Abstract: An all-optical-fiber device configured to supply, to a target, laser radiation having characteristics sufficient for ablating a biological tissue in a manner that is consistent and competitive with the tissue removal geometry and volume provided by conventional electrocautery resection devices. The desired effect is achieved by configuring a facet of the optical fiber or an internal surface of the fiber's termination cap as a surface providing total-internal-reflection of light substantially at every point of such surface while having normals drawn to immediately adjoining surface portions be not parallel with respect to one another.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A holder of an optical fiber (a fiber-optic element) structured to house and secure the surgical optical fiber within the holder to prevent a possibility of the fiber to move at least axially and/or rotate about the axis while, at the same time, avoiding microbending of the surgical optical fiber (which such holder is configured to house) to prevent fiber burning during use of the surgical fiber with high-power laser sources. The holder is optionally and preferably configured as a controller of spatial orientation of the fiber output portion (which output portion remains invisible to the user during the application) that ensures that the output optical power is delivered from the termination of the optical fiber in the intended direction.

Abstract: A tubular optically-transparent device structured as a terminating cap for an optical fiber is configured to deliver laser radiation from the optical fiber substantially radially (generally—transversely to the axis of the cap) while at the same time spatially-redistributing the radiant intensity at a point of interaction of laser radiation with a wall of the cap to reduce material damage of the material of the cap thereby reducing tissue adhesion during surgery performed with the use of the device including such optical fiber and cap. A method for operating the same.

Abstract: A surgical scope employing a multi-spectrum ring illuminated surgical camera with a ring lens and a plurality of sources of light set behind the camera and positioned radially about the longitudinal axis of the lens and/or scope.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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 700 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.

Abstract: A surgical scope employing a multi-spectrum ring illuminated surgical camera with a ring lens and a plurality of sources of light set behind the camera and positioned radially about the longitudinal axis of the lens and/or scope.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A surgical scope employing a multi-spectrum ring illuminated surgical camera with a ring lens and a plurality of sources of light set behind the camera and positioned radially about the longitudinal axis of the lens and/or scope.

Abstract: An article of manufacture including a fiber optic termination of a small core optical fiber for use with a surgical laser apparatus (the output from which may be characterized by a high M2 factor) or other high-power or high-energy laser (including an appropriate fiber laser) is configured for safe and efficient coupling of light at a large laser focal point and/or to enable the process of coupling of radiant intensities exceeding the silica fiber damage thresholds and/or those ionizing the air if fully focused therein. The termination may include a glass cylinder structured to include a core region and a glass cladding region the ratio of dimensions of which is substantially equal to the ratio of respectively-corresponding dimensions of the employed optical fiber. A method of propagating light through such article of manufacture.

Abstract: An article of manufacture including a fiber optic termination of a small core optical fiber for use with a surgical laser (characterized by a high M2 factor) or other high-power or high-energy pulse laser is configured for safe and efficient coupling of light at a large laser focal point and/or to enable the process of coupling of radiant intensities exceeding the silica fiber damage thresholds and/or those ionizing the air if fully focused therein. The termination includes a glass cylinder structured to include a core region and a glass cladding region the ratio of dimensions of which is substantially equal to the ratio of respectively-corresponding dimensions of the employed optical fiber. A method of coupling laser light characterized by an M2 factor of 25 or higher into an optical fiber with the use of same.

Abstract: Optical fibers for delivering laser energy inside the body are often tasked with traversing tortuous routes in accessing the target tissue or pathology, e.g. ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy. A common failure in such applications, known in the field as ‘fiber burn through’, has been known to injure patients and is a major cause of damage to ureteroscopes. Where irregular output that is produced at the start of a lasing interval passes through a fiber that is at or near the optical minimum bend limit, fail safe polymer claddings are damaged and can no longer contain even regular laser output in tight deflection. The invention disclosed provides a solution to premature fiber failure and collateral damage.

Abstract: A tool for chamfering cleaved tips of optical fibers. The tool including conical bores of relatively smooth and hard material terminate at a cylindrical bore that is slightly larger than the fiber core maximum diameter and a fiber centering bore that is slightly larger than the fiber coating maximum diameter. The tool provided such that when a cleaved fiber tip is inserted into the centering bore the sharp edge falls upon the chamfer that, when rotated relative to the fiber, gently grinds the edge to the chamfer angle. Chamfering cannot occur on the core face due to the absence of tool surface at this dimension.

Abstract: Radial emission optical fiber terminations that include conical elements can prevent axial emission and redirect all incident light to radial positions. One termination includes an optical fiber having an up-tapered terminus, the up-tapered terminus having a maximum taper diameter of at least 1.5 times the core diameter and ending at a cone-tip which has an apex angle in a range of about 70° to about 100°. Another termination includes a fiber cap that is a unitary construction of a glass tube and an optical element that bisects the glass tube. The glass tube includes an open end adapted to receive an optical fiber and a closed end. The optical element, consisting of fused quartz or fused silica, has an input face proximal to the open end of the glass tube and a conical face proximal to the closed end of the glass tube.

Abstract: Herein is disclosed an inlet liner for use within an injection port of a capillary gas chromatograph. The inlet liner can include a first fused quartz tube and a second fused quartz tube aligned along a common longitudinal axis; the outside surface of the first fused quartz tube affixed to the inside surface of the second fused quartz tube. In certain instances, the tubers are affixed at two points along the longitudinal axis thereby defining a hermetically sealed volume between the outside surface of the first quartz tube and the inside surface of the second fused quartz tube, wherein the hermetically sealed volume entrains a reactive surface.

Abstract: A tool for chamfering cleaved tips of optical fibers. The tool including conical bores of relatively smooth and hard material terminate at a cylindrical bore that is slightly larger than the fiber core maximum diameter and a fiber centering bore that is slightly larger than the fiber coating maximum diameter. The tool provided such that when a cleaved fiber tip is inserted into the centering bore the sharp edge falls upon the chamfer that, when rotated relative to the fiber, gently grinds the edge to the chamfer angle. Chamfering cannot occur on the core face due to the absence of tool surface at this dimension.

Abstract: Optical fibers for delivering laser energy inside the body are often tasked with traversing tortuous routes in accessing the target tissue or pathology, e.g. ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy. A common failure in such applications, known in the field as ‘fiber burn through’, has been known to injure patients and is a major cause of damage to ureteroscopes. Where irregular output that is produced at the start of a lasing interval passes through a fiber that is at or near the optical minimum bend limit, fail safe polymer claddings are damaged and can no longer contain even regular laser output in tight deflection. The invention disclosed provides a solution to premature fiber failure and collateral damage.