US20030190120A1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Waveguide for receiving and/or radiating electromagnetic radiation
Assignee: Richard Wolf GmbH
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Filing: 2003-04-03
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2023-04-03
Abstract
Abstract In the region of a distal end at its circumference the waveguide is formed transparent to the radiation which impinges onto the surface of the waveguide at suitable angles, and in the region of the distal end in the inside of the waveguide there are arranged scatter elements which scatter radiation transmitted by the waveguide in the direction of the distal end in a direction with a proximally directed component which exits the circumference of the waveguide. Alternatively, radiation entering into the waveguide at the circumference of the waveguide in a direction with a distally directed component is transmitted by the waveguide in the direction of the proximal end, as well as to its use and to a method for its manufacture.
Inventors
- 👤 Lars Ziegenhagen
- 👤 Gereon Huttmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 07:14
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N5/00; A61N5/06; A61N5/0613; A61N5/062; A61N5/0601; G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/0001; G02B6/0005; G02B6/0008; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/262; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/0059
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
1 . A waveguide for at least one of radiating and receiving electromagnetic radiation, said waveguide comprising a central axis, a circumferential surface which is concentric to said axis and is transparent to radiation which impinges said surface at suitable angles, a distal end defining a proximal direction extending axially away from said distal end, scatter elements arranged in said waveguide proximate to said distal end so that at least one of the following transpires: radiation transmitted by the waveguide toward the distal end is scattered at least in part in a direction with a proximal component and exits the circumferential surface, and radiation entering the circumferential surface of the waveguide in a direction with a distal component is transmitted by the waveguide at least in part in the proximal direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
131 words
1 . A waveguide for at least one of radiating and receiving electromagnetic radiation, said waveguide comprising a central axis, a circumferential surface which is concentric to said axis and is transparent to radiation which impinges said surface at suitable angles, a distal end defining a proximal direction extending axially away from said distal end, scatter elements arranged in said waveguide proximate to said distal end so that at least one of the following transpires: radiation transmitted by the waveguide toward the distal end is scattered at least in part in a direction with a proximal component and exits the circumferential surface, and radiation entering the circumferential surface of the waveguide in a direction with a distal component is transmitted by the waveguide at least in part in the proximal direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
2 . A waveguide as in claim 1 wherein said distal end of said waveguide comprises a concave surface into which a scatter body is fitted, said scatter elements being formed at least one of on and in said scatter body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
3 . A waveguide as in claim 2 wherein said scatter body comprises a material which is transparent to electromagnetic radiation, at least part of said scatter elements being arranged inside said scatter body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
4 . A waveguide as in claim 2 wherein said scatter body is formed of a material which is transparent to radiation to be transmitted, at least part of said scatter elements being arranged on the surface of said scatter body.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
5 . A waveguide as in claim 4 wherein at least part of said scatter elements are arranged between the scatter body and the concave surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
6 . A waveguide as in claim 4 wherein at least part of said scatter elements are distributed over the whole surface of the scatter body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
7 . A waveguide as in claim 6 wherein said scatter body comprises a proximal surface and a distal surface, more of said scatter elements being arranged on said distal surface than on said proximal surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
8 . A waveguide as in claim 6 wherein said scatter body comprises a proximal surface, a distal surface, and a circumferential surface therebetween, more of said scatter elements being arranged with a greater density on said circumferential surface than on said proximal surface and said distal surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
9 . A waveguide as in claim 2 wherein said concave surface is hemispherical and said scatter body is spherical.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
10 . A waveguide as in claim 1 wherein said scatter elements are distributed so that at least fifty percent of the radiation transmitted by the waveguide is scattered in a direction with a proximal component.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
11 . A waveguide as in claim 1 which is designed as a guide for visible radiation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
12 . A waveguide as in claim 11 wherein said waveguide is formed of one of glass and quartz.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
13 . A waveguide as in claim 11 wherein said scatter elements comprise gas-filled glass beads.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
14 . A waveguide as in claim 1 further comprising a reflecting layer on said distal end.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
15 . A waveguide as in claim 1 wherein said scatter elements comprise regions of changed refractive index proximate to said distal end.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
16 . A waveguide as in claim 15 wherein said regions of changed refractive index have dimensions and spacing which are larger than the wavelength of light to be transmitted.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
74 words
17 . A method for manufacturing a waveguide, said method comprising: providing an optically transparent rod having a distal end formed with a concave surface; providing a scatter body having a convex surface section with a shape corresponding to the concave surface; depositing an adhesive onto at least one of said concave surface and said convex surface; incorporating scatter elements in said adhesive; and fitting said convex surface section against said concave surface section.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
74 words
17 . A method for manufacturing a waveguide, said method comprising: providing an optically transparent rod having a distal end formed with a concave surface; providing a scatter body having a convex surface section with a shape corresponding to the concave surface; depositing an adhesive onto at least one of said concave surface and said convex surface; incorporating scatter elements in said adhesive; and fitting said convex surface section against said concave surface section.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
18 . A method as in claim 17 wherein said scatter elements comprise gas-filled beads.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
19 . A method as in claim 17 wherein said adhesive is applied to the entire surface of said scatter body, said scatter elements being incorporated in said adhesive on said entire surface of said scatter body.
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