Optical waveguides – With disengagable mechanical connector
Reexamination Certificate
2001-02-13
2003-09-30
Sanghavi, Hemang (Department: 2874)
Optical waveguides
With disengagable mechanical connector
C385S088000, C385S092000, C385S070000, C385S058000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06626582
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an improved adaptor assembly that releasably connects a fiber optic waveguide to a fiber optic illuminator and protects the fiber optic waveguide from contamination during use and handling.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many types of light source systems have been developed to couple light from a high intensity light source, such as an arc lamp, into a light pathway comprising a single optical fiber or a fiber optic bundle constructed from a light conducting material such as glass or plastic. Light energy carried through the optical fibers is used in various industrial, commercial, and medical applications. For example, light energy carried through optical fibers is used in the medical field to provide illumination to various medical components, including headlights, endoscopes, and assorted surgical instruments.
FIG. 1
illustrates a typical fiber optic illumination system used in medical and industrial applications. The fiber optic illumination system includes an optical light source system
2
having a light source
3
and an optical system
4
for collecting and focusing the light emitted by the light source. An illumination device
8
, such as an endoscope, is connected to the light source system
2
via an optic fiber light guide
6
coupled to the light source system
2
by a proximal connector
5
. The optic fiber light guide
6
may be a fiber optic bundle or a single optic fiber. Typically, the proximal connector
5
is removable from the light source system
2
in order to increase the convenience of using the illumination device
8
. For instance, the same light source system
2
may be used with multiple, different illumination devices
8
.
The light source
3
is typically a light source having an envelope. Preferably, the light source
3
comprises an arc lamp such as a xenon lamp, a metal-halide lamp, a HID lamp, or a mercury lamp. The arc lamps are desirable because they produce light energy of high intensity. For certain applications, filament lamps, e.g., halogen lamps, can be used, provided the system is modified to accommodate the non-opaque filaments of the lamp. Typically, the positioning of the output waveguide is slightly altered so that the proximal, input end of the output waveguide is not in the shadow of the filament.
The light source system may further include various optical collection and condensation systems (not illustrated) that employ various lenses, mirrors, and filters. For example, it is well known in the art to use ellipsoidal reflectors to condense the light energy and to use parabolic reflectors to collimate the light energy. The various components of the optical collection and condensation system may be combined to produce desired results. Likewise the various components of the optical collection and condensation system may be positioned in numerous on-axis and off-axis arrangements as needed to produce desired illumination.
Traditional types of proximal connectors systems include a fixed adaptor, a turret adaptor, and a universal adaptor. However, these traditional proximal connectors are bulky and heavy. As a result, when a traditional proximal connector is removed from the light source system
2
, the weight of the proximal connector stresses the optic fiber light guide
6
unless carefully handled.
Another disadvantage to the traditional proximal connector is that it positions the proximal end of the optic fiber light guide
6
approximately at a point inside the light source where the light is most concentrated. Although this positioning of the optic fiber light guide
6
maximizes the collection of light energy, energy from the light source
3
is absorbed and accumulated by the connector and the light guide
6
as heat energy. As a result, the traditional proximal connector often becomes very hot, which is a hazard to people working with the optical illumination system. The heating of the proximal connector also degrades the performance of the system by distorting the transmitted light energy and potentially damaging the optic fiber light guide
6
.
A further disadvantage to the traditional proximal connectors is their relative high costs. In particular, the cost for the traditional proximal connector becomes prohibitive in applications where the optic fiber light guide
6
is intended to be disposed after a single use, such as endoscopic medical procedures in which the optic fiber light guide
6
is inserted into a human body.
In response to these disadvantages of traditional proximal connectors, alternative proximal connectors have been developed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,640,478 discloses an optical system, illustrated in
FIGS. 2-3
, having a cone-shaped proximal connector
30
that connects to a correspondingly shaped opening
24
in a receiving structure
26
in the house
28
for the light source system
2
. With this connection system, heat absorbed by the proximal connector
30
is dissipated into the receiving structure
26
, thus preventing the undesired accumulation of excessive heat energy in the proximal connector
30
. Furthermore, a first conical surface
32
and a second conical surface
38
properly position the proximal end
33
of connector
30
in the receiving structure
26
for receiving light energy from a light source. In this position, the first conical surface
32
and the second conical surface
38
contact an inner surface
44
of the housing
26
, but the proximal end
33
is left exposed to an opening
46
in the receiving structure
26
to receive light energy. The proximal connector
30
further contains a detente
36
for engagement to a retaining formation
42
, such as a spring-biased ball plunger. Although held in position to receive light energy, the proximal connect may still move radially to compensate for any twisting of the optic fiber light guide
6
. As a result, the proximal connector
39
may be small and light, yet still securely position a proximal end of optic fiber light guide
6
in a desired location for receiving light energy from the light source system, as illustrated in FIG.
3
.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,764,837 (“the '837 patent”) also provides a proximal connector system having a cone-shaped proximal connector
50
that connects to a correspondingly shaped opening in the light source system. As illustrated in
FIG. 4
, the '837 patent the connector
50
has a built-in fiber optic element
51
that extends from a proximal tip
53
of the proximal connector
50
to a proximal end
57
of the optic fiber light guide
56
. The proximal end
57
of the optic fiber light guide
56
is contained in a bore
61
in a fiber cable connector
60
. On a distal end of the proximal connector
50
is a fiber cable adapter
58
having an opening
59
adapted to receive the fiber cable connector
60
. Light energy exits the light source system via the fiber optic element
51
, which directs light energy to the output optic fiber light guide
56
. As a result of this connection system, the proximal end of the optic fiber light guide
6
is moved away from area of light and heat concentration within the light system. This placement decreases heat accumulation in the optic fiber light guide
56
, thereby improving the performance and durability of the fiber optic illuminator system.
Furthermore, the adapter case
58
in the '837 patent accepts a detachable connector
60
that secures the proximal end of the optic fiber light guide
56
. The adapter case
58
easily detaches from a first detachable connector
60
. Therefore, this system facilitates the use of a single-use, disposable optic fiber light guide
56
by allowing the same, relatively expensive proximal connector
50
with different optic fiber light guides
56
.
Overall, the proximal connector of the '837 patent has a simple, light design that provides a secure connection to the light source system while allowing connection to different optic fiber light guides and protecting the proximal connector from heat accumulation. However, the proximal connector assem
Farrar Harry
Li Kenneth K.
Cogent Light Technologies Inc.
Knauss Scott A
Rothwell, Figg Ernst & Manbeck, PC
Sanghavi Hemang
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