Device for connecting a fiber optic cable to the fiber optic connection of an endoscope

• US 5,930,424 A
• Filed: 12/23/1996
• Issued: 07/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard Wolf GmbH (Richard & Annemarie Wolf- Stiftung)
• Original Assignee: Richard Wolf GmbH (Richard & Annemarie Wolf- Stiftung)
• Inventors: Schaumann, Uwe, Dolt, Martin, Heimberger, Rudolf
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancene, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): HATTON, IRA R
• Application Number:
  US08/771,527
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• Field of Search: 385/53, 385/54, 385/55, 385/56, 385/70, 385/71, 385/901, 385/902, 362/32, 600/132, 600/182
• US Class Current: 385/53
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2476 Non-optical details, e.g. housings, mountings, supports
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/403 of the ferrule type, connecting a pair of ferrules

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for connecting a fiber optic cable to the fiber optic connection of an endoscope. An end section of the optical fiber is mounted as a bundle of fibers in a housing part and a coupling part is provided for the fastening with a positive fit of this housing part to the fiber optic connection on the endoscope side. To ensure that the optical fiber ends always come into contact with one another free of play and to improve the cleaning access, the coupling part is arranged on the housing part axially displaceable against a spring force in the direction of the fiber optic connection on the endoscope side.

Claims

1. A device (1) for connecting a fiber optic cable (14), having a plurality of optical fibers (6) terminating in a first fiber optic planar end surface, to a fiber optic connection (2) of an endoscope, the fiber optic connection having a first end and a second end, and including an elongated cylindrical part (29) having an outer circumferential groove (7) disposed in spaced relation substantially near the first end, an outer circumferential lip (21), of greater diameter than the cylindrical part (29), positioned at the second end, and a second fiber optic planar end surface disposed within the fiber optic connection (2) and aligned with the first end, the device (1) comprising:

a hollow cylindrical housing (4) having a longitudinal axis, a first end and a second end, and having a first portion, corresponding to said first end, for receiving the fiber optic cable (14), and a smaller second portion, corresponding to said second end, for internally mounting the plurality of optical fibers (6), said second portion terminating in a cross-sectional end surface, such that said first fiber optic planar surface is aligned with said cross-sectional end surface;

a first sleeve (12) disposed externally at said second end;

a hollow cylindrical coupling part (3) sized to slide over said first sleeve (12), having an internal surface, a proximal end and a distal end, an upper section and a lower section, comprising a second sleeve (13), sized to receive said second portion, internally disposed at said proximal end, said coupling part (3) being displaceably mounted external to said second portion;

a helical first spring (5) disposed external to said second portion and internal to said coupling part (3), said first spring (5) being positioned between and in contact with said first sleeve (12) and said second sleeve (13), such that said coupling part (3) is axially displaceable against the force of said first spring (5) towards said first portion; and

releasable locking means disposed at said distal end of said coupling part (3) for engaging the groove (7) when the fiber optic connection (2) is inserted into said coupling part (3) causing the cylindrical part (29) to be retained within said coupling part (3), such that the first fiber optic planar end surface is in positive contact with the second fiber optic planar end surface, wherein said positive contact is reinforced by the action of said first spring (5) pushing the first fiber optic planar end surface against the second fiber optic planar end surface of the fiber optic connection (2).

2. The device (1) of claim 1 wherein:

said coupling part (3) further comprises;

an upper slit (17) positioned transversely to said longitudinal axis at said upper portion and substantially near said distal end, and a corresponding lower slit (18) positioned transversely to said longitudinal axis at said lower portion opposite from, and aligned with, said upper slit (17),

a cylindrical recess (20) linearly displaced from said slit (17) towards said proximal end, and positioned on said upper portion perpendicularly to said longitudinal axis;

a locking pin (11), positioned centrally in said lower section and extending from said distal end for retaining said releasable locking device; and

wherein said releasable locking means comprises;

a laterally flattened annular bar (8), having an upper circumferential portion and a lower circumferential portion, said bar (8) being transversely movably mounted within said coupling part (3), wherein said upper portion is at least partially disposed within said upper slit (17) and wherein said lower portion is at least partially disposed within said lower slit (18), said bar (8) comprising;

a key surface (15) for releasing said locking means, having an upper surface and a lower surface, said key surface (15) being positioned on said upper portion and extending through said upper slit (17), and being bent at about 90 degrees from a circumferential plane of said bar (8), such that said lower surface is positioned above said cylindrical recess (20),

a second spring (9), positioned within, and extending from said cylindrical recess (20), having an upper part and a lower part, such that said upper part exerts spring force against said lower surface pushing said bar (8) upward,

a central cylindrical recess (28), defined by an inner edge (10), sized to receive the fiber optic connection (2) therethrough, said inner edge (10) further comprising a recess (16) centrally positioned on said lower portion, for engaging said pin (11) such that said bar (8) is retained within said coupling part (3) against the force of said second spring (9), wherein positive contact between the device (1) and the fiber optic connection (2) is achieved when the fiber optic connection (2) is pushed into said coupling part (3) until said inner edge (10) engages groove (7) by the force of said second spring (9) pressing said inner edge (10) against said cylinder part (29).

3. The device (1) of claim 2, wherein when said key surface (15) is pressed in the direction of said coupling part (3), said inner edge (10) exits the groove (7) such that the fiber optic connection (2) may be decoupled from the device (1).

4. The device (1) of claim 2, wherein:

said pin (11) comprises;

a cylindrical pin portion (22) having a primary end and a secondary end, comprising a circumferential channel (23) positioned in spaced relation to said primary end, and a ridge portion (24) positioned at said secondary end; and

said coupling part (3) further comprises;

a cylindrical pin chamber (26), sized to receive said pin (11), positioned centrally in said lower portion extending towards said proximal end, and perpendicular to said lower slit (18), said pin chamber (26) comprising an aperture (19), sized to receive said pin portion (22), for retaining said ridge portion (24) within said pin chamber (26), said aperture (19) communicating with said distal end,

a third spring (25), disposed within said pin chamber (26), pressing against said ridge portion (26), for causing said pin portion (22) to extend from said aperture (19), such that when the device (1) is not coupled to the fiber optic connection (2), said third spring pushes said pin (11) so that said primary end of said pin (11) extends from said distal end causing said recess (16) to engage said pin portion (22) and causing said inner edge (10) to align with said internal surface to facilitate insertion of the fiber optic connection (2), wherein positive contact between the device (1) and the fiber optic connection (2) is achieved when the fiber optic connection (2) is pushed into said coupling part (3) until the lip (21) presses said primary end of said pin (11) towards said pin chamber (26) causing said recess (16) to enter said channel (23) thereby causing said inner edge (10) to engage groove (7) by the force of said second spring (9) pressing said inner edge (10) against said cylinder part (29).

5. The device (1) of claim 4, wherein when said key surface (15) is pressed in the direction of said coupling part (3):

said inner edge (10) exits the groove (7) such that the fiber optic connection (2) may be decoupled from the device (1), and said third spring (25) pushes said pin (11) out of said pin chamber (26) causing said recess (16) to engage said pin portion (22).

6. The device (1) of claim (1) wherein said first sleeve (12) and said second sleeve (13) are composed of plastic.