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:
Dec. 21, 1999
Filed:
Sep. 16, 1996
Michael G Dumont, Hampton, NH (US);
Focal, Inc., Lexington, MA (US);
Abstract
An optical fiber device includes a polymeric optical fiber having a proximal end for coupling to a source of light, and a diffusing region. The polymeric optical fiber includes a core and a cladding around the core. The diffusing region includes a length of the polymeric optical fiber in which the cladding is partially removed to expose the core and in which the exposed core and the remaining cladding have a roughened surface for outwardly diffusing light carried through the polymeric optical fiber. The diffusing region is preferably formed by abrasion, for example by directing a particle jet at the optical fiber while rotating and translating the optical fiber with respect to the particle jet. The particle jet may include microscopic glass beads which roughen the optical fiber core. The density of scattering sites may be varied along the length of the diffusing region to produce a desired light output pattern. The optical fiber device is useful in medical applications, including as a component of catheter or endoscopic systems.