.94 microns.
9 . The laser handpiece as set forth in claim 6 , wherein the electromagnetic energy source comprises one of an Er:YAG, an Er:YSGG, an Er, Cr:YSGG and a CTE:YAG laser.
10 . A laser handpiece, comprising:
a fluid-movement fiber optic tip, the fluid-movement fiber optic tip being constructed to deliver electromagnetic radiation supplied from a source of electromagnetic radiation to a vicinity outside of the fluid-movement fiber optic tip and the fluid-movement fiber optic tip having an annular fluid-movement path, the annular fluid-movement path surrounding a central waveguide and being coupled to a source of positive pressure to provide pressure to the interior of the fluid movement fiber optic tip, wherein the electromagnetic radiation and the positive pressure are emitted to the vicinity with the electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength and energy distribution suitable for cutting or ablating one or more of hard tissue and soft tissue; and
a source of negative pressure coupled to the shaped fiber optic tip.
11 . The laser handpiece as set forth in claim 10 , the source of positive pressure being coupled to deliver fluid along a path to a vicinity of the fluid-movement fiber optic tip, the path being substantially parallel to an optical axis of the shaped fiber optic tip.
12 . The laser handpiece as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the source of positive pressure and the path are configured to deliver the fluid to the fluid-movement fiber optic tip as atomized fluid particles.
13 . The laser handpiece as set forth in claim 10 , wherein:
the shaped fiber optic tip has a side-firing output end with a non-cylindrical shape; and
the source of positive pressure is coupled to the side-firing output end.