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Abstract

A medical laser apparatus which comprises a medical laser and a waveguide is used to deliver infrared energy to a treatment site. The medical laser preferably delivers electromagnetic radiation at a wavelength of about 3.0 microns such as an Er:YAG laser (wavelength of 2.94 microns). The waveguide comprises a fluoride-based guiding structure surrounding an outer protective structure, and is capable of transmitting invisible infrared light at a wavelength of about 3 microns at a power density of at least about 4 kilowatts per square centimeter. The guiding structure has a core and at least one cladding. The protective structure comprises a jacket of material, preferably polyimide, which is substantially impermeable to moisture and has a moisture resistance significantly higher than that of the guiding structure. The protective structure surrounds the guiding structure and juxtaposed therewith such that the protective structure receives a portion of the infrared light which is in the form of leaky modes and has a sufficiently high transmittance to the infrared light, such that the energy of the light in the leaky modes is dissipated from the protective structure without damaging the waveguide. The protective structure is flexible and has a relatively high resistance to bending compared to the guiding structure in order to protect the guiding structure against breakage. In one embodiment, the waveguide is used to transmit laser energy of multiple wavelengths of optical energy to a treatment site.

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