Abstract
Polyethersulfone (PES) optical fibers are drawn and thermally processed in order to generate variable side-illumination profiles. The thermal treatment allows microbubbles to be formed in an outer layer of the PES fiber, providing light scattering with controllable amplitudes (0.25-2.5 cm-1). Several fibers with different scattering profiles, such as uniform axial irradiation and multiple irradiation spots, are demonstrated. A small microbubble-induced scattering spot on the surface may be used for side-coupling of ambient light into the fiber. These mechanically flexible all-PES fibers with custom-designable scattering profiles may be useful for spatially tuned delivery of light for various applications, including phototherapy.
Highlights
Optical fibers and waveguides have been conventionally designed to emit light from their ends
While uniform illumination is desirable for tissue- or organ-scale therapies, the recent applications of light at the microstructural and cellular levels, such as optogenetics [10,11], require more complex, spatial illumination patterns at multiple discrete locations
Experimental results 2.1 Drawing PES fibers from thermoplastic preforms A homebuilt drawing furnace was used for thermal fiber drawing, consisting of a 10 cm-long cylindrical heater with an inner diameter of 10 cm
Summary
Optical fibers and waveguides have been conventionally designed to emit light from their ends.
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