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US 11,307,365 B2Granted
Optical fiber cable connector
AssigneeIpg Photonics Corporation
InventorsGregory Altshuler, Christopher Gaal, Valery Kozlov
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AssigneeIpg Photonics Corporation
InventorsGregory Altshuler, Christopher Gaal, Valery Kozlov
Estimating the term…
A delivery system extends from a laser radiation source for connecting to a medical device that utilizes the laser radiation for medical treatment. The delivery system comprises an optical fiber connecting to a male launch connecter. The male launch connector having a body portion with the optical fiber fixed or constrained therein and the optical fiber terminating at a male ferrule with a forward directed fiber facet, the male ferrule may be compliantly supported and positioned by elastomeric material positioned between the male ferrule and the body portion. The launch connector engages a receiving connector first with mechanical connection portions and then more finely aligning optical connection portions by the male ferrule self aligning in a female ferrule with cooperating tapered surfaces. The male portion may fully seat in the female portion with cooperating cylindrical surfaces.
An optical fiber connector coupling for connecting a laser radiation source to a device, the coupling comprising a launch connector with a mechanical connection portion comprising a body portion and an optical connection portion comprising a male ferrule connected to an optical fiber, the male ferrule connecting to and supported by the body portion exclusively through a) the optical fiber extending rearwardly from the male ferrule and anchored with respect to the body portion and b) a compliant elastomeric material positioned intermediate the male ferrule and the body portion, wherein the male ferrule is compliantly and resiliently positioned and supported within the body portion of the launch connector axially and radially such that the ferrule is movable with respect to the body portion with resistance to such movement, the male ferrule having a cylindrical outer surface, the coupling further comprising a receiving connector, the receiving connector comprising a mechanical connection portion for cooperating with the mechanical connection portion of the launch connector, and an optical connection portion comprising an optical registration receiver, the optical registration receiver of the receiving connector not having an optical fiber associated therewith, the optical registration receiver having an internal cylindrical surface that slidingly engages the cylindrical outer surface of the male ferrule.
An optical fiber connector coupling for connecting a laser radiation source to a device, the coupling comprising a launch connector with a mechanical connection portion and an optical connection portion, the optical connection portion having a cylindrical outer surface, the coupling further comprising a receiving connector, the receiving connector comprising a mechanical connection portion for cooperating with the mechanical connection portion of the launch connector, and an optical connection portion comprising an optical registration receiver, the optical registration receiver having an internal cylindrical surface that slidingly engages the cylindrical outer surface of the optical connection portion, the optical registration receiver not having an internal stop surface limiting the insertion distance of the cylindrical outer surface into the optical registration receiver, the optical connection portion compliantly and resiliently supported within the body portion and with respect to the body portion of the launch connector by a resilient compliant member positioned intermediate the optical connection portion and the body portion whereby the optical connection portion is moveable with respect to the body portion with resistance to such movement.
An optical fiber connector coupling for connecting a laser radiation source to a device, the coupling comprising a launch connector with a mechanical connection portion and an optical connection portion, the optical connection portion connected to an optical fiber extending rearwardly therefrom, the optical connection portion having a forward face, a forward cylindrical portion, and a cylindrical portion rearward of the forward cylindrical portion, the cylindrical portion rearward of the forward cylindrical portion being diametrically larger than the forward cylindrical portion, a compliant elastomeric material engaging a rearward portion of the optical connection portion and extending to an inwardly facing wall surface of a body portion of the launch connector wherein the optical connection portion is compliantly positioned and supported within the body portion of the launch connector such that the optical connection portion is movable within the body portion with resistance to such movement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.