Photonic crystal fibers having a preferred bending plane and systems that use such fibers

Abstract

In general, in a first aspect the invention features photonic crystal fibers that include a core extending along a waveguide axis, a confinement region extending along the waveguide axis surrounding the core, and a cladding extending along the waveguide axis surrounding the confinement region, wherein the cladding has an asymmetric cross-section.

1 .- 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A waveguide fiber, comprising:
 a core extending along a waveguide axis;   a confinement region extending along the waveguide axis, the confinement region surrounding the core; and   a cladding extending along the waveguide axis, the cladding surrounding the confinement region,   wherein the waveguide fiber bends preferably in a bend plane relative to other planes, and the cladding includes a first portion extending along the waveguide axis and a second portion extending along the waveguide axis, the first portion being composed of a first material having a first stiffness and the second portion being composed of a second material having a second stiffness, the first stiffness being different from the second stiffness.   
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The waveguide fiber of  claim 26  wherein the cladding further comprises a third portion being composed of a third material having a third stiffness, the third stiffness being different from the first stiffness. 
     
     
         29 . The waveguide fiber of  claim 28  wherein, in cross-section, the core is positioned between the second portion and the third portion. 
     
     
         30 . The waveguide fiber of  claim 26  wherein the first portion surrounds the second portion. 
     
     
         31 .- 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . The waveguide fiber of  claim 26 , wherein the first stiffness is greater than the second stiffness. 
     
     
         35 . The waveguide fiber of  claim 26 , wherein the first stiffness is lower than the second stiffness. 
     
     
         36 . The waveguide fiber of  claim 26 , wherein the waveguide fiber comprises a photonic crystal fiber. 
     
     
         37 . A system, comprising:
 a CO 2  laser; and   a waveguide fiber, the waveguide fiber having an input end positioned relative to the CO 2  laser to receive radiation from the CO 2  laser and the waveguide fiber is adapted to deliver the radiation to a target, wherein the waveguide fiber comprises:   a core extending along a waveguide axis;   a confinement region extending along the waveguide axis, the confinement region surrounding the core; and   a cladding extending along the waveguide axis, the cladding surrounding the confinement region, wherein the cladding has an asymmetric cross-section that extends along a length of the waveguide fiber.   
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the waveguide fiber comprises a photonic crystal fiber. 
     
     
         39 . A system, comprising:
 a waveguide fiber having an input end and an output end; and   a handpiece attached to the waveguide 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 and the waveguide fiber comprises:   a core extending along a waveguide axis;   a confinement region extending along the waveguide axis; the confinement region surrounding the core; and   a cladding extending along the waveguide axis, the cladding surrounding the confinement region, wherein the cladding has an asymmetric cross-section that extends along a length of the waveguide fiber.   
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 39  wherein the handpiece comprises an endoscope. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 40  wherein the endoscope comprises a flexible conduit and a portion of the waveguide fiber is threaded through a channel in the flexible conduit. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 41  wherein the endoscope comprises an actuator mechanically coupled to the flexible conduit configured to bend a portion of the flexible conduit in at least one plane thereby allowing the operator to vary the orientation of the output end. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 42  wherein the waveguide fiber is attached to the endoscope so that the at least one plane corresponds to the bend plane of the waveguide fiber. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the waveguide fiber comprises a photonic crystal fiber. 
     
     
         45 . A fiber assembly comprising:
 a jacket adapted to surround a waveguide fiber having a waveguide axis, the jacket exhibiting a preferential bend plane.   
     
     
         46 . The fiber assembly of  claim 45 , wherein the jacket comprises an asymmetric cross-sectional profile about the waveguide axis. 
     
     
         47 . The fiber assembly of  claim 46 , wherein the cross-sectional profile is elliptical. 
     
     
         48 . The fiber assembly of  claim 45 , further comprising:
 the waveguide fiber disposed within the jacket.   
     
     
         49 . The fiber assembly of  claim 48 , wherein the waveguide fiber comprises a core extending along the waveguide axis. 
     
     
         50 . The fiber assembly of  claim 49 , wherein the waveguide fiber comprises a confinement region extending along the waveguide axis, the confinement region surrounding the core. 
     
     
         51 . The fiber assembly of  claim 50 , wherein the confinement region comprises a seam. 
     
     
         52 . The fiber assembly of  claim 51 , the waveguide fiber further comprises a cladding extending along the waveguide axis, the cladding surrounding the confinement region. 
     
     
         53 . The fiber assembly of  claim 52 , wherein the cladding is adhesively bonded to the jacket. 
     
     
         54 . The fiber assembly of  claim 53 , wherein the jacket and cladding are consolidated. 
     
     
         55 . The fiber assembly of  claim 48 , wherein the waveguide fiber comprises a photonic crystal fiber. 
     
     
         56 . A system comprising:
 a CO 2  laser; and   the fiber assembly comprising:
 a waveguide fiber having a waveguide axis, and 
 a jacket surrounding the waveguide fiber, the jacket exhibiting a preferential bend plane, 
   
       wherein the fiber assembly has an input end positioned relative to the CO 2  laser to receive radiation from the CO 2  laser and the laser assembly is adapted to deliver the radiation to a target. 
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 50 , wherein the jacket comprises an asymmetric cross-sectional profile about the waveguide axis. 
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 56 , wherein the waveguide fiber comprises a photonic crystal fiber.