Transmission properties of hollow glass waveguides for the delivery of CO/sub 2/ surgical laser power

Hollow glass waveguides are an attractive fiber delivery system for a broad range of infrared wavelengths, including the 3-/spl mu/m Er:YAG and 10.6 /spl mu/m CO/sub 2/ lasers. The losses for these waveguides are as low as 0.1 dB/m at the 10.6-/spl mu/m wavelength for waveguides with a 700-/spl mu/m bore. The guides are suitable for delivering laser powers well in excess of 100 W. Continuous power delivery for over 250 h is possible for powers less than 35 W. When stored under normal laboratory conditions, the loss is seen to change only slightly over a period up to two years.