Connector for coupling of laser energy

A connector for coupling radiant energy from a source to a fiber optic delivery system comprising:

• an elongated, hollow housing open at least at one end;
• a primary radiant energy conduit for receiving radiant energy from the source and including a fiber optic member that extends through said housing and has one end proximal to said one end of the housing and to the source;
• a secondary radiant energy conduit constituted by a quartz collar about said proximal end of the fiber optic member and terminating in substantially the same plane as said proximal end of the fiber optic member;
• an energy sink means;
• and
• reflector means situated in the path of radiant energy emitted by said quartz collar for reflecting the so emitted energy to said sink means.

A connector for coupling laser energy from a focused laser source to a fiber optic delivery system which comprises:

• a hollow, elongated body substantially symmetrical about a longitudinal axis with a proximal end and a distal end, said body defining a window transparent to laser energy at an intermediate region thereof, and defining a laser beam focus plane at said proximal end thereof;
• a quartz tube within said elongated body and substantially coaxial therewith, one end of said quartz tube terminating at said focus plane and the other end extending into but not through said intermediate region;
• an optical fiber received within said quartz tube, extending through said hollow elongated body, and terminating at said focus plane;
• an annular laser beam reflector means within said hollow elongated body and about a longitudinal portion of said optical fiber, said reflector means being carried by said body juxtaposed relative to but spaced from said other end of the quartz tube so as to receive a laser beam emitted from said quartz tube and to reflect the received laser beam through said window and away from the longitudinal axis of the hollow elongated body;
• and
• an energy sink carried by said body for absorbing laser energy reflected by said reflector means.

A method of transferring high intensity radiant energy from a source to a fiber optic conductor comprising:

• directing a beam of radiant energy from the source toward a proximal end of the fiber optic conductor;
• focusing the beam to a region adjacent the proximal end of the fiber optic conductor;
• transmitting at least a portion of the focused beam along the fiber optic conductor;
• directing at least part of the non-transmitted radiant energy beam along an alternate optical path;
• and
• diverting the radiant energy in the alternate path to a predetermined location different from the fiber optic conductor by
• reflecting the radiant energy away from the fiber optic conductor.

A system for providing radiant energy to a selected treatment device comprising:

• a source of a beam of radiant energy;
• a focusing system for focusing the beam to a spot at a predefined region;
• an optical transmission member with a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end couplable to the treatment device;
• an optical coupler carrying said proximal end and locating same at said predefined region with said spot incident thereon, said coupler including a reflector and a secondary optical transmission medium, coextensive with said proximal end, and having an input end located adjacent to said spot.