Modified-output fiber optic tips
View Patent ↗A laser handpiece is disclosed, including a shaped fiber optic tip having a side-firing output end with a double bevel-cut 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 shaped fiber optic tip having a proximal end, a distal end, an optical axis extending therebetween, and a side-firing output end with at least one beveled output oriented to direct light distally and radially away from the axis, the at least one beveled output comprising a planar surface with a distal edge having at least one rounded corner with a radius of curvature greater than about 200 microns, wherein a spatial distribution of electromagnetic radiation emitted from the side-firing output end has a component not aligned along the optical axis that is greater than a component aligned along the optical axis.
2. The shaped fiber optic tip as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the distal edge comprises two rounded corners.
3. The shaped fiber optic tip as set forth in claim 1 , the side-firing output end having two beveled outputs oriented to direct light distally and radially away from the axis.
4. The shaped fiber optic tip as set forth in claim 3 , each of the two beveled outputs comprising a planar surface with a distal edge having at least one rounded corner.
5. The shaped fiber optic tip as set forth in claim 4 , each distal edge having two rounded corners.
6. The shaped fiber optic tip as set forth in claim 4 , the planar surfaces being oriented to direct light distally and in opposing radial directions.
7. The shaped fiber optic tip as set forth in claim 6 , each distal edge having two rounded corners.
8. A shaped fiber optic tip having a proximal end, a distal end, an optical axis extending therebetween, and a side-firing output end with at least one beveled output oriented to direct light distally and radially away from the axis, the at least one beveled output comprising a planar surface with a distal edge including two rounded corners, wherein a spatial distribution of electromagnetic radiation emitted from the side-firing output end has a component not aligned along the optical axis that is greater than a component aligned along the optical axis, wherein a radius of curvature of each of the rounded corners ranges from about 200 to about 500 um.
9. The shaped fiber optic tip as set forth in claim 8 , further comprising structure for coupling a source of positive pressure to the shaped fiber optic tip, to thereby facilitate delivery of fluid into the shaped fiber optic tip from a direction which is substantially parallel to the optical axis.
10. The shaped fiber optic tip as set forth in claim 9 , the planar surface being oriented to direct light distally and in opposing radial directions.
11. The shaped fiber optic tip as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the planar surface comprises a distal edge which comprises two rounded corners.
12. The shaped fiber optic tip as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the planar surface forms an angle of about 5 to about 10 degrees with the optical axis.
13. A shaped fiber optic tip having a proximal end, a distal end, an optical axis extending therebetween, and a side-firing output end with at least one beveled output oriented to direct light distally and radially away from the axis, the at least one beveled output comprising a planar surface with a distal edge having at least one rounded corner, wherein a spatial distribution of electromagnetic radiation emitted from the side-firing output end has a component not aligned along the optical axis that is greater than a component aligned along the optical axis, wherein a radius of curvature of the at least one rounded corner ranges from about 200 to about 500 um.
14. The shaped fiber optic tip as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the shaped fiber optic tip is constructed to deliver light from an electromagnetic energy source comprising one of a wavelength within a range from about 2.69 to about 2.80 microns and a wavelength of about 2.94 microns.
15. A shaped fiber optic tip having a proximal end, a distal end, an optical axis extending therebetween, and a side-firing output end with at least one beveled output oriented to direct light distally and radially away from the axis, the at least one beveled output comprising a planar surface forming an angle of about 5 to about 30 degrees with the optical axis and having a distal edge with at least one rounded corner defined by a radius of curvature greater than about 200 microns, wherein a spatial distribution of electromagnetic radiation emitted from the side-firing output end has component not aligned along the optical axis that is greater than a component aligned along the optical axis.
16. The shaped fiber optic tip as set forth in claim 15 , wherein:
the planar surface forms an angle of about 5 to about 10 degrees with the optical axis; and
the planar surface comprises a distal edge which comprises two rounded corners.
17. The shaped fiber optic tip as set forth in claim 15 , wherein:
the planar surface forms an angle of about 5 to about 10 degrees with the optical axis; and
the side-firing output end comprises two beveled outputs oriented to direct light distally and radially away from the axis.
18. The shaped fiber optic tip as set forth in claim 17 , each of the two beveled outputs comprising a planar surface with a distal edge having at least one rounded corner.