US5207673A — Fiber optic apparatus for use with medical lasers

Claim 1

Independent Claim 141 words

An apparatus, comprising: an optical waveguide for emitting light having a minimum waist and a minimum waist radius r w , said light being relatively incoherent and having a coherence factor K c of no less than about 2.0; and a lens for focusing said light, said lens being of substantially uniform composition and having (i) a diameter of no more than 4 millimeters, (ii) a focal length F, (iii) a beam intercept radius r L , and (iv) a front principal plane which is spaced from said minimum waist by a dimension S, said light source and said lens being positioned relative to each other to satisfy the relationships. 1.5≦R≦X and 0.25≦F/S≦0.95 wherein R is equal to r L /r w , and X is no greater than 4 divided by twice the minimum waist radius r w in millimeters.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 141 words

An apparatus, comprising: an optical waveguide for emitting light having a minimum waist and a minimum waist radius r w , said light being relatively incoherent and having a coherence factor K c of no less than about 2.0; and a lens for focusing said light, said lens being of substantially uniform composition and having (i) a diameter of no more than 4 millimeters, (ii) a focal length F, (iii) a beam intercept radius r L , and (iv) a front principal plane which is spaced from said minimum waist by a dimension S, said light source and said lens being positioned relative to each other to satisfy the relationships. 1.5≦R≦X and 0.25≦F/S≦0.95 wherein R is equal to r L /r w , and X is no greater than 4 divided by twice the minimum waist radius r w in millimeters.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 14 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said lens of substantially uniform composition comprises sapphire.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 10 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said lens is plano-convex.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 13 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said lens comprises a single lens element.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 43 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said lens has an input surface and an output surface, and wherein said lens focuses said light to provide an output beam minimum waist radius located at least 2 mm from the output surface of said lens.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 24 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said lens focuses said light to provide an output focal range Z' f of at least 1 mm.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 19 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said lens focuses said light to a diameter of 0.1 to 0.4 mm.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 19 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said lens focuses said light to a diameter of less than 0.25 mm.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 23 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein X is no greater than 2.7 divided by twice the minimum waist radius r w in millimeters.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 50 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said waveguide is secured to a distal tip assembly of a catheter, said tip assembly mounting said lens, said lens having a refracting surface disposed distally to said tip assembly and having a diameter substantially equal to the outside diameter of said tip assembly.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 18 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said beam intercept radius is less than the radius of said lens.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 27 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the value of F/S is no more than about 0.9 and the minimum waist radius is at least about 200 microns.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 98 words

The apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising a member for mounting said lens, said lens mounting member having an opening for mounting said lens, said lens having (i) an input surface, and (ii) an output surface comprising a refracting surface configured to refract light, said refracting surface being larger than said opening, said waveguide being positioned relative to said lens to (i) illuminate said input surface with a beam having a radius less than the radius of said opening, and (ii) illuminate said refracting surface with a beam having a radius greater than the radius of said opening.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 16 words

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said refracting surface is distally spaced from said mounting member.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 26 words

The apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising a flexible catheter tube for delivering a fluid to a treatment site, said waveguide being disposed within said tube.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 19 words

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said catheter tube has a diameter of no more than about 4 mm.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 30 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said waveguide comprises a multimode optical fiber having a core diameter of at least about 100 microns but no more than about 700 microns.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 17 words

The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said core of said optical fiber is comprised of fused silica.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 27 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said optical waveguide is coupled to a laser and wherein said minimum waist is at the output end of said waveguide.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 18 words

The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said laser produces light outside a visible range of the optical spectrum.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 17 words

The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said light is in the infrared region of the optical spectrum.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 47 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said waveguide comprises an optical fiber, said fiber secured to a distal tip assembly of a catheter, said tip assembly comprising (i) an elongate fiber holder disposed within a fiber holder sleeve and (ii) a lens mount for mounting said lens.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 31 words

The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said lens mount comprises plural tines for engaging a peripheral edge of said lens, said lens mount further including fluid flow openings between said tines.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said lens mount is secured to said fiber holder sleeve by a lens sleeve.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 33 words

The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said fiber holder is comprised of a first member having a channel for receiving said fiber and a second member for holding said fiber within said channel.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 36 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said waveguide is secured to a distal tip assembly of a catheter, said tip assembly mounting said lens, said apparatus additionally comprising a hollow tip attached to said tip assembly.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 13 words

The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said hollow tip comprises a conical sheath.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 35 words

The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said hollow tip terminates at a location which is within one focal range Z' f of the location of minimum waist radius of the light focused by said lens.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 30 words

The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said hollow tip terminates at a location between said lens and said location of minimum waist radius of the light focused by said lens.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 25 words

The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said hollow tip terminates substantially at said location of minimum waist radius of the light focused by the lens.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 28 words

The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said hollow tip terminates at a location distal to the location of minimum waist radius of the light focused by said lens.

Claim 33

Independent Claim 170 words

An apparatus, comprising: an optical waveguide for outputting a beam of light, said waveguide having a core radius, said light being relatively incoherent with a coherence factor of at least about 2.0, said beam having a minimum waist at the output end of said waveguide with a minimum waist radius r w , said minimum waist radius being equal to the radius of the core of said waveguide; and a lens for focusing said light, said lens being of substantially uniform composition and having (i) a diameter of no more than 2.2 millimeters, (ii) a focal length F, (iii) a beam intercept radius r L , and (iv) a front principal plane which is spaced from said minimum waist by a dimension S, said waveguide and said lens being positioned relative to each other to satisfy the following relationships: 1.5≦R≦X and 0.2523 F/S≦0.95 wherein R is equal to r L /r w , and x is equal to 2.2 divided by twice the core radius of said fiber in millimeters.

Claim 34

Independent Claim 170 words

An apparatus, comprising: an optical waveguide for outputting a beam of light, said waveguide having a core radius, said light being relatively incoherent with a coherence factor of at least about 2.0, said beam having a minimum waist at the output end of said waveguide with a minimum waist radius r w , said minimum waist radius being equal to the radius of the core of said waveguide; and a lens for focusing said light, said lens being of substantially uniform composition and having (i) a diameter of no more than 2.2 millimeters, (ii) a focal length F, (iii) a beam intercept radius r L , and (iv) a front principal plane which is spaced from said minimum waist by a dimension S, said waveguide and said lens being positioned relative to each other to satisfy the following relationships: 1.5≦R≦X and 0.2523 F/S≦0.95 wherein R is equal to r L /r w , and x is equal to 2.2 divided by twice the core radius of said fiber in millimeters.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 12 words

The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said lens is comprised of sapphire.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 10 words

The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said lens is plano-convex.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 14 words

The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said lens is comprised of a single element.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 50 words

The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said waveguide is secured to a distal tip assembly of a catheter, said tip assembly mounting said lens, said lens having a refracting surface disposed distally to said tip assembly and having a diameter substantially equal to the outside diameter of said tip assembly.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 18 words

The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said beam intercept radius is less than the radius of said lens.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 15 words

The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said waveguide comprises an optical fiber of fused silica.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 90 words

The apparatus of claim 32, additionally comprising a member having an opening for mounting said lens, said lens having (i) an input surface and (ii) an output surface comprising a refracting surface configured to refract light, said refracting surface being larger than said opening, said waveguide being positioned relative to said lens to (i) illuminate said input surface with a beam having a radius less than the radius of said opening, and (ii) illuminate said refracting surface with a beam having a radius greater than the radius of said opening.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 16 words

The apparatus of claim 39, wherein said refracting surface is distally spaced from said mounting member.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 24 words

The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said waveguide is coupled to a laser which produces light outside a visible range of the optical spectrum.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 17 words

The apparatus of claim 41, wherein said light is in the infrared region of the optical spectrum.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 41 words

The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said waveguide is secured to a distal tip assembly of a catheter, said apparatus additionally comprising a flexible catheter tube for delivering a fluid to said tip assembly, said waveguide being disposed within said tube.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 19 words

The apparatus of claim 43, wherein said catheter tube has a diameter of no more than about 2.2 mm.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 36 words

The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said waveguide is secured to a distal tip assembly of a catheter, said tip assembly mounting said lens, said apparatus additionally comprising a hollow tip attached to said tip assembly.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 13 words

The apparatus of claim 45, wherein said hollow tip comprises a conical sheath.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 35 words

The application of claim 45, wherein said hollow tip terminates at a location which is within one focal range Z' f of a location of minimum waist radius of the light focused by said lens.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 30 words

The apparatus of claim 47, wherein said hollow tip terminates at a location between said lens and said location of minimum waist radius of the light focused by said lens.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 25 words

The apparatus of claim 47, wherein said hollow tip terminates substantially at said location of minimum waist radius of the light focused by the lens.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 28 words

The apparatus of claim 47, wherein said hollow tip terminates at a location distal to the location of minimum waist radius of the light focused by said lens.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 12 words

The apparatus of claim 41, wherein said laser comprises an Nd:YAG laser.

Claim 54

Independent Claim 172 words

An apparatus, comprising: an optical waveguide for transmitting light; a lens having a focal length F for focusing said light on a treatment site, said lens having a diameter of no more than 4 mm and being of a substantially uniform composition; a distal tip assembly secured to said optical waveguide, said tip assembly mounting said lens a distance S from an end of said waveguide, the ratio of F/S being between 0.25 and 0.95, the focused light having a location of minimum waist radius and a focal range, said location of minimum waist radius being greater than one focal range Z' f from the rear principal plane of said lens; and a hollow tip adapted for attachment to said distal tip assembly, said hollow tip (i) terminating at a location which is in proximity to said location of minimum waist radius of said focused light, and (ii) having an opening at the distal end thereof which is approximately equal to or greater than the 1e/ 2 beam profile at said opening.

Claim 55

Independent Claim 172 words

An apparatus, comprising: an optical waveguide for transmitting light; a lens having a focal length F for focusing said light on a treatment site, said lens having a diameter of no more than 4 mm and being of a substantially uniform composition; a distal tip assembly secured to said optical waveguide, said tip assembly mounting said lens a distance S from an end of said waveguide, the ratio of F/S being between 0.25 and 0.95, the focused light having a location of minimum waist radius and a focal range, said location of minimum waist radius being greater than one focal range Z' f from the rear principal plane of said lens; and a hollow tip adapted for attachment to said distal tip assembly, said hollow tip (i) terminating at a location which is in proximity to said location of minimum waist radius of said focused light, and (ii) having an opening at the distal end thereof which is approximately equal to or greater than the 1e/ 2 beam profile at said opening.

Claim 56

Dependent Claim 30 words

The apparatus of claim 52, wherein said hollow tip terminates at a location between said lens and said location of minimum waist radius of the light focused by said lens.

Claim 57

Dependent Claim 25 words

The apparatus of claim 52, wherein said hollow tip terminates substantially at said location of minimum waist radius of the light focused by the lens.

Claim 58

Dependent Claim 28 words

The apparatus of claim 52, wherein said hollow tip terminates at a location distal to the location of minimum waist radius of the light focused by said lens.

Claim 59

Dependent Claim 12 words

The apparatus of claim 52, wherein said hollow tip is conically shaped.

Claim 60

Dependent Claim 38 words

The apparatus of claim 52, wherein said location of said minimum waist radius is at least about 3 mm from the rear principal plane of said lens and wherein said focal range is at least about 1.5 mm.

Claim 61

Dependent Claim 28 words

The apparatus of claim 52, wherein said location at which said tip terminates is within one focal range Z' f of the location of said minimum waist radius.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1996-05-03	1996-11-02	1997-05-04	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2000-05-03	2000-11-02	2001-05-04	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2004-05-03	2004-11-02	2005-05-04	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Fiber optic apparatus for use with medical lasers

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