Systems and methods for optical fiber cleaning and interface particle reduction

An optical fiber cleaning assembly, comprising:

• a cleaning tape;
• a first spool having the cleaning tape wound thereon;
• a second spool onto which the cleaning tape is drawn;
• a drive mechanism configured to move the cleaning tape from the first spool to the second spool;
• and
• one or more connectors configured to mate with:
• one or more connectors of a teleoperational manipulator system so as to detachably attach the optical fiber cleaning assembly to the teleoperational manipulator system, or
• one or more optical fiber connectors of a device so as to detachably attach the optical fiber cleaning assembly to the device, the device configured to be manipulated by the teleoperational manipulator system,
• wherein when a face of an optical fiber is placed in contact with a surface of the cleaning tape, the drive mechanism is configured to move the cleaning tape from the first spool to the second spool to wipe the face of the optical fiber, and
• wherein the drive mechanism of the optical fiber cleaning assembly comprises a rotatable disk configured to couple to a rotatable disk of the teleoperational manipulator system and wherein rotation of the rotatable disk of the teleoperational manipulator system is configured to cause rotation of the rotatable disk of the optical fiber cleaning assembly to move the cleaning tape from the first spool to the second spool.