Photonic crystal fibers and medical systems including photonic crystal fibers

A system, comprising:

• a photonic crystal fiber comprising a core extending along a waveguide axis and a dielectric confinement region surrounding the core, the dielectric confinement region being configured to guide radiation along the waveguide axis from an input end to an output end of the photonic crystal fiber;
• and
• a handpiece attached to the photonic crystal fiber,
• wherein the handpiece allows an operator to control the orientation of the output end to direct the radiation to a target location of a patient,
• wherein the handpiece comprises an endoscope, the endoscope comprising a flexible conduit with a portion of the photonic crystal fiber threaded through a channel in the flexible conduit and an actuator mechanically coupled to the flexible conduit and configured to bend a portion of the flexible conduit thereby allowing the operator to vary the orientation of the output end,
• wherein the actuator is configured to bend the flexible conduit within a bend plane,
• wherein the handpiece is attached to the photonic crystal fiber to maintain an orientation of the dielectric confinement region to control the orientation of the photonic crystal fiber about its waveguide axis within the flexible conduit, and
• wherein the attachment between the handpiece and the photonic crystal fiber prevents twisting of the fiber by more than about 10 degrees while maintaining operation.

A system, comprising:

• a photonic crystal fiber comprising a core extending along a waveguide axis and a dielectric confinement region surrounding the core, the dielectric confinement region being configured to guide radiation along the waveguide axis from an input end to an output end of the photonic crystal fiber;
• and
• a handpiece attached to the photonic crystal fiber,
• wherein the handpiece allows an operator to control the orientation of the output end to direct the radiation to a target location of a patient,
• wherein the handpiece comprises an endoscope, the endoscope comprising a flexible conduit and a portion of the photonic crystal fiber is threaded through a channel in the flexible conduit,
• wherein the endoscope further comprises an auxiliary conduit comprising a first portion coupled to the flexible conduit, wherein the photonic crystal fiber is threaded through a channel in the auxiliary conduit into the channel of the flexible conduit, the auxiliary conduit further comprising a second portion moveable with respect to the first portion, wherein the photonic crystal fiber is attached to the second portion and moving the second portion allows the operator to extend or retract the output end relative to an end of the flexible conduit.

A system, comprising:

• a photonic crystal fiber comprising a core extending along a waveguide axis and a dielectric confinement region surrounding the core, the dielectric confinement region being configured to guide radiation along the waveguide axis from an input end to an output end of the photonic crystal fiber;
• and
• a handpiece attached to the photonic crystal fiber,
• wherein the handpiece allows an operator to control the orientation of the output end to direct the radiation to a target location of a patient,
• wherein the handpiece comprises a conduit and a portion of the photonic crystal fiber is threaded through the conduit,
• wherein the handpiece comprises an actuator mechanically coupled to the conduit and configured to bend a portion of the conduit thereby allowing the operator to vary the orientation of the output end.

A system, comprising:

• a photonic crystal fiber comprising a core extending along a waveguide axis and a dielectric confinement region surrounding the core, the dielectric confinement region being configured to guide radiation along the waveguide axis from an input end to an output end of the photonic crystal fiber;
• and
• a handpiece attached to the photonic crystal fiber,
• wherein the handpiece allows an operator to control the orientation of the output end to direct the radiation to a target location of a patient,
• wherein the handpiece comprises a tip extending past the output end that provides a minimum standoff distance of about 1 mm or more between the output end and the target location.

A system, comprising:

• a photonic crystal fiber comprising a core extending along a waveguide axis and a dielectric confinement region surrounding the core, the dielectric confinement region being configured to guide radiation along the waveguide axis from an input end to an output end of the photonic crystal fiber;
• and
• a handpiece attached to the photonic crystal fiber,
• wherein the handpiece allows an operator to control the orientation of the output end to direct the radiation to a target location of a patient,
• wherein the photonic crystal fiber is sufficiently flexible to guide the radiation to the target location while a portion of the photonic crystal fiber is bent through an angle of about 90 degrees or more and the portion has a radius of curvature of about 12 centimeters or less.

A system, comprising:

• a photonic crystal fiber comprising a core extending along a waveguide axis and a dielectric confinement region surrounding the core, the dielectric confinement region being configured to guide radiation along the waveguide axis from an input end to an output end of the photonic crystal fiber;
• and
• a handpiece attached to the photonic crystal fiber,
• wherein the handpiece allows an operator to control the orientation of the output end to direct the radiation to a target location of a patient,
• wherein the dielectric confinement region comprises at least one layer of a first dielectric material extending along the waveguide axis and at least one layer of a second dielectric material extending along the waveguide axis, wherein the second dielectric materials can be co-drawn with the first dielectric material.