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US 5,491,767 AGranted
Germanate glass for mid-infrared medical optical fiber
OwnerDonald M. McPherson, Steven C. Murrayinventors
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OwnerDonald M. McPherson, Steven C. Murrayinventors
Estimating the term…
This invention relates to a family of rugged, non-toxic, high damage threshold, fiberizable, infrared transmitting germanate glasses that are suitable for medical laser delivery. They possess excellent visible transmission to utilize an aim beam in conjunction with the infrared laser. The glasses comprise (in mol %) 23.0-76.0% GeO.sub.2, 0-39.0% Ga.sub.2 O.sub.3, 3.0-51.0% SrO, 8.0-17.0% Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5, 0-23.0% Y.sub.2 O.sub.3, 0-35.0% ZnO, and optionally one or more of the following components; 0-11.0% TiO.sub.2, 0-20.0% Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5, 0-8.0% ZrO.sub.2, 0-13.0% Cs.sub.2 O, 0-10% MgO, 0-27% La.sub.2 O.sub.3, 0-25.0% Gd.sub.2 O.sub.3, 0-23.0% Yb.sub.2 O.sub.3. These glasses have intrinsic absorption coefficients of less than 0.137, 0.048, 0.024 and 0.021 dB/m at 2.94, 2.796, 2.71 and 2.69 .mu.m, respectively. The glasses are characterized by excellent chemical durability, low thermal expansion coefficient, high glass transition temperature, and good glass working properties such as low liquidus temperature, flat viscosity-temperature dependence and good resistance to devitrification. Specific embodiments are particularly well suited for use in biological applications where high chemical durability, non-toxicity, a high laser damage threshold and good infrared and visible transmission are required.
A glass optical fiber for surgical laser transmission at a wavelength range of approximately 2.5 .mu.m to 3.0 .mu.m comprising a germanate glass substantially free of anions other than oxygen, and substantially free of As, Ba, Be, Bi, Cd, In, Pb, Sb, and Tl and capable of transmitting a useful aim beam to direct the surgical laser.
A glass optical fiber comprising a germanate glass substantially free of anions other than oxygen, and substantially free of As, Ba, Be, Bi, Cd, In, Pb, Sb, and Tl.
A glass optical fiber for surgical laser transmission at a wavelength range of 2.5 .mu.m to 3.0 .mu.m comprising a non-toxic germanate glass wherein the germanate glass exhibits:
An optical fiber glass comprising GeO.sub.2 and at least one element selected from the group consisting of:
An optical fiber glass comprising a mixture of Ga.sub.2 O.sub.3, SrO, GeO.sub.2, and R.sub.n O.sub.m, wherein R.sub.n O.sub.m is at least one of the following:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.