title: Radial-firing optical fiber tip containing conical-shaped air-pocket for biomedical applications.
abstract: We report a novel radial-firing optical fiber tip containing a conical-shaped air-pocket fabricated by deforming a hollow optical fiber using electric arc-discharge process. The hollow optical fiber was fusion spliced with a conventional optical fiber, simultaneously deforming into the intagliated conical-shaped region along the longitudinal fiber-axis of the fiber due to the gradual collapse of the cavity of the hollow optical fiber. Then the distal-end of the hollow optical fiber was sealed by the additional arc-discharge in order to obstruct the inflow of an external bio-substance or liquid to the inner air surface during the surgical operations, resulting in the formation of encased air-pocket in the silica glass fiber. Due to the total internal reflection of the laser beam at the conical-shaped air surface, the laser beam (λ = 632.8 nm) was deflected to the circumferential direction up to 87 degree with respect to the fiber-axis.
authors.forename: Seung Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yong-Tak
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Dong Hoon
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Seongmook
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Youngwoong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seongmin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ju
authors.forename: Bok Hyeon
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Won-Taek
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Han