Gamma radiation sterilized fiber optic UV delivery systems
US6130981A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 20, 1998 |
| Grant date | Oct 10, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 20, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/44382
- WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A multimode optical fiber for UV light transmission, able to be sterilized with gamma radiation, has a core including undoped synthetic silica, a cladding including fluorine doped synthetic silica, a hydrogen content higher than 5.times.10.sup.19 molecules/cm.sup.3 and a metal coating that retards diffusion of hydrogen outwardly from the fiber, the metal being selected from aluminum, copper, zinc, tin, silver and gold. The metal coating has a high diffusion coefficient below 150.degree. and a low diffusion coefficient at a hydrogen loading temperature above 250.degree. C. The optical fiber may have a high-OH content of 50 to 1500 ppm and a low-OH content below 50 ppm after treatment. The optical fiber may also or alternatively have a low-OH content below 50 ppm, and preferably below 5 ppm, before treatment. A gamma radiation sterilized multimode fiber bundle may include a plurality of such optical fibers. A gamma radiation sterilized catheter may include at least one optical fiber or a fiber bundle. A process for producing the gamma radiation sterilized fibers includes manufacturing a preform having a core including undoped synthetic silica and a cladding including fluorine doped s…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.