Attachment System for Light-Conducting Fibers

• US 20120262939A1
• Filed: 06/29/2012
• Published: 10/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illuminoss Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illuminoss Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: O'Leary, Anthony W., Rabiner, Robert A., Colleran, Dennis P., Dye, Justin G., Kornbluth, Douglas A., Chang, Narissa Y., Morin, Joshua M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,328,402 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/580
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0006 Coupling light into the fibre in general G02B6/4298
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3814 with cooling or heat dissipation means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

In an embodiment, an attachment system for communicating light energy from a light source to a light-conducting fiber includes a light pipe body sufficiently designed to engage a distal end of a light pipe, the light pipe body comprising at least one opening configured to dissipate heat buildup from light energy; a front assembly sufficiently designed to engage the light pipe body, the front assembly comprising an orifice and at least one opening configured to dissipate heat buildup from light energy; a light-conducting fiber body sufficiently designed to engage the front assembly and to hold a proximal portion of a light-conducting fiber, the light-conducting fiber body positioned in the orifice of the front assembly; and an optical taper assembly sufficiently designed to hold an optical taper, the optical taper assembly positioned between and spaced apart from the front assembly, and positioned between and spaced apart from the light pipe.

Claims

1. An attachment system comprising:

a first portion having a cavity for carrying a light pipe, the light pipe transmitting light energy from a light source;

an optical taper assembly having an optical taper sufficiently designed to alter at least one property of the light energy;

a second portion having a cavity for carrying a light-conducting fiber, the light- conducting fiber receiving the altered light energy from the optical taper; and

at least one opening in at least one of the first portion, the optical taper assembly, or the second portion, the at least one opening configured to dissipate heat from the light energy,

wherein the optical taper assembly is positioned between and spaced apart from a distal end of the first portion, and positioned between and spaced apart from a proximal end of the second portion.

2. The attachment system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of fins in the first portion, the plurality of fins designed to conduct heat away from the light pipe.

3. The attachment system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of fins are positioned at the distal end of the first portion.

4. The attachment system of claim 1, wherein the first portion is made from a material capable of functioning as a heat sink to dissipate energy away from the system.

5. The attachment system of claim 1, wherein the space between the optical taper assembly and the first portion and the space between the optical taper assembly and the second portion are configured to reduce pressure and dissipate heat.

6. The attachment system of claim 1, wherein the optical taper assembly includes a reflective surface designed to reflect light towards a light source.

7. The attachment system of claim 1, wherein the second portion comprises two components that are each fabricated from a different material.

8. The attachment system of claim 1, wherein the light-conducting fiber is an optical fiber.

9. The attachment system of claim 1, wherein the at least one opening is one of a hole, a space, a cavity or a vent.

10. A device comprising:

a light pipe body sufficiently designed to engage a distal end of a light pipe that transmits light from a light source;

a front assembly sufficiently designed to engage the light pipe body, the front assembly comprising an orifice;

a light-conducting fiber body sufficiently designed to engage the front assembly and to hold a proximal portion of a light-conducting fiber, the light-conducting fiber body positioned in the orifice of the front assembly;

an optical taper assembly sufficiently designed to include an optical taper, the optical taper assembly positioned between and spaced apart from the front assembly, and positioned between and spaced apart from the light pipe; and

at least one opening in the light pipe body, the front assembly, the light-conducting fiber body, or the optical taper assembly, the at least one opening configured to dissipate heat from the light source.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the device is supplied for a single-use.

12. The device of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of fins in the light pipe body, the plurality of fins designed to conduct heat away from the light pipe.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein the front assembly and the light conducting fiber body are fabricated as one component.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein the front assembly and the light pipe body are made from a metal material.

15. The device of claim 10, wherein the light-conducting fiber is an optical fiber.

16. The device of claim 10, wherein the space between the optical taper assembly and the light pipe and the space between the optical taper assembly and the front assembly are configured to reduce pressure and dissipate heat.

17. The device of claim 10, wherein the optical taper includes a polished surface designed to reflect light towards the light source.

18. The device of claim 10, wherein the at least one opening is one of a hole, a space, a cavity or a vent.

19. A method of making a device comprising:

providing a light pipe body sufficiently designed to engage a distal end of a light pipe for transmitting light energy from a light source;

engaging the light pipe body with a front assembly, the front assembly comprising an orifice;

positioning a proximal portion of a light-conducting body in the orifice of the front assembly;

positioning an optical taper assembly between and spaced apart from the front assembly, and between and spaced apart from the light pipe, wherein the optical taper assembly is sufficiently designed to include an optical taper; and

providing at least one opening in at least one of the light pipe body, front assembly, light-conducting body, or optical taper assembly, the at least one opening configured to dissipate heat from the light energy.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising providing a plurality of fins in the light pipe body, wherein the plurality of fins are designed to conduct heat away from the light pipe.