Methods and apparatus related to a launch connector portion of a ureteroscope laser-energy-delivery device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9329350-B2
Application number	US-201414518292-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 20, 2014
Priority date	Dec 21, 2007
Publication date	May 3, 2016
Grant date	May 3, 2016

Abstract

In one embodiment, an apparatus includes an optical fiber made of a silica-based material. A proximal end portion of the optical fiber has an outer-layer portion. The proximal end portion can be included in at least a portion of a launch connector configured to receive electromagnetic radiation. The apparatus also includes a component that has a bore therethrough and can be made of a doped silica material. The bore can have an inner-layer portion heat-fused to the outer-layer portion of the optical fiber. The component can also have an index of refraction lower than an index of refraction associated with the outer-layer portion of the optical fiber.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
an optical fiber extending along a longitudinal axis and having a cladding layer and a silica core, wherein a proximal end portion of the optical fiber is configured to receive electromagnetic radiation;
a component made of a doped silica material and defining a bore, a portion of the cladding layer of the proximal end portion being in contact with the bore to define an interface such that electromagnetic radiation from the optical fiber and incident on the interface is substantially internally reflected, the optical fiber and the component collectively defining a launch connector;
a holder having a proximal portion coupled to a proximal end portion of the launch connector;
an alignment assembly extending distally of the holder and configured to prevent the optical fiber from bending away from the longitudinal axis, the alignment assembly defining a lumen extending therethrough;
and an SMA connector extending within the lumen of the alignment assembly and configured to receive the optical fiber.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the SMA connector includes a cylindrical press-fit component.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the SMA connector is slotted.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including:
a distal coupling nut defining a cavity therein, wherein a distal end portion of the SMA connector is configured to be received within the cavity of the distal coupling nut.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , further including:
a proximal coupling nut defining a cavity therein, wherein a proximal portion of the holder is configured to be received within the cavity of the proximal coupling nut.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , further including:
a grip extending between a proximal end and a distal end of the grip, wherein the proximal end of the grip is configured to receive the proximal coupling nut therein, and wherein the distal end of the grip is configured to receive the distal coupling nut therein.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , further including:
a boot coupled to the grip, the boot extending distally of the distal end of the grip.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the cladding layer is heat-fused to the bore between a proximal end of the bore and a distal end of the bore.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the component includes a fluorine-doped silica material that has an index of refraction lower than an index of refraction of the cladding layer of the optical fiber.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the cladding layer is a first portion of the cladding layer, the bore is a first bore, the optical fiber has a coating on a second portion of the cladding layer and not on the first portion of the cladding layer, the second portion of the cladding layer is disposed outside of the first bore of the component and disposed within a second bore of the component, and the second bore of the component has an inner-diameter greater than an inner-diameter of the first bore of the component.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the holder defines a longitudinally extending air gap between the alignment assembly and a distal portion of the component.

12. An apparatus, comprising:
an optical fiber extending along a longitudinal axis and having a cladding layer and a silica core, wherein a proximal end portion of the optical fiber is configured to receive electromagnetic radiation;
a component made of a doped silica material and defining a bore, a portion of the cladding layer of the proximal end portion being in contact with the bore to define an interface such that electromagnetic radiation from the optical fiber and incident on the interface is substantially internally reflected, the optical fiber and the component collectively defining a launch connector;
a holder having a proximal portion coupled to a proximal end portion of the launch connector;
an alignment assembly extending distally of the holder and configured to prevent the optical fiber from bending away from the longitudinal axis, the alignment assembly defining a lumen extending therethrough;
and a slotted cylindrical connector configured to be press-fit within the lumen of the alignment assembly and to receive the optical fiber therein.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the component includes a fluorine-doped silica material that has an index of refraction lower than an index of refraction of the cladding layer of the optical fiber.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the portion of the cladding layer is a first portion of the cladding layer, the bore is a first bore, the optical fiber has a coating on a second portion of the cladding layer and not on the first portion of the cladding layer, the second portion of the cladding layer is disposed outside of the first bore of the component and disposed within a second bore of the component, and the second bore of the component has an inner-diameter greater than an inner-diameter of the first bore of the component.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the holder defines a longitudinally extending air gap between the alignment assembly and a distal portion of the component.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 , further including:
a distal coupling nut defining a cavity therein, wherein a distal end portion of the SMA connector is configured to be received within the cavity of the distal coupling nut.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , further including:
a proximal coupling nut defining a cavity therein, wherein a proximal portion of the holder is configured to be received within the cavity of the proximal coupling nut.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , further including:
a grip extending between a proximal end and a distal end of the grip, wherein the proximal end of the grip is configured to receive the proximal coupling nut therein, and wherein the distal end of the grip is configured to receive the distal coupling nut therein.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , further including:
a boot coupled to the grip, the boot extending distally of the distal end of the grip.

Assignees

• Boston Scient Scimed Inc

Inventors

• Zerfas Jeffrey W
• Jortberg Paul
• Tumminelli Richard P

Classifications

• A61B2018/00982

  combined with or comprising means for visual or photographic inspections inside the body, e.g. endoscopes · CPC title

• G02B6/3813

  for transmission of high energy beam (coupling high energy sources and light guides G02B6/4296) · CPC title

• A61B18/24

  with a catheter (A61B18/26, A61B18/28 take precedence) · CPC title

• A61B2017/00477

  Coupling (A61B2017/0046 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B2018/2222

  Fibre material or composition · CPC title