Broadband or mid-infrared fiber light sources

A method for performing a medical procedure, the method comprising the steps of:

• generating one or more optical beams utilizing a plurality of semiconductor laser diodes;
• optically coupling the one or more optical beams to a beam combiner;
• receiving at a first stage optical fiber the one or more optical beams and forming a corresponding pump beam having at least one wavelength;
• propagating the pump beam in a second stage light guide optically coupled to the first stage optical fiber, wherein the at least one wavelength is in a wavelength range between approximately 1700 nm and 1900 nm;
• and
• receiving and delivering at least a portion of the pump beam with a lens subsystem to target portions of tissue, to substantially damage the target portions without significantly damaging surrounding tissue or tissue above the target portions, wherein the pump beam wavelength is selected to obtain a desired penetration depth, wherein the pump beam has a temporal duration greater than approximately 100 picoseconds, wherein a time averaged output power of the pump beam is 20 mW or more, and wherein an intensity of the pump beam delivered by the lens subsystem is less than approximately 50 MW/cm2.

An optical system for use in a medical procedure, the system comprising:

• a plurality of semiconductor laser diodes, each of the diodes being capable of generating an optical beam that is optically coupled to a beam combiner;
• a first stage optical fiber optically coupled to the beam combiner, the first stage optical fiber receiving the optical beams and forming a corresponding pump beam having at least one wavelength;
• a second stage light guide optically coupled to the first stage optical fiber, the second stage light guide adapted to propagate the pump beam;
• and
• a lens subsystem adapted to receive and deliver at least a portion of the pump beam to target portions of tissue, to substantially damage the target portions without significantly damaging surrounding tissue or tissue above the target portions, wherein the pump beam wavelength is selected to obtain a desired penetration depth and to substantially minimize water absorption, wherein the pump beam has a temporal duration greater than approximately 100 picoseconds, wherein at least the portion of the pump beam has a repetition rate between continuous wave and several Megahertz, wherein a time averaged output power of the pump beam is 20 mW or more, and wherein an intensity of the pump beam delivered by the lens subsystem is less than approximately 50 MW/cm2.