METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING LASER RADIATION

摘要

2128104 9314430 PCTABS00024 A method and device are provided for directing laser radiation in a conical beam to a tissue site to be irradiated. The conical beam can be positioned to impinge upon the tissue in a circular, elliptical, or any other pattern that can be generated by a conical section interacting with a planar or curved surface. In one form the contemplated device includes an optical fiber (20) and a lense (80) that focuses a laser beam at an oblique angle on the proximal end surface (70) of the optic fiber so as to emit from the distal end of the optical fiber (47) a laser beam having a conical configuration (99). In another form, the contemplated device includes an optical fiber (200) having a conical distal end (247) and a lens that focuses a laser beam on the proximal end surface (270) of the optical fiber (200) along the longitudinal axis of the fiber. The conical laser beam can be used to irradiate or sculpt tissue such as the cornea of an eye to change the refractive characteristic thereof.