What this application demands
Medical and life-science optics add two requirements that industrial work does not: the part must survive repeated cleaning or sterilisation, and the optical performance has to be predictable enough to be relied on in a diagnostic decision. A window that clouds after fifty autoclave cycles, or a filter whose pass band drifts as the coating ages, is not a cosmetic defect — it changes the measurement.
The substrate choice is usually driven by the sterilisation method. Alcohol and quaternary-ammonium wiping is compatible with most coatings; autoclave steam and hydrogen-peroxide plasma are much more demanding of the coating's adhesion and sealing. Where the optical path touches tissue, the materials and finishes have to be selectable for biocompatibility rather than performance alone.
Specifications we recommend
| Component | Typical specification | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Endoscope and imaging windows | Fused silica or borosilicate, both faces AR-coated, sealed edges | High transmission with a coating that survives the cleaning cycle |
| Fluorescence filter sets | Matched excitation, dichroic and emission filters with deep blocking | Prevents excitation light leaking into the emission channel |
| IPL and aesthetic handpiece filters | Hard-coated cut-off filters on temperature-resistant substrate | Blocks the unwanted band while withstanding lamp heat |
| Diagnostic instrument optics | Polished quartz windows, flatness to λ/10, low autofluorescence | Keeps weak signals measurable against a low background |
Failure modes we design against
Coating delamination at the edge is the classic failure in repeatedly sterilised parts, and it starts where the coating meets the mechanical housing. Sealing the edge and specifying a hard dielectric design rather than a soft coating extends service life considerably. The second issue is out-of-band transmission: a filter that looks correct in the pass band but leaks in the near-infrared will pass heat and unwanted signal into the detector, which matters both optically and thermally. We measure the blocking band as carefully as the pass band.
Frequently asked questions
Can your coatings survive autoclaving?
Hard dielectric coatings with sealed edges can be specified for repeated steam cycles. Soft coatings are not appropriate for this duty.
Do you supply materials suitable for tissue contact?
We supply optical glass, fused silica and sapphire components. Material selection for biocompatibility rests with the device manufacturer's regulatory process, and we will supply documentation to support it.