Optical connector and optical tomographic imaging apparatus
US8660389B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 5, 2010 |
| Grant date | Feb 25, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 2, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/3825
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Provided are an optical connector and an optical tomographic imaging apparatus, by which no noise occurs and a high quality image without a distortion can be obtained. In the optical connector, optical fibers are inserted into a lumen of a tube from opposite ends thereof; one of the optical fibers is fixed to the tube and the other optical fiber is held so as to be rotatable relative to the tube; an end of one of the optical fibers is separated from an end of the other optical fiber to form a gap therebetween in the lumen; a connecting section which connects the exterior space of the tube and the gap is formed; and a liquid or fluid made of a material which can transmit light is held in the exterior space, the gap, and the connecting section. Consequently, a significant pressure variation in matching liquid does not occur if the distance between the facing optical fibers changes.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.