Connection apparatus with optical fiber coding and detection means or with radiation emitter

A fiber optic system for transmitting radiation from a radiation source, comprising:

• a radiation source associated with a connection port;
• means for optically transmitting radiation, said transmitting means having a radiation-transmitting end and a connection end;
• means for positioning said transmitting means relative to said radiation source, said positioning means surrounding said transmitting means and having a shoulder, the connection end in optical communication with said radiation source when the shoulder is seated relative to said radiation source;
• and
• means for connecting said transmitting means to said radiation source, said connecting means carrying said positioning means therein such that the shoulder is accessible through a distal end of said connecting means, said connecting means including means for providing biasing force sufficient to seat the shoulder relative to said radiation source and means for engaging the connection port, said connecting means carrying means for identifying said transmitting means.

A fiber optic radiation delivery system, comprising:

• an optical fiber having first and second ends;
• a radiation emitter attached to the first end;
• and
• a connector carrying said optical fiber therein such that the second end is accessible through a distal end of said connector, said connector including a connecting portion, a biasing component and a seating surface, said connector adapted to seat said optical fiber via the seating surface under a biasing force provided by the biasing component and to connect said optical fiber via the connecting portion thereby to provide radiation between the first and second ends, said connector carrying information which identifies the optical fiber.

A fiber optic radiation delivery system, comprising:

• means for optically transmitting radiation, said transmitting means having first and second ends;
• means for emitting radiation attached to the first end;
• and
• means for connecting said transmitting means, said connecting means carrying said transmitting means therein such that the second end is accessible through a distal end of said connecting means, said connecting means including a connecting portion, biasing means and seating means, said connecting means adapted to seat said transmitting means via the seating means under a biasing force provided by the biasing means and to connect said transmitting means via the connecting portion thereby to provide radiation between the first and second ends, said connecting means carrying means for identifying said transmitting means.

A fiber optic system for emitting light from a source of light energy, comprising:

• a source of light energy associated with a connection port;
• an optical fiber having a light-transmitting end and a connection end;
• an emitter disposed at the light-transmitting end, said emitter characterized by emitting light from a surface along a length thereof;
• a ferrule surrounding said optical fiber, said ferrule having a shoulder, the connection end in optical communication with said source when the shoulder is seated relative to said radiation source;
• and
• a connector carrying said ferrule therein such that the shoulder is accessible through a distal end of said connector, said connector including a biasing component of a construction sufficient to provide biasing force sufficient to seat the shoulder relative to said source and a connecting portion of a construction sufficient to engage the connection port.

A fiber optic system for emitting light from a source of light energy, comprising:

• a source of light energy associated with a connection port;
• means for optically transmitting light energy, said transmitting means having a light-transmitting end and a connection end;
• means for emitting light from a surface along a length thereof, said emitting means disposed at the light-transmitting end;
• means for positioning said transmitting means relative to said source, said positioning means surrounding said transmitting means and having a shoulder, the connection end in optical communication with said source when the shoulder is seated relative to said radiation source;
• and
• means for connecting said transmitting means to said radiation source, said connecting means carrying said positioning means therein such that the shoulder is accessible through a distal end of said connecting means, said connecting means including means for providing a biasing force sufficient to seat the shoulder relative to said source and means for engaging the connection port.

A fiber optic light delivery system, comprising:

• an optical fiber having first and second ends;
• a light-transmissive first material surrounding the first end and a light-transmissive second material surrounding said first material, said first and second materials defining a light guide when light is transmitted from the end of said optical fiber to said first material, said second material having an internal surface modified sufficiently to transmit light travelling along the light guide to an outside surface along a length of said second material;
• and
• a connector carrying said optical fiber therein such that the second end is accessible through a distal end of said connector, said connector including a connecting portion, a biasing component and a seating surface, said connector adapted to seat said optical fiber via the seating surface under a biasing force provided by the biasing component and to connect said optical fiber via the connecting portion thereby to provide for light delivery.

A fiber optic light delivery system, comprising:

• means for optically transmitting light, said transmitting means having first and second ends;
• a light-transmissive first material surrounding the first end and a light-transmissive second material surrounding said first material, said first and second materials defining a light guide when light is transmitted from the end of said transmitting means to the first material, said second material having an internal surface modified sufficiently to transmit light travelling along the light guide to an outside surface along a length of said second material;
• and
• means for connecting said transmitting means, said connecting means carrying said transmitting means therein such that the second end is accessible through a distal end of said connecting means, said connecting means including a connecting portion, biasing means and seating means, said connecting means adapted to seat said transmitting means via the seating means under a biasing force provided by the biasing means and to connect said transmitting means via the connecting portion thereby to provide for light delivery.