Patent · US Expired

Optical fiber rotational connector

US5147348A · kind A · utility

17Cited by
13References
1Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 20, 1990
Grant dateSep 15, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 20, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B2018/1861
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A rotational connector for mounting optical fibers for alignment with a laser source wherein the rotational connector enables rotation of the optical fiber while still retaining alignment with the source of laser energy. The connector includes a ferrule having a cylindrical portion having which is rotatably positioned within the housing of the source of laser energy and is adapted to receive and hold the optical fibers in a bore which runs through the cylindrical portion. The ferrule includes a disc portion which is mounted between thrust bearings which are oppositely disposed on the outer surfaces of the disc portion. The result is that the ferrule is free to rotate and yet cannot be translated with respect to the source of laser energy.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.