Methods of making a stub lens element and assemblies using same for optical coherence tomography applications
AssigneeCorning Incorporated
InventorsVenkata Adiseshaiah Bhagavatula, John Himmelreich
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods of making a stub lens element and assemblies for coherence tomography (OCT) applications are disclosed. The method of making the stub lens element includes drawing a rod of optical material and processing the drawn rod to form a lens integrally connected to a stub section. The methods also include operably supporting an optical fiber and a stub lens element in a cooperative optical relationship to form a stub lens sub-assembly. The methods also include operably supporting the stub lens sub-assembly and a light-deflecting member in a cooperative optical relationship to form a probe optical assembly that has a folded optical path.
Claims20
A method of making a stub lens element, comprising:
- heating an end of a rod of optical material that has a central axis and a width dimension D1 in a range between 250 microns and 1000 microns to form a bulbous rod end having a width dimension D2 in a range between 300 microns and 2500 microns wherein the remaining rod defines a stem section;
- removing a portion of the optical material from the bulbous rod end to reduce the width dimension D2 to form a lens having an on-axis lens surface;
- and
- cutting the stem section to define an angled proximal end opposite the on-axis lens surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.