US 5,349,137 A · Sterilizable cable assemblies

Abstract

A steam and liquid sterilizable assembly of electrical and optical fiber cables within a sealed polymer housing which features sealed joints and conductive traces between and through components. At least one optical fiber cable is sealed into a metal ferrule by an organic resin and the ferrule then sealed by soldering into a laminated, multilayer organic polymer disc or board. At least one electrical cable is soldered to one surface of the disc or board to a conductive trace which connects through and between the layers of the disc or board to a conductive electrical contact on the opposite surface of the disc or board. The disc or board with the optical and electrical contacts is embedded in a molded polymer housing. The assembly is useful in endoscopy applications.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A steam and liquid sterilizable assembly of electrical and optical fiber cables comprising:

(a) at least one optical fiber cable sealed into a metal ferrule by an organic resin, said ferrule being sealed by solder into an aperture in a
(b) laminated, multilayer organic polymer disc, having metal-plated apertures therethrough and conductive metal traces layer to layer;
(c) at least one electrical cable soldered to one surface of said disc to a conductive trace which connects through and between the layers of said disc to a conductive electrical contact on the opposite surface of said disc;
and
(d) wherein said at least one optical fiber cable, said at least one electrical cable, and said laminated, multilayer organic polymer disc are imbedded in a molded polymer housing which has no entry points for steam or liquids during sterilization.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Sterilizable cable assemblies

Life of this patent

Sterilizable cable assemblies

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims8