Small optical core hybrid fiber for surgical laser procedures such as laser lithotripsy that utilize holmium yag lasers and/or thulium fiber lasers

A surgical laser fiber for use in a surgical laser procedure, comprising:

• a relatively small diameter silica core surrounded by a thin intermediate doped silica cladding;
• and
• a relatively thick ferrule adhered to and surrounding the thin intermediate doped silica cladding,
• wherein erosion of the fiber is primarily confined to the silica core, causing the relatively thick outer glass cladding to form a standoff that extends beyond the eroded end of the silica core as lasing proceeds.

A laser lithotripsy method, comprising the steps of:

• providing a surgical laser fiber having a relatively small diameter silica core and either a relatively thick cladding or a relatively thick ferrule adhered to and surrounding a thin intermediate doped silica cladding;
• pre-stripping an end of the surgical laser fiber;
• utilizing the surgical laser fiber to destroy a stone during a laser lithotripsy procedure using a thulium and/or holmium laser;
• and
• re-terminating the surgical laser fiber during the procedure to remove an eroded section of the pre-stripped end of the surgical laser fiber.