Single Implantable Fiber Device for 2D Dynamic and Reconfigurable Light Emission and Collection

A system to conduct a light-based procedure, the system comprising a fiber-optic bi-directional interface device optically coupled to an interrogation assembly, wherein:

• a. the fiber-optic bi-directional interface device comprises a multi-core optical fiber comprising a plurality of light-guiding cores, each light-guiding core comprising opposed proximal and distal ends, the proximal end configured to receive light from a light source, wherein:
• i. a first portion of the plurality of light-guiding cores further comprises light emission modifications configured to direct light propagating distally along the light-guiding cores in a laterally outward or sideways direction relative to the propagation axis of the light-guiding core;
• and
• ii. a second portion of the plurality of light-guiding cores further comprises light collection modifications configured to receive light produced by a source positioned laterally outwards or sideways relative to the propagation axis of the light-guiding core and direct the received light proximally;
• and
• b. the interrogation assembly comprises:
• i. the light source optically coupled to the proximal ends of the plurality of light-guiding cores, wherein the light source is configured to produce and direct light selectively into the proximal end of one or more light-guiding cores from the first plurality in a pre-determined pattern;
• ii. a light detector optically coupled to the proximal ends of the plurality of light-guiding cores, wherein the light detector is configured to receive and detect light propagating from the proximal end of one or more light-guiding cores from the second plurality.

A method of producing a fiber-optic bi-directional interface device configured to transmit and receive light oriented perpendicular to a device light propagation axis, the method comprising:

• a. providing a multi-core optical fiber comprising a plurality of light-guiding cores, each light-guiding core comprising opposed proximal and distal ends;
• b. for a first portion of the light-guiding cores, delivering a series of slit-shaped laser pulses from a femto laser to a selected interior region of the light-guiding core to produce a series of cavities within a proximal-distal section of the light-guiding core to form a fiber grating within the fiber, wherein the fiber grating is configured to direct light propagating distally along the light-guiding cores in a laterally outward or sideways direction relative to the propagation axis of the light-guiding core;
• and
• c. for a second portion of the plurality of light-guiding cores, delivering a series of laser pulses from a femto laser to a selected interior region of the light-guiding core to produce a rectangular-shaped cavity within a proximal-distal section of the light-guiding core to form a total internal reflection (TIR) mirror configured to receive light produced by a source positioned laterally outwards or sideways relative to the propagation axis of the light-guiding core and direct the received light proximally along the light-guiding core.