Custom sapphire optics that are unaffected by most body fluids, acids and alkalis, transmit over a broad spectrum, and can be precision fabricated are available from Meller Optics Inc.
Meller Sapphire Optics for medical instruments utilize the durability of sapphire, which is Moh 9 hardness, second only to diamond, and can transmit from the UV to 4.7 µm. Impervious to chlorine and fluorine gas, most chemicals, and blood, these optics can be manufactured to precise OEM specifications with flatness to one-tenth wave, parallelism to 2 arc-sec., and surface finishes to < 0.5 nm.
Suitable for high-value medical and laboratory instruments, Meller Sapphire Optics can be fabricated in sizes from 0.25 to 10-in. dia. and 0.5 mm to 1-in. thick and supplied as windows, flat and stepped, concave or convex, and round or square, with holes, various edge treatments, thicknesses, and coatings. Applications include windows for ER:YAG, HO:YAG, and Alexandrite laser hand pieces, blood gas instruments, and sensors.