Mid-infrared laser delivery into a precise tissue area using a smart, tissue-activated optical fiber probe

Summary from only given. The mid-infrared (mid-IR) spectral region is of great importance in medical research and instrumentation since the most identifiable molecules have specific IR absorption and radiation features that depend upon their exact chemical composition. With respect to mid-IR optical fiber (OF) based laser delivery systems that are used in biomedicine, the research efforts are focused on the investigation of low-loss IR fiber systems that provide an efficient and broadband delivery of powerful mid-IR laser radiation including from Er:YAG, free-electron and CO/sub 2/ lasers. Here, we present a novel all-optical-fiber system for mid-IR laser delivery into a precise tissue area using a direct laser-to-taper coupling and a smart, tissue-activated delivery OF with an angle-shaped tip.