Probe having optical fiber for laterally directing laser beam
US5428699A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 2, 1993 |
| Grant date | Jun 27, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 2, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S385/901
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An improved optical fiber for laterally directing a laser beam having a waveguide including a tip for communicating electromagnetic radiation in a propagation direction to the tip of the waveguide, a transmitting surface on the tip of the waveguide, a reflecting surface on the tip of the waveguide for internally reflecting electromagnetic radiation communicated by the waveguide in a direction lateral to the propagation direction toward a particular area on the transmitting surface, and wherein the particular area and the reflecting surface are disposed so that substantially all electromagnetic radiation reflected by the reflecting surface is incident on the particular area at below a critical angle for transmission through the transmitting surface in the lateral direction. By preventing electromagnetic radiation from being incident on the transmitting surface above a critical angle, the present invention prevents internal reflection off the transmitting surface and improves the efficiency of the laterally directing probe.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.