Launch fiber termination
First Claim
1. A launch fiber termination including in combination:
- a quartz or silica ferrule having a bore therethrough with at least a portion having a first predetermined diameter;
an optical fiber having a silica core and a polymer external jacket, the jacket being stripped from a predetermined length of an end of the optical fiber to expose a portion of the silica core which is placed in the bore of the quartz ferrule, with at least the portion of the exposed silica core in the bore of the ferrule being heat fused to the portion of the bore of said first predetermined diameter to bond the ferrule and the silica core of the optical fiber together; and
a beam block located adjacent the entry end of the quartz ferrule and bonded to it, with the beam block including an extension having a length sufficient to extend over the external jacket of the optical fiber when the predetermined length of exposed silica core is placed in the bore of the quartz ferrule, and wherein the extension of the beam block is secured to the external jacket of the optical fiber by mechanical crimping.
11 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A high energy surgical launch fiber termination includes a cylindrical quartz ferrule having a bore through it of a first predetermined diameter. An optical fiber, which has at least a silica core and a polymer external jacket, is attached to the quartz ferrule by stripping the external jacket from a length of the end of the optical fiber to expose a portion of the silica core. This inner core is inserted into the bore in the quartz ferrule, and is fused to the ferrule by means of heat fusion, without employing any adhesives, to bond the ferrule and the optical fiber together. A metal beam block surrounds at least a portion of the quartz ferrule on the side where the optical fiber is inserted into it. The beam block includes an extension surrounding the polymer external jacket of the fiber; and the extension is crimped onto the polymer jacket to hold the beam block and fiber in place.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A launch fiber termination including in combination:
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a quartz or silica ferrule having a bore therethrough with at least a portion having a first predetermined diameter;
an optical fiber having a silica core and a polymer external jacket, the jacket being stripped from a predetermined length of an end of the optical fiber to expose a portion of the silica core which is placed in the bore of the quartz ferrule, with at least the portion of the exposed silica core in the bore of the ferrule being heat fused to the portion of the bore of said first predetermined diameter to bond the ferrule and the silica core of the optical fiber together; and
a beam block located adjacent the entry end of the quartz ferrule and bonded to it, with the beam block including an extension having a length sufficient to extend over the external jacket of the optical fiber when the predetermined length of exposed silica core is placed in the bore of the quartz ferrule, and wherein the extension of the beam block is secured to the external jacket of the optical fiber by mechanical crimping. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification