Fiberoptic cable safety devices

US11534051B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education · US
• UPMC · US

Inventors

• Steven Gerard Docimo · Pittsburgh, US
• William W. Clark · Wexford, US
• Alexandra Marie Delazio · Pittsburgh, US
• John A. Holmes · Waterloo, CA
• Benjamin T. Ristau · Philadelphia, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 9, 2017
• Grant date: Dec 27, 2022
• Expiry date: Apr 10, 2040

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B6/424
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Disclosed herein are safety devices that are positioned on the end of a fiberoptic cable, such as those used in surgical procedures, to prevent patients and other objects from the risk of burn from light or heat emitted from the end of the cable when not connected to an optical instrument. The disclosed safety devices can be added to the ends of existing cables and/or can be included at the end of cables during manufacture. In some embodiments, the safety device replaces an existing connector at the end of a cable, and in some embodiments the safety device is added in addition to a connector at the end of the cable. In some embodiments, a slit end cover is included over an open end of an adaptor that is mounted on a distal connector of a fiberoptic cable.