Optical splitter for laser surgical systems with overheating protection

A target identification system comprising:

• a probe including a first optical pathway configured to pass (i) a first optical signal to an anatomical target and (ii) at least a portion of a second optical signal from the anatomical target responsive to illumination of the anatomical target;
• an optical splitter comprising:
• a first port coupled to the probe and configured to (i) direct the first optical signal to the first optical pathway and (ii) receive the at least a portion of the second optical signal from the first optical pathway;
• a second port configured to receive the first optical signal produced by a signal generator;
• a third port separate from the first and the second ports;
• and
• a parabolic reflector configured to redirect the at least a portion of the second optical signal towards the third port along a second optical pathway different from the first optical pathway;
• and
• an optical detecting system optically coupled to the third port, the optical detecting system configured to (i) receive the redirected at least a portion of the second optical signal, and (ii) based at least in part thereon, identify a characteristic of the anatomical target.