Optical fiber cable

An optical fiber cable, comprising:

• a jacket comprising a polymer, wherein the jacket at least partially surrounds a passage extending lengthwise therethrough a distance of at least 50 centimeters;
• strength members positioned in the passage and/or coupled to the jacket, wherein the strength members comprise an elastic modulus greater than the polymer of the jacket, whereby the strength members are configured to bear tensile loading of the optical fiber cable;
• wherein the cable comprises a preferential bend axis around which bending of the optical fiber cable requires less force to accomplish than another axis of the optical fiber cable, and wherein at least two of the strength members are positioned along the preferential bend axis of the optical fiber cable:
• an optical fiber positioned in the passage, wherein the optical fiber comprises a cladding surrounding capillary tubes, and wherein surfaces of at least some of the capillary tubes surround a hollow core of the optical fiber, the hollow core configured to guide optical signals transmitted therealong;
• wherein the cladding of the optical fiber has interior and exterior surfaces, wherein a cross-section of cladding taken orthogonal to length of the optical fiber has a perimeter corresponding to the exterior surface, wherein area of the cross-section within the perimeter is greater than 50 μm2 and less than 1 mm2;
• and
• a coating overlaying the cladding of the optical fiber;
• wherein the passage has a cross-sectional area greater than ten times that of the cladding of the optical fiber and wherein the optical fiber is at least partially free to move around in the passage relative to the jacket,
• wherein when the optical fiber cable bends to a radius of 200 mm, at least a portion of the optical fiber moves within the passage of the cable jacket to more closely align the hollow core of the optical fiber with a neutral axis of the optical fiber cable;
• wherein when the optical fiber cable bends to the radius of 200 mm, at least a portion of the hollow core of the optical fiber overlays or intersects the neutral axis of the optical fiber cable;
• whereby as the optical fiber cable bends the optical fiber cable is configured to facilitate reorientation of the optical fiber within the passage to a lower-stress position and/or orientation relative to another higher-stress position and/or orientation, and to thereby mitigate loss of signals communicated by the optical fiber.