Sapphire fibers grown using the Saphikon EFG technique have proven to be effective delivery systems for Erbium:YAG and Erbium:YSGG laser energy. A special emphasis has been given to the hard tissue dental application following the FDA approval of this procedure in May of 1997. A range of sensor applications also utilize these EFG sapphire fibers. Through the latter half of 1997, Saphikon has successfully transitioned the process from a research/pilot scale level to high volume production. Fiber losses as low as 0.2 dB/meter with an average of 1.5 dB/meter, which were first demonstrated on a research level in which tens of meters were produced, have now been sustained over thousands of meters in full scale production. Use of sapphire fibers in non-medical applications, erbium laser dentistry, and other medical procedures is discussed.

Date Published: 5 June 1998
PDF: 7 pages
Proc. SPIE 3262, Surgical-Assist Systems, (5 June 1998); doi: 10.1117/12.309487

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 3262:
Surgical-Assist Systems
Roger Von Hanwehr M.D.; Marilyn Sue Bogner; Steven T. Charles M.D.; Abraham Katzir; Marilyn Sue Bogner; Steven T. Charles M.D.; James A. Harrington; Warren S. Grundfest M.D.; Louis S. Lome; Warren S. Grundfest M.D.; James A. Harrington; Abraham Katzir; Louis S. Lome; Michael W. Vannier M.D.; Roger Von Hanwehr M.D., Editor(s)