Flexible hollow-core waveguides for CO2 lasers: potential and limitations as beam guiding systems for medical applications

Klaus Behler; Karl-Friedrich Klein; Jutta Johannis

doi:10.1117/12.530219

10 June 2004 Flexible hollow-core waveguides for CO₂ lasers: potential and limitations as beam guiding systems for medical applications

Klaus Behler, Karl-Friedrich Klein, Jutta Johannis

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Proceedings Volume 5317, Optical Fibers and Sensors for Medical Applications IV; (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.530219
Event: Biomedical Optics 2004, 2004, San Jose, CA, United States

Abstract

In contrast to Nd:YAG-lasers no amorphous material is existing which can be used as flexible solid optical fiber for far infrared wavelength as it is emitted by CO₂-lasers. This is resulting in some disadvantages regarding beam guiding and handling, e. g. reduced motion flexibility and accessibility, relative large and stiff devices for beam guiding. It is well known that beam guiding by hollow waveguide structures is possible in principle. Main problems in the development and realisation of such kind of beam guiding systems have been limitations in transfer efficiency, flexibility, length and diameter. A possible technical solution for the medium-power range is basing on flexible silica capillaries which are coated inside with a double layer system out of silver (metallic) and silverjodid (dielectric) using a chemical deposition process. These capillaries can actually be produced with inner diameter between 0,5 mm - 2 mm and a length up to 13 m, covered by a mechanical protection out of acrylic material. The optical principle of the hollow-core-waveguides (HCW) is presented as well as some first results regarding their influence on the transported beam. So investigations will be presented for instance showing the attenuation depending on different parameters of the waveguide system. In addition to that it will be shown that, because of the influence on the wave front and of the numberical aperture, the focussability of a laser beam is reduced but nevertheless the transmitted beam can be focused to small diameters. The principal usability as well as the limits of flexible HCW in the medium power range, which is typically used in medical applications, will be demonstrated by the presented results.

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Klaus Behler, Karl-Friedrich Klein, and Jutta Johannis "Flexible hollow-core waveguides for CO₂ lasers: potential and limitations as beam guiding systems for medical applications", Proc. SPIE 5317, Optical Fibers and Sensors for Medical Applications IV, (10 June 2004); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.530219

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KEYWORDS

Waveguides

Absorption

Beam guidance systems

Laser beam propagation

Signal attenuation

Solids

Silica

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