Optical Fiber Coupling System for Steerable Endoscopic Instruments.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Optical Engineering
• Surgical Technology

Background:

• Traditional Endostat fibers in laser surgery have limited maneuverability due to a 12 mm minimum bending radius.
• Accessing confined or hard-to-reach anatomical regions with current laser surgical systems is challenging.
• Smaller optical fibers are desirable for improved endoscopic probe steering and access.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an optical coupling system to transfer laser light from an Endostat fiber to a smaller multimode fiber.
• To enable precise steering of endoscopic probes in confined surgical spaces.
• To facilitate laser delivery to previously inaccessible anatomies.

Main Methods:

• An optical coupling system was designed to connect a standard Endostat fiber to a smaller multimode fiber.
• The system was engineered to allow the smaller fiber to achieve a 6 mm bending radius.
• Experimental coupling efficiency was measured, and tissue ablation tests were conducted.

Main Results:

• The optical coupling system successfully transferred laser light to a smaller fiber.
• A coupling efficiency of approximately 50% was experimentally achieved.
• Tissue ablation experiments demonstrated the system's feasibility for clinical applications.

Conclusions:

• The developed optical coupling system enhances the capabilities of laser surgical systems.
• The system allows for the use of smaller, more flexible fibers, improving access to difficult anatomies.
• This technology holds potential for advancing endoscopic laser surgery and other fiber-optic medical devices.