Optical waveguides – Optical fiber bundle – Imaging
Patent
1995-08-18
1997-04-01
Ngo, John
Optical waveguides
Optical fiber bundle
Imaging
385 85, 385147, G02B 2326
Patent
active
056174985
ABSTRACT:
An endoscope which provides ample illumination to a surgical field or diagnostic site is disclosed in which a lens train having objective and relay lenses or electronic means for transmitting images therethrough is covered by an outer casing formed from a woven cylindrical sheath composed of a multiplicity of interlaced spirally-extending bundles of optical fibers and an embedding medium for securely interlocking the bundles together. The proximal end of the braided or woven sheath forms a light-receiving post for receiving and transmitting light through the individual fiberoptic cables to their distal ends which terminate around the periphery of the field lens or lenses. Constructing the outer casing of the endoscope from woven fiberoptic bundles provides an adequate quantity of fiberoptic cables to supply ample illumination to the field for endoscopes with one or more field lenses. The construction of the braided sheath also allows the endoscope to be efficiently manufactured. In one alternate embodiment, the outer casing is formed from a plurality of woven radial segments each composed of a multiplicity of interlaced spirally-extending bundles of optical fibers and an embedding medium securely interlocks the radial segments together to form the tubular outer casing. In another alternate embodiment, the outer casing is formed entirely of light-transmitting material and may take the form of interwoven fiberoptic cables which are fused together or an integral, elongate tubular sheath which fits over the lenses or electronic means of the lens train.
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