The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 01, 1998
Filed:
Aug. 13, 1997
William James Evans, San Francisco, CA (US);
Thomas Henning, San Francisco, CA (US);
Kelly Cox, Ithaca, NY (US);
Victor C Esch, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Yefim Gelfond, San Ramon, CA (US);
Stephanos Papademetriou, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Daren L Stewart, Redwood City, CA (US);
Indigo, Medical, Inc., Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
A fiber optic radiation transmission system is provided in which an optical fiber and a radiation source are connected to establish optical communication therebetween. Additionally, a connecting system is provided for connecting an optical fiber and a radiation source such that optical communication is established therebetween. The systems include a connector which carries the optical fiber therein. The connector is extendable within the system toward the radiation source to bring the optical fiber into optical communication with the radiation source. More particularly, the systems are configured in such a way that when the connector is extended sufficiently within the system, it seats the optical fiber relative to the radiation source under bias, thereby establishing a reliable optical connection. Once the optical connection is thus established, the connector engages a connection port associated with the radiation source to secure the system in a fully connected configuration appropriate for use. Thus, in a method of using such a system, the user simply extends the connector until the connector engages the connection port. The present invention thus provides efficient and reliable systems in which optical communication is established between an optical fiber and a radiation source.