Medical optical connector system

An optical system for optically coupling to an interventional medical device, wherein the optical system comprises:

• two optical fibers;
• a medical optical connector for reversibly connecting the two optical fibers, wherein the medical optical connector includes:
• a ferrule having disposed therein an end portion of a first one of the optical fibers,
• a flexible device, comprising one of a guide wire, a sheath and a catheter, wherein the flexible device has disposed therein an end portion of a second one of the optical fibers, and
• an optical arrangement for interacting with a light beam from one of the optical fibers and conducting the light beam to the other one of the associated optical fibers in a connected state of the medical optical connector, the optical arrangement comprising two gradient index elements and an additional optical element disposed between the two gradient index elements,
• wherein a first one of the gradient index elements is disposed external to the ferrule and also external to the flexible device,
• wherein a second one of the gradient index elements is disposed inside the flexible device,
• wherein the additional optical element is disposed external to the ferrule and also external to the flexible device, and is replaceable,
• wherein the medical optical connector includes a sterility barrier between the two optical fibers, and
• wherein the sterility barrier includes the additional optical element.