High power diffusing tip fibers for photocoagulation

Abstract

Laser photocoagulation has long been used to produce localized heating and subsequent destruction of tissue in an attempt to treat tumors and other diseases. A heat resistant, polymer diffusing fiber tip has been developed that produces an homogenous light emission over its light diffusing length. The light emitted from the diffuser is equally distributed into the tissue with no hot spots that would cause carbonization to occur. With this approach we have demonstrated large lesions, with no carbonization produced in reasonably short (about 5 min.) laser exposures.