Side-emitting polymer optical fibres are commonly used for applications in fibre-optical sensing, dosimetry and medical phototherapy. This paper describes the fabrication of a side emitting fibre using UV picosecond laser micromachining to deliver uniform light in medical devices for antimicrobial applications. The side emission is achieved by creating an array of optical imperfections with varying spatial densities along the required length of polymer optic fibre. This disturbs the light propagation at scattering sites along the active side-emitting region of the fibre. LED and laser diodes of various wavelengths were successfully coupled into the optical fibre using paired aspheric condenser lenses. Each side emitting fibre was irradiance mapped along its length and the process optimised for uniformity. This is to ensure that consistency is achieved as the inhibitory effect of the light exposure is proportional to the light irradiance.
Violet-Blue light was targeted as is has been shown to possess antimicrobial properties against a wide collection of bacterial pathogens. Its germicidal efficacy is lower than UV Light but the safety advantage of this visible light allows it to be used for a vast range of medical applications. It also allows a selection of light sources to be investigated and a higher irradiance value to be achieved that may be required for various medical applications.