Flat surfaced optical fibers and diode laser medical delivery devices

A medical laser delivery device comprising:

• at least one optical fiber with a core and a cladding;
• said core having a generally rectangular cross section;
• means for coupling radiation from a laser device to said core;
• whereby an energy density of radiation input to said optical fiber from said laser device is substantially preserved at an output of said optical fiber;
• and
• means for delivering radiation from said output to a treatment site.

A medical laser diode-optical fiber system comprising:

• at least one laser diode, with said laser diode having a generally rectangular output having a length-to-width ratio;
• an optical fiber having a transparent core and a transparent cladding surrounding said core;
• said core having a width-to-thickness ratio;
• said width-to-thickness ratio being substantially equal to said length-to-width ratio;
• means for coupling said output to an input of said core, whereby the substantial equality between dimensional ratios of said output and said core permit efficient coupling of said output to said input of said core;
• and
• means for delivering an output of said core to a treatment site.