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US 4,045,119 AGranted
Flexible laser waveguide
AssigneeLaser Bioapplications
InventorHarold F. Eastgate
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flexible tube filled with a liquid core material for transmitting, by total internal reflections within the tube, laser energy at relatively high power levels from a laser to a desired area of application. The tube and liquid materials are selected to be transparent to light at the wave length of output from the laser, and such that the tube material has a refractive index substantially lower than that of the liquid core material. Also disclosed are a number of liquid materials having highly desirable properties of low toxicity, color stability, low volatility, and compressibility. Various sealing means and input and output windows are disclosed for use at the ends of the tube.
Claims7
A flexible waveguide for the transmission of a high-power laser beam, comprising:
- a flexible tube of a material transparent to light of the same wavelength as that of the beam;
- a substantially compressible liquid core filling said tube, said liquid being also transparent to light at the same wavelength, having a refractive index substantially greater than that of the material of said tube and being retained in said tube in a compressed condition, with a volume substantially less than its volume when subjected to normal atmospheric pressure;
- and
- sealing means at each end of said tube, including an input window at one end and an output window at the other end for the transmission of the beam into and from said tube, respectively, and wherein at least one of said sealing means includes means for compressing said liquid core on assembly of said flexible waveguide;
- whereby the laser beam is transmissible around bends in said tube by multiple total internal reflections, to provide a portable source of laser energy at said output window, and said compressible liquid core is placed in said tube under pressure to prevent formation of cavities due to different rates of thermal expansion of said liquid and said tube.
2 more elements
A flexible waveguide for the transmission of a high-power laser beam, comprising:
- a flexible tube of a material transparent to light of the same wavelength as that of the beam;
- a substantially compressible liquid core filling said tube, said liquid being also transparent to light at the same wavelength, having a refractive index substantially greater than that of the material of said tube and being retained in said tube in a compressed condition, with a volume substantially less than its volume when subjected to normal atmospheric pressure;
- and
- sealing means at each end of said tube;
- including an input window at one end and an output window at the other end for the transmission of the beam into and from said tube, respectively, and wherein at least one of said sealing means includes means for compressing said liquid core on assembly of said flexible waveguide;
- wherein said tube material is a fluorocarbon selected from the group consisting of tetrafluoroethylenehexafluoropropylene and chlorotrifluoroethylene, and said liquid core is chemically inert with respect to said tube material and is of a material selected from the group consisting of dimethylpolysiloxane, methyl phenyl polysiloxane and the methyl alkyl polysiloxanes;
- whereby the laser beam is transmissible around bends in said tube by multiple total internal reflections, to provide a portable source of laser energy at said output window, and said compressible liquid core is placed in said tube under pressure to prevent formation of cavities due to different rates of thermal expansion of said liquid and said tube.
4 more elements
A flexible waveguide for the transmission of a high-power laser beam, comprising:
- a flexible tube of a material transparent to light of the same wavelength as that of the beam;
- a substantially compressible liquid core filling said tube, said liquid being also transparent to light at the same wavelength, having a refractive index substantially greater than that of the material of said tube and being retained in said tube in a compressed condition, with a volume substantially less than its volume when subjected to normal atmospheric pressure;
- and
- sealing means at each end of said tube, including an input window at one end and an output window at the other end for the transmission of the beam into and from said tube, respectively, and wherein at least one of said sealing means includes means for compressing said liquid core on assembly of said flexible waveguide;
- wherein said liquid core is of a material selected from the group consisting of dimethylpolysiloxane, methyl phenyl polysiloxane and the methyl alkyl polysiloxanes;
- whereby the laser beam is transmissible around bends in said tube by multiple total internal reflections, to provide a portable source of laser energy at said output window, and said compressible liquid core is placed in said tube under pressure to prevent formation of cavities due to different rates of thermal expansion of said liquid and said tube.
3 more elements
A flexible waveguide for the transmission of a high-power laser beam, comprising:
- a flexible tube of a material transparent to light of the same wavelength as that of the beam;
- a substantially compressible liquid core filling said tube, said liquid being also transparent to light at the same wavelength, having a refractive index substantially greater than that of the material of said tube and being retained in said tube in a compressed condition, with a volume substantially less than its volume when subjected to normal atmospheric pressure;
- and
- sealing means at each end of said tube, including an input window at one end and an output window at the other end for the transmission of the beam into and from said tube, respectively, and wherein at least one of said sealing means includes means for compressing said liquid core on assembly of said flexible waveguide;
- wherein said liquid core is of a mixture which includes a material selected from the group consisting of dimethylpolysiloxane, methyl phenyl polysiloxane and the methyl alkyl polysiloxanes;
- whereby the laser beam is transmissible around bends in said tube by multiple total internal reflections, to provide a portable source of laser energy at said output window, and said compressible liquid core is placed in said tube under pressure to prevent formation of cavities due to different rates of thermal expansion of said liquid and said tube.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.