Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for splicing crystal fibers to silica glass fibers. Embodiments of the present disclosure provide mechanically stable bonds with negligible optical transmission loss by splicing fibers through a thermally enhanced reaction bonding process at lower temperatures than the melting point of the crystal. In an embodiment, mixing of the materials at elevated temperatures forms a stable intermediary material which enhances strength and reduces the transmission losses.

Abstract: A method for making high optical quality multicomponent chalcogenide glasses without refractive index perturbations due to striae, phase separation or crystal formation using a sealed ampoule with chemical components enclosed inside, a two-zone furnace, a convection heating/mixing step, and multiple fining steps. Initially, the sealed ampoule is oriented vertically within the two-zone furnace and heated to melt the chemical components contained within, and a temperature gradient is created between the top zone and the bottom zone such that the bottom zone has a higher temperature. This temperature gradient causes convection currents within the viscous liquid until it is sufficiently mixed due to the convective flow. Then the temperature gradient is reversed such that the top zone now has a higher temperature and the convective flow ceases. The furnace temperatures are then reduced over a period of time, with holds at multiple temperatures for fining and cooling to form a solid glass.

Abstract: Described herein are formulations that can include one or more enzymes that can break down one or more components of scar tissue. Also provided herein are methods of treating scar tissue by administering a formulation provided herein to a subject in need thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides for synthesizing high optical quality multicomponent chalcogenide glasses without refractive index perturbations due to striae, phase separation or crystal formation using a two-zone furnace and multiple fining steps. The top and bottom zones are initially heated to the same temperature, and then a temperature gradient is created between the top zone and the bottom zone. The fining and cooling phase is divided into multiple steps with multiple temperature holds.

Abstract: Provided herein are laparoscopic tissue removal systems, components, and uses thereof.

Abstract: A method for making a gradient index infrared transmitting optic by thermally treating a preform, where the preform comprises two or more infrared transmitting glasses having different compositions and optical properties, where there is an interface between adjacent glasses, where during the thermal treatment one or more chemical elements from the glasses diffuses through one or more interface resulting in a diffused gradient index optical element comprising a gradient in the chemical element concentration, and where the optical element has a gradient in refractive index and dispersion. Also disclosed is the related infrared transmitting optical element made by this method.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for synthesizing high optical quality multicomponent chalcogenide glasses without refractive index perturbations due to striae, phase separation or crystal formation using a two-zone furnace and multiple fining steps. The top and bottom zones are initially heated to the same temperature, and then a temperature gradient is created between the top zone and the bottom zone. The fining and cooling phase is divided into multiple steps with multiple temperature holds.

Abstract: The current invention provides a method of calculating the volume of a sample mixed into a known volume of an assay reaction mixture wherein the assay reaction mixture comprises a solute at a known concentration, wherein the solute is non-reactive with other constituents of the assay reaction mixture, is non-reactive with the constituents of the sample, is absent in the sample, and does not participate in the assay reaction. The current invention also pertains to assay reaction mixtures used in the methods of the current invention.

Abstract: Infrared transmitting glasses bonded into an optical element without interlayer voids by stacking at least two different infrared transmitting glasses inside a vessel where each glass has a different refractive index, a different dispersion, or both, and where the glasses all have similar viscosities, thermal expansion coefficients, and glass transition temperatures; placing a weight on top of the stack; applying a vacuum to the vessel; applying an isostatic pressure of at least 1500 psi; and after releasing the isostatic pressure, annealing at a temperature within 10° C. of the glass transition temperature at a pressure between 0 and 1000 psi. Applying the vacuum, applying the isostatic pressure, and annealing are done sequentially and with no intermediate transitions to ambient temperature or pressure.

Abstract: Provided herein are laparoscopic tissue removal systems, components, and uses thereof.

Abstract: A method for bonding infrared transmitting glasses into an optical element without interlayer voids by stacking at least two different infrared transmitting glasses inside a vessel where each glass has a different refractive index, a different dispersion, or both, and where the glasses all have similar viscosities, thermal expansion coefficients, and glass transition temperatures; placing a weight on top of the stack; applying a vacuum to the vessel; applying an isostatic pressure of at least 1500 psi; and after releasing the isostatic pressure, annealing at a temperature within 10° C. of the glass transition temperature at a pressure between 0 and 1000 psi. Applying the vacuum, applying the isostatic pressure, and annealing are done sequentially and with no intermediate transitions to ambient temperature or pressure. Also disclosed is the related optical element made by this method.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for splicing crystal fibers to silica glass fibers. Embodiments of the present disclosure provide mechanically stable bonds with negligible optical transmission loss by splicing fibers through a thermally enhanced reaction bonding process at lower temperatures than the melting point of the crystal. In an embodiment, mixing of the materials at elevated temperatures forms a stable intermediary material which enhances strength and reduces the transmission losses.

Abstract: A method of making an optical fiber with multiple openings comprising the steps of fabricating an extrusion die using additive manufacturing such that the extrusion die has a plurality of channels that combine inside the die into another set of channels, extruding a glass, forming a fiber optic preform having a plurality of longitudinal openings that run the entire length, attaching a barrier layer for pressure application, and stretching the preform into an optical fiber with multiple openings. An extrusion die comprising an additive manufactured material, having a proximal side having openings and having a distal side having openings, wherein the openings of the proximal side are of feed channels, wherein the openings of the distal side are of forming channels, and wherein in side the body of the die, two of the feed channels combine the forming channels.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to a photonic bad gap fiber and/or fiber preform with a central structured region comprising a first non-silica based glass and a jacket comprising a second non-silica based glass surrounding the central structured region, where the Littleton softening temperature of the second glass is at least one but no more than ten degrees Celsius lower than the Littleton softening temperature of the first glass, or where the base ten logarithm of the glass viscosity in poise of the second glass is at least 0.01 but no more than 2 lower than the base ten logarithm of the glass viscosity in poise of the first glass at a fiber draw temperature. Also disclosed is a method of making a photonic bad gap fiber and/or fiber preform.

Abstract: A striae-free chalcogenide glass with uniform refractive index.

Abstract: A method to synthesize striae-free chalcogenide glass using melt processing. A striae-free chalcogenide glass with uniform refractive index.

Abstract: A compact multispectral imaging system comprising a set of optical elements capable of simultaneously focusing light from one or more spectral bands (SWIR, MWIR, and LWIR) to a common focal plane and a detector capable of capturing the multispectral image, wherein the optical elements comprise optics made from new optical materials or in combination with existing optical materials that transmit in multispectral wavelength regions.

Abstract: Fiber optic amplification in a spectrum of infrared electromagnetic radiation is achieved by creating a chalcogenide photonic crystal fiber (PCF) structure having a radially varying pitch. A chalcogenide PCF system can be tuned during fabrication of the chalcogenide PCF structure, by controlling, the size of the core, the size of the cladding, and the hole size to pitch ratio of the chalcogenide PCF structure and tuned during exercising of the chalcogenide PCF system with pump laser and signal waves, by changing the wavelength of either the pump laser wave or the signal wave, maximization of nonlinear conversion of the chalcogenide PCF, efficient parametric conversion with low peak power pulses of continuous wave laser sources, and minimization of power penalties and minimization of the need for amplification and regeneration of pulse transmissions over the length of the fiber, based on a dispersion factor.

Abstract: A method for bonding infrared transmitting glasses into an optical element without interlayer voids by stacking at least two different infrared transmitting glasses inside a vessel where each glass has a different refractive index, a different dispersion, or both, and where the glasses all have similar viscosities, thermal expansion coefficients, and glass transition temperatures; placing a weight on top of the stack; applying a vacuum to the vessel; applying an isostatic pressure of at least 1500 psi; and after releasing the isostatic pressure, annealing at a temperature within 10° C. of the glass transition temperature at a pressure between 0 and 1000 psi. Applying the vacuum, applying the isostatic pressure, and annealing are done sequentially and with no intermediate transitions to ambient temperature or pressure. Also disclosed is the related optical element made by this method.

Abstract: A method for making a gradient index infrared transmitting optic by thermally treating a preform, where the preform comprises two or more infrared transmitting glasses having different compositions and optical properties, where there is an interface between adjacent glasses, where during the thermal treatment one or more chemical elements from the glasses diffuses through one or more interface resulting in a diffused gradient index optical element comprising a gradient in the chemical element concentration, and where the optical element has a gradient in refractive index and dispersion. Also disclosed is the related infrared transmitting optical element made by this method.