Female optical receiving device and method

• US 9,052,466 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2014
• Issued: 06/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Opsens, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Opsens, Inc.
• Inventors: Belleville, Claude, Lalancette, Sbastien, Proulx, Alain
• Primary Examiner(s): LEPISTO, RYAN A
• Application Number:
  US14/190,033
• Publication Number:
  US 20140241669A1
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 385/80
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02154 by optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/38 having fibre to fibre mating means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/381 of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3861 Adhesive bonding adhesives in general C09J
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3873 Connectors using guide surfaces for aligning ferrule ends, e.g. tubes, sleeves, V-grooves, rods, pins, balls
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/389 characterised by the method of fastening connecting plugs and sockets, e.g. screw- or nut-lock, snap-in, bayonet type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3898 Tools, e.g. handheld; Tuning wrenches; Jigs used with connectors, e.g. for extracting, removing or inserting in a panel, for engaging or coupling connectors, for assembling or disassembling components within the connector, for applying clips to hold two connectors together or for crimping tools for cleaning, G02B6/3866; tools in general B25B
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4402 with one single optical waveguide G02B6/4429, G02B6/4439, G02B6/4479 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4415 Cables for special applications G02B6/4429, G02B6/4439, G02B6/4479 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49879 Spaced wall tube or receptacle

Abstract

The present document describes a female optical receiving device for connecting a first optical fiber to a second optical fiber. The first optical fiber is substantially centered within a proximal portion of a guidewire tubing. The female optical receiving device comprises a first ferrule or tubing having a longitudinal axis and an inside diameter adapted to an outside diameter of the guidewire tubing, and a second ferrule or tubing having a longitudinal axis and an inside diameter adapted to an outside diameter of the second optical fiber. The longitudinal axis of the first ferrule or tubing is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the second ferrule or tubing.

Claims

1. A female optical receiving device for connecting a first optical fiber to a second optical fiber, the first optical fiber being within a proximal portion of a guidewire tubing, the female optical receiving device comprising:

a first ferrule or tubing, having a longitudinal axis and an inside diameter adapted to an outside diameter of the guidewire tubing; and

a second ferrule or tubing, having a longitudinal axis and an inside diameter adapted to an outside diameter of the second optical fiber, the longitudinal axis of the first ferrule or tubing being aligned with the longitudinal axis of the second ferrule or tubing

wherein the first optical fiber has an outside diameter which is different from the outside diameter of the second optical fiber.

2. The female optical receiving device of claim 1, wherein the second optical fiber has a core diameter different from a core diameter of the first optical fiber.

3. The female optical receiving device of claim 1, wherein the second optical fiber is bonded within the second ferrule or tubing.

4. The female optical receiving device of claim 1, wherein the female optical receiving device is embedded in an interface connector handle which comprises a biasing device for providing intimate contact between the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber.

5. The female optical receiving device of claim 4, wherein the second ferrule or tubing comprises a ferrule or tubing adapted to be pushed by the biasing device through a pushing surface which is between the second ferrule or tubing and the biasing device.

6. The female optical receiving device of claim 4, wherein the biasing device comprises a biasing device adapted to push the female optical receiving device toward the proximal portion of the guidewire tubing.

7. The female optical receiving device of claim 1, wherein the first ferrule or tubing comprises one of an angle and a curve at an entry thereof for facilitating an insertion of the guidewire tubing into the first ferrule or tubing.

8. The female optical receiving device of claim 1, wherein the second ferrule or tubing comprises one of an angle and a curve at an entry thereof for facilitating an insertion of the second optical fiber into the second ferrule or tubing.

9. The female optical receiving device of claim 1, wherein the second optical fiber has an outside diameter of 125μ

m.

10. The female optical receiving device of claim 1, wherein the inside diameter of the second ferrule or tubing is less than 2 μ

m greater than the outside diameter of the second optical fiber.

11. The female optical receiving device of claim 1, wherein the first optical fiber is substantially centered relative to the outside diameter of the guidewire tubing at a proximal portion thereof.

12. The female optical receiving device of claim 1, wherein the outside diameter of the first optical fiber is smaller than the outside diameter of the second optical fiber.

13. A female optical receiving device for connecting a first optical fiber to a second optical fiber, the first optical fiber being within a proximal portion of a guidewire tubing, the female optical receiving device comprising:

a first ferrule or tubing, having a longitudinal axis and an inside diameter adapted to an outside diameter of the guidewire tubing; and

a second ferrule or tubing, having a longitudinal axis and an inside diameter adapted to an outside diameter of the second optical fiber, the longitudinal axis of the first ferrule or tubing being aligned with the longitudinal axis of the second ferrule or tubing

wherein the female optical receiving device is embedded in an interface connector handle for performing an insertion of the first optical fiber into the first ferrule or tubing.

14. The female optical receiving device of claim 13, wherein the interface connector handle comprises a biasing device for providing intimate contact between the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber.

15. The female optical receiving device of claim 14, wherein the second ferrule or tubing comprises a ferrule or tubing adapted to be pushed by the biasing device through a pushing surface which is between the second ferrule or tubing and the biasing device.

16. A female optical receiving device for connecting a first optical fiber to a second optical fiber, the first optical fiber being within a proximal portion of a guidewire tubing, the female optical receiving device comprising:

a first ferrule or tubing, having a longitudinal axis and an inside diameter adapted to an outside diameter of the guidewire tubing;

a second ferrule or tubing, having a longitudinal axis and an inside diameter adapted to an outside diameter of the second optical fiber, the longitudinal axis of the first ferrule or tubing being aligned with the longitudinal axis of the second ferrule or tubing; and

a split sleeve simultaneously slipped over the first ferrule or tubing and over the second ferrule or tubing, thereby aligning the longitudinal axis of the first ferrule or tubing and the longitudinal axis of the second ferrule or tubing.

17. The female optical receiving device of claim 16, wherein the split sleeve is fixed over the first ferrule or tubing, and the second ferrule or tubing.

18. The female optical receiving device of claim 16, wherein the first optical fiber has an outside diameter which is different from the outside diameter of the second optical fiber.