title: Fabrication and characterization of cylindrical light diffusers comprised of shape memory polymer.
abstract: We developed a technique for constructing light diffusing devices comprised of a flexible shape memory polymer (SMP) cylindrical diffuser attached to the tip of an optical fiber. The devices are fabricated by casting an SMP rod over the cleaved tip of an optical fiber and media blasting the SMP rod to create a light diffusing surface. The axial and polar emission profiles and circumferential (azimuthal) uniformity are characterized for various blasting pressures, nozzle-to-sample distances, and nozzle translation speeds. The diffusers are generally strongly forward-directed and consistently withstand over 8 W of incident IR laser light without suffering damage when immersed in water. These devices are suitable for various endoluminal and interstitial biomedical applications.
authors.affiliation: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Avenue, L-211, Livermore, California 94550, USA. small3@llnl.gov
authors.forename: Ward
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Small
authors.forename: Patrick R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Buckley
authors.forename: Thomas S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Jeffrey M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Loge
authors.forename: Kristen D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Maitland
authors.forename: Duncan J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Maitland
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D008027:Light; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012031:Refractometry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D012542:Scattering, Radiation
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers