Optical Fiber Termination for High-Energy Laser Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fiber-optic termination technologies struggle to effectively couple high-energy, low-quality laser outputs from sources like holmium lasers into optical fibers without exceeding the damage threshold of the fiber or the ambient air, leading to issues like burn through and catastrophic failure.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves an optical fiber termination system where the termination element has a glass core and cladding dimensions that match the fiber's core and cladding ratios, allowing for efficient coupling of high-energy laser pulses. This system includes a lensing surface that converges the laser light within the termination element, ensuring it is focused onto the fiber without exceeding damage thresholds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high-energy laser pulses are directly coupled into optical fibers, then coupling efficiency is improved, but the fiber or ambient air exceeds damage threshold leading to catastrophic failure
Solution Approach 1:
The optical coupling system is divided into multiple functional segments: a first optical element for initial beam shaping, a variable optical element for dynamic adjustment, and a second optical element for final coupling. This segmentation allows each component to handle specific portions of the laser beam, distributing the energy load and preventing any single point from exceeding damage thresholds while maintaining overall coupling efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs variable optical elements that can dynamically adjust their properties (such as focal length or transmission characteristics) in response to changing laser beam conditions. This dynamic capability allows the system to adapt to variations in laser output energy and maintain optimal coupling efficiency while preventing damage by adjusting parameters in real-time based on actual beam quality and power levels.
2Power
If laser beam quality is poor (high M2 factor), then laser output intensity is improved, but coupling into optical fibers becomes inefficient and unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs optical elements that can modify beam parameters (such as focal length, beam diameter, and convergence angle) to transform high-M2 laser output into a mode suitable for efficient optical fiber coupling. By dynamically adjusting these parameters, the system maintains high coupling efficiency even when the input laser beam quality deteriorates, thereby preserving both power delivery and coupling performance.
3Stability of the object's composition
If focusing optics are made robust and simple to handle surgical laser repositioning, then mechanical stability is improved, but focal spot quality deteriorates becoming large and misshapen
Solution Approach 1:
The focusing function is segmented across multiple optical elements rather than relying on a single complex lens system. This distribution of optical functions allows the system to maintain focal spot quality while using simpler, more mechanically robust components that can withstand surgical environment vibrations and repositioning without compromising optical performance.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach minimizes technical uncertainties and variations, enabling reproducible efficiency in coupling high-energy laser pulses into optical fibers, thereby preventing damage to the fiber and surrounding materials.
Implementation Method 1
an optical termination element cooperated with an input facet of the optical fiber... converging—upon transmitting the input beam through the front surface—such input beam inside the optical termination element
Implementation Method 2
This system includes a lensing surface that converges the laser light within the termination element, ensuring it is focused onto the fiber without exceeding damage thresholds
Data Source
AI summary
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.