Self-cleaning optical connector
AssigneeBoston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
InventorPeter Thornton, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An example medical device system includes a reusable connector cable having a female adaptor and a first fiber optic cable disposed within the reusable connector cable. A single use device is capable of connecting to the reusable connector cable and includes a male adaptor capable of mating with the female adaptor. A second fiber optic cable extends through the single use device such that the second fiber optic cable optically connects to the first fiber optic cable when the male adaptor of the single use device is disposed within the female adaptor of the reusable connector cable. A cleaning assembly is disposed within the single use device and is capable of cleaning an end of the first fiber optic cable when the male adaptor of the single use device is mated with the female adaptor of the reusable connector cable.
Claims20
A medical device system comprising:
- a reusable connector cable including a female adaptor;
- a first fiber optic cable disposed within the reusable connector cable;
- a single use device capable of connecting to the reusable connector cable, the single use device including a male adaptor capable of mating with the female adaptor of the reusable connector cable;
- a second fiber optic cable extending through the single use device such that the second fiber optic cable optically connects to the first fiber optic cable when the male adaptor of the single use device is disposed within the female adaptor of the reusable connector cable;
- and
- a cleaning assembly disposed within the single use device, capable of cleaning an end of the first fiber optic cable when the male adaptor of the single use device is mated with the female adaptor of the reusable connector cable.
A medical device system comprising:
- a signal processing module;
- a reusable connector cable operably connectable to the signal processing module, the connector cable including a female adaptor;
- a first fiber optic cable disposed within the reusable connector cable;
- a single use connector cable including a male adaptor capable of mating with the female adaptor of the reusable connector cable;
- a second fiber optic cable extending through the single use connector cable such that the second fiber optic cable optically connects to the first fiber optic cable when the male adaptor of the single use connector cable is mated with the female adaptor of the reusable connector cable;
- and
- a cleaning assembly disposed within the single use device, capable of cleaning an end of the first fiber optic cable when the male adaptor of the single use connector is mated with the female adaptor of the reusable connector cable.
A method of connecting a pressure sensing guidewire to a signal processing module, the method comprising:
- providing a connector cable operably connectable to the signal processing module, the connector cable including a female adaptor and a first fiber optic cable extending within the female adaptor;
- providing a disposable cable including a male adaptor and a second fiber optic cable extending within the male adaptor;
- providing a cleaning assembly disposed within the male adaptor;
- advancing the male adaptor of the disposable cable into the female adaptor of the connector cable such that an end of the second fiber optic cable contacts the cleaning assembly;
- and
- further advancing the male adaptor of the disposable cable within the female adaptor of the connector cable such that the cleaning assembly cleans the end of the second fiber optic cable and is bent out of the way so that the first fiber optic cable can optically connect with the second fiber optic cable.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.