Patent US4756597A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4756597A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Light guide, in particular for medical instruments
Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
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Filing: 1986-10-23
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Granted: 1988-07-12
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Expires: 2006-10-23
Abstract
Abstract A light guide, particularly for medical instruments with a light guide fiber, which is surrounded, if needed, by a protective jacket, a sleeve which surrounds the light guide fiber at a distance therefrom and consists of one or several tubes and a feeding unit on one side of the light guide for the feeding of light radiation into the light guide fiber. The light guide fiber and a tube of the sleeve are mounted in the feeding unit, while the other end of the light guide fiber is mounted in the tube of the sleeve. A length compensating element that can change its length axially but is largely not expandable radially, is set in the sleeve to prevent stresses acting longitudinally on the sleeve and light guide fiber due to bending, especially during the coiling of the light guide fiber.
Inventors
- 👤 Andreas Hahn
- 👤 Alfons Rottmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 08:46
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/00112; A61B1/00117; A61B1/06; A61B1/07; B; B23; B23K; B23K26/00; B23K26/02; G; G02; G02B; G02B23/00; G02B23/24; G02B23/26; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/42; G02B6/4296; G02B6/44; G02B6/4401; G02B6/4429; G02B6/443; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/22; A61B2018/2205
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A light guide, particularly for a medical instrument, comprising a light guide fiber, a casing that surrounds the light guide fiber at a distance therefrom and comprising at least a casing tube and further comprising a feeding unit at one end of the light guide for the feeding of light radiation into the light guide fiber, one end of the light guide fiber and the casing tube being mounted in the feeding unit and the other end of the light guide fiber mounted in the casing tube, and further comprising length compensating means, which can change its length axially, but is largely not expandable radially, disposed in and forming a part of the casing tube for compensating for differences in length of said light guide fiber and casing tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
A light guide, particularly for a medical instrument, comprising a light guide fiber, a casing that surrounds the light guide fiber at a distance therefrom and comprising at least a casing tube and further comprising a feeding unit at one end of the light guide for the feeding of light radiation into the light guide fiber, one end of the light guide fiber and the casing tube being mounted in the feeding unit and the other end of the light guide fiber mounted in the casing tube, and further comprising length compensating means, which can change its length axially, but is largely not expandable radially, disposed in and forming a part of the casing tube for compensating for differences in length of said light guide fiber and casing tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The light guide recited in claim 1, wherein the length compensating means comprises an elastic tube surrounded by spiral spring means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The light guide recited in claim 1, wherein the length compensating means comprises corrugated hose means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The light guide recited in claim 3, wherein the corrugated hose means comprises metal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The light guide recited in claim 3, wherein the corrugated hose comprises plastic, having fabric or threads embedded therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The light guide recited in claim 1, wherein the length compensating means comprises telescoping means including a telescoping sleeve having said casing tube of the casing slidable therein.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-07-12 | 1992-01-11 | 1992-07-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-07-12 | 1996-01-11 | 1996-07-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-07-12 | 2000-01-11 | 2000-07-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |