Apparatus and method for limiting the re-use of fiber optic, laser energy delivery devices

[0030] The above described drawing figures illustrate the invention in at least one of its preferred embodiments, which is further defined in detail in the following description. Those having ordinary skill in the art may be able to make alterations and modifications in the present invention without departing from its spirit and scope. Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiments have been set forth only for the purposes of example and that they should not be taken as limiting the invention as defined in the following.

[0031] As seen in FIG. 1, the proximal end of optical fiber 11 is fixedly attached within connector 12 and optically coupled to laser 13. Plastic or metal sleeve 14, which preferably has an outside diameter of at least about 2.0 mm, is attached by an adhesive, heat shrinking, crimping or other means, to a portion of the body of optical fiber 11, preferably extending from connector 12 to the point at which optical fiber 11 emerges from the distal end