Abstract

Fiber optical delivery of laser power for surgery allows considerable freedom for external procedures and reduces the need for invasive surgery by using the natural vessels of the body. Irradiation of undesirable tissues is controlled by the optical properties of the emitting tip of the fiber. Numerous types of tip have been analyzed to characterize the emission patterns of the laser radiation. Ball tips being considered for angioplasty have been studied in air, liquid and solids. Sapphire cone tips, rounded tips, and other tip configurations have also been studied in air, liquid, and solids. The emission patterns have been compared to a simple optical theory which predicts the performance for near paraxial rays. Implications for improved designs can be seen.

© 1987 Optical Society of America