Patent EP0100517A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0100517A2
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Optical fiber sensor
Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd
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Filing: 1983-07-26
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-07-26
Abstract
Abstract An optical fibre sensor is composed of an outer portion generally in the form of a tube which constitutes an illumination light transmission path. Inside the tube is formed or inserted an image path for directing image light back to an observation point. A longitudinal hole may be formed beside or surrounding the image path for conducting a fluid to the observed location. The sensor is especially suitable for medical image catheter or endoscopic usage.
Inventors
- 👤 Ono Osaka Works Of Sumitomo Elec Kimizo
- 👤 Tsuno Osaka Works Of Sumitomo Elec Koichi
- 👤 Nishikawa Osaka Works Of Sumitomo Elec Mitsuru
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 03:30
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/12; A61B1/00163; A61B1/00165; A61B1/00167
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
An optical fiber sensor, comprising; a first light transmission path and a second light transmission path, said first light transmission path defining therein a longitudinal space, and said second light transmission path extending in said space of said first light transmission path in a manner such that light transmission is possible both from one end of said first.light transmission path to the other end thereof and from one end of said second light transmission path to the other end thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
80 words
An optical fiber sensor, comprising; a first light transmission path and a second light transmission path, said first light transmission path defining therein a longitudinal space, and said second light transmission path extending in said space of said first light transmission path in a manner such that light transmission is possible both from one end of said first.light transmission path to the other end thereof and from one end of said second light transmission path to the other end thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The optical fiber sensor according to claim 1, wherein said first light transmission path includes a transparent plastic tube for transmitting illumination light, and said second light transmission path includes a light receiving optical fiber inserted into said illumination light transmitting transparent plastic tube.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The optical fiber sensor according to claim 2, wherein said light receiving optical fiber is an image fiber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The optical fiber sensor according to claim 3, wherein a light absorbing layer is provided on an outer periphery of said image fiber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The optical fiber sensor according to claim 2, wherein said illumination light transmitting transparent plastic tube is made of material selected from the group consisting of polymethylmethacrylate, polycarbonate and polystyrene.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The optical fiber sensor according to claim 2, wherein a fluid passageway is formed between said image fiber and said illumination light transmitting transparent plastic tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The optical fiber sensor according to claim 2, wherein a further transparent layer having a refractive index lower than that of said light transparent plastic tube is applied to the surface of said light transparent plastic tube.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The optical fiber sensor according to claim 7, wherein a clad layer having a refractive index lower than that of said light transparent plastic tube is applied to the surface of said transparent layer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The optical fiber sensor according to claim 8, wherein said clad layer is made of fluororesin.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The optical fiber sensor according to claim 2, wherein a clad layer is applied to the surface of said light transparent plastic tube.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The optical fiber sensor according to claim 10, wherein said clad layer is made of fluororesin.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The optical fiber sensor according to claim 3, wherein a light absorbing layer is applied to said image fiber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The optical fiber sensor according to claim 1, wherein said second light transmission path includes an optical lens at its forward end for introducing light into said second light transmission path.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
55 words
The optical fiber sensor according to claim 13, wherein said optical lens is inserted into and surrounded by a cylindrical sleeve, and said optical lens is coupled to said second light transmission path through said cylindrical sleeve to thereby from a sub-assembly, said sub-assembly being proximate a forward end of said light transparent plastic tube.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
153 words
The optical fiber sensor according to claim 1, said second path including an image fiber, an image pickup lens being disposed on an axial line of said image fiber for focusing a picture image onto an end surface of said image fiber, and said first path including a light guide disposed substantially coaxially with said image fiber so as to surround said image fiber and said image pickup lens, said image pickup lens and the forward end portion of said image fiber being fixed in a cylindrical rigid sleeve so as to constitute a sub-assembly composed of said image pickup lens, said image fiber and said cylindrical rigid sleeve, and said light guide being made of a single material formed into an integral and substantially cylindrical shape such that said sub-assembly of said image pickup lens, said image fiber and said cylindrical rigid sleeve are inserted into and fixed in said light guide.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The optical fiber sensor according to claim 1, wherein said second light transmission path branches from said first light transmission path through a hole formed therein passing through a side wall thereof to said longitudinal space.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The optical fiber sensor according to claim 16, wherein an image fiber is employed as said second light transmission path.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
48 words
The optical fiber sensor according to claim 16, said first path including a longitudinal hole for guiding a fluid, and a hole passing through said first path from the outside to said fluid guiding longitudinal hole, a tube for supplying fluid being coupled to said fluid guiding hole.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
The optical fiber sensor according to claim 1, further including optical means for introducing light, emitted from a light source, into an end portion of said first light transmission path.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
-The optical fiber sensor according to claim 19, said optical means including a concave mirror set at a predetermined angle.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The optical fiber sensor according to claim 20, wherein said concave mirror has a radial slot.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
77 words
The optical fiber sensor according to claim 1, wherein said first path includes a light guiding ring-like path, in which a light guide is provided at the periphery of a compound fiber, a light source provided in the vicinity of an end surface of said light guiding ring-like path, and a first concave mirror for reflecting light from said light source and for concentrating the reflected light onto said end surface of said light guiding ring-like path.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
The optical fiber sensor according to claim 22, in which a second concave mirror is provided at the side opposite said first concave mirror, for reflecting light from said light source back to said light source.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
The optical fiber sensor according to claim 22, in which an image fiber forms an inner portion of said compound fiber.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The optical fiber sensor according to claim 22, in which a fluid passageway is continuously provided within said light guiding ring-like path.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
47 words
The optical fiber sensor according to claim 22, in which said first concave mirror includes, as its reflection surface, an ellipsoidal surface of revolution with a center of said light source and a center of said end surface of said light guiding ring-like path as its focuses.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
85 words
The optical fiber sensor according to claim 1, further including a branch portion structure, said first path comprising an illumination light transmission line for transmitting illumination light and said second path comprising an information transmission line for transmitting information light received from an object, said respective transmission lines branching out from said branch portion, at which branch portion an end surface of said illumination light transmission line closely contacts an end surface of an optical fiber bundle for leading illumination light from a light source.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
The optical fiber sensor according to claim 27, wherein a transparent body of plastics including PMMA, polystyrene, polycarbonate, is employed as said illumination light transmission line.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The optical fiber sensor according to claim 27, wherein an image fiber is employed as said information line.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
85 words
The optical fiber sensor according to claim 1, further including a branch portion structure, said first path comprising an illumination light transmission line for transmitting illumination light and said second path comprising an information transmission line for transmitting information light received from an object, said respective transmission lines branching out from said branch portion, at which branch portion an end surface of said illumination light transmission line closely contacts a molded end surface of an optical fiber for leading illumination light from a light source.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
The optical fiber sensor according to claim 30, wherein a transparent body of plastics including PMMA, polystyrene, polycarbonate, is employed as said illumination light transmission line.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
The optical fiber sensor according to claim 30, wherein an image fiber is employed as said information line.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
55 words
The optical fiber sensor according to claim 1, said second path comprising an image fiber disposed within said first path, said first path being disposed around said image fiber and having a high transmission factor with respect to incident rays, an emitting and an incident end of said-fiber sensor being made thin and thick respectively.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
45 words
The optical fiber sensor according to claim 1, wherein said first light transmission path includes a transparent plastic tube for transmitting illumination light, and said second light transmission path includes a light receiving optical fiber formed integrally with said illumination light transmitting transparent plastic tube.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
23 words
The optical fiber sensor according to claim 1, wherein a fluid passageway is formed axially of and within said first light transmission path.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
27 words
The optical fiber sensor according to claim 16, wherein said hole formed in said first path is a bore, and said second path passes through said bore.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
23 words
The optical fiber sensor according to claim 1, further including a branch portion wherein said first path is branched from said second path.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
27 words
The optical fiber sensor according to claim 37, including a light source guide input, said first path including a polished mirror surface for contacting said guide input.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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