US5684908A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flexible liquid core light guide with focusing and light shaping attachments
Assignee: Jefferson Science Associates LLC
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Filing: 1995-10-23
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Granted: 1997-11-04
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Expires: 2015-10-23
Abstract
Abstract A liquid light guide system for ultraviolet light is disclosed that has a light shaping arrangement for the emitted light, a stable liquid core and sheath and reliable and effective end closures.
Inventors
- 👤 Brian J. Kross
- 👤 Stanislaw Majewski
- 👤 Carl J. Zorn
- 👤 Lukasz A. Majewski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 15:44
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/02; G02B6/032; G02B6/24; G02B6/42; G02B6/4298; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S385/00; Y10S385/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
An ultraviolet light, delivery device comprising: an ultraviolet light source; an elongated flexible light guide having an inlet end and an outlet end; an optical arrangement for directing ultraviolet light from said light source onto said inlet end of said light guide; an ultraviolet transmitting liquid core for said light guide surrounded by a sheath with said sheath adjacent said liquid core having an index of refraction less than said core; an outlet attachment associated with said outlet end of said light guide; and a light shaping device including an ultraviolet light transmitting substrate carrying a hologram at said outlet end of said light guide for providing a beam of improve efficiency by causing fringe wasted light to be part of the main beam.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
124 words
An ultraviolet light, delivery device comprising: an ultraviolet light source; an elongated flexible light guide having an inlet end and an outlet end; an optical arrangement for directing ultraviolet light from said light source onto said inlet end of said light guide; an ultraviolet transmitting liquid core for said light guide surrounded by a sheath with said sheath adjacent said liquid core having an index of refraction less than said core; an outlet attachment associated with said outlet end of said light guide; and a light shaping device including an ultraviolet light transmitting substrate carrying a hologram at said outlet end of said light guide for providing a beam of improve efficiency by causing fringe wasted light to be part of the main beam.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The ultraviolet light delivery device of claim 1 wherein said liquid core is a low viscosity silicone polymer having a viscosity of 10 centipoise or less.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The ultraviolet light delivery device of claim 2 wherein said silicone polymer is primarily dimethyl polysiloxane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
93 words
The ultraviolet light delivery device of claim 3 wherein: an ultraviolet light transmitting plug is positioned in each of said inlet end and said outlet end of said light guide with said sheath being a tube of solid wall FEP Teflon; a metal ferrule having an outboard end, an inboard end and an intermediate section with said outboard end and intermediate section being compressed about said sheath at both said inlet end and said outlet end of said light guide to hold said plugs in position; and a protective cover surrounding said sheath.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ultraviolet light delivery device of claim 4 wherein said light shaping device includes a collimating lens.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
The ultraviolet light delivery device of claim 5 wherein: said optical arrangement includes: a concave rear deflector for said ultraviolet light source; a lens holder; and a focusing lens assembly carried by said holder; and a cooling aperture located between said focusing lens assembly and said inlet end of said light guide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The ultraviolet light delivery device of claim 1 where in said light shaping device includes a collimating lens.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The ultraviolet light delivery device of claim 1 where said light shaping device is selected to cause said beam to have optimum efficacy at approximately 2 cm and over for the outlet end of said light shaping device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
132 words
A light delivery device comprising: a light source; an elongated flexible light guide having an inlet end and an outlet end; an optical arrangement for directing light from said light source onto said inlet end of said light guide; a transmitting liquid core for said light guide surrounded by a sheath with said sheath having an index of refraction less than said core; a light transmitting plug positioned in each of said inlet end and said outlet end of said light guide; a metal ferrule having an outboard end, an inboard end and intermediate section with said outboard end and intermediate section being compressed about said sheath at said inlet end and said outlet end of said light guide to hold said plugs in position; and a protective cover surrounding said sheath.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
132 words
A light delivery device comprising: a light source; an elongated flexible light guide having an inlet end and an outlet end; an optical arrangement for directing light from said light source onto said inlet end of said light guide; a transmitting liquid core for said light guide surrounded by a sheath with said sheath having an index of refraction less than said core; a light transmitting plug positioned in each of said inlet end and said outlet end of said light guide; a metal ferrule having an outboard end, an inboard end and intermediate section with said outboard end and intermediate section being compressed about said sheath at said inlet end and said outlet end of said light guide to hold said plugs in position; and a protective cover surrounding said sheath.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
115 words
A light delivery device comprising: a light source; an elongated flexible light guide having an inlet end and an outlet end; an optical arrangement for directing light from said light source onto said inlet end of said light guide; a transmitting liquid core for said light guide surrounded by a sheath with said sheath having an index of refraction less than said core; an outlet attachment associated with said outlet end of said light guide; and a light shaping device including a light transmitting substrate bearing a hologram at said outlet end of said light guide for providing a beam of improved efficiency by causing fringe wasted light to be part of the main beam.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
115 words
A light delivery device comprising: a light source; an elongated flexible light guide having an inlet end and an outlet end; an optical arrangement for directing light from said light source onto said inlet end of said light guide; a transmitting liquid core for said light guide surrounded by a sheath with said sheath having an index of refraction less than said core; an outlet attachment associated with said outlet end of said light guide; and a light shaping device including a light transmitting substrate bearing a hologram at said outlet end of said light guide for providing a beam of improved efficiency by causing fringe wasted light to be part of the main beam.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The light delivery device of claim 10 wherein light shaping device includes a collimating lens.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of making a liquid light guide comprising the following steps: providing a flexible plastic tube; providing a transparent liquid having an index of refraction greater than the index of refraction of at least the inside of said flexible plastic tube, said liquid being a low viscosity silicone polymer having a viscosity of 10 centipoises or less and wherein said silicone polymer is primarily dimethyl polysiloxane; pre-cooling said transparent liquid below any temperature it is expected to encounter during its use; filling said flexible plastic tube with said transparent liquid; and plugging the end of said plastic tube with a transparent plug for capturing said transparent liquid in said flexible plastic tube.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of making a liquid light guide comprising the following steps: providing a flexible plastic tube; providing a transparent liquid having an index of refraction greater than the index of refraction of at least the inside of said flexible plastic tube, said liquid being a low viscosity silicone polymer having a viscosity of 10 centipoises or less and wherein said silicone polymer is primarily dimethyl polysiloxane; pre-cooling said transparent liquid below any temperature it is expected to encounter during its use; filling said flexible plastic tube with said transparent liquid; and plugging the end of said plastic tube with a transparent plug for capturing said transparent liquid in said flexible plastic tube.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
121 words
The method of making a liquid type guide as in claim 12 wherein the following additional steps are utilized: providing a metal ferrule having a length less than said transparent plug, an inner diameter substantially the same as the outer diameter of said flexible plastic tube and in inboard end and intermediate section; placing said ferrule over the outside of said flexible plastic tube and said transparent plug; and compressing said metal ferrule so that it takes a permanent set to compress the wall of said transparent tube against said plug to both hold the plug in place and provide a liquid type assembly with said compression occurring in the intermediate section of said ferrule but not at the inboard end.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of making a liquid light guide comprising the following steps: providing a flexible plastic tube.; filling said tubing with a perfluorinated solution; vibrating said tubing containing said perfluorinated solution at ultrasonic frequencies; removing said perfluorinated solution from said tubing; flushing said clean tubing with a perfluorinated liquid rinse; removing said rinsing fluid from said tubing; permitting any remaining fluid in said tubing to evaporate; providing a transparent liquid having an index of refraction greater than the index of refraction of at least the inside of said flexible plastic tube; pre-cooling said transparent liquid below any temperature it is expected to encounter during its use; filling said flexible plastic tube with said transparent liquid; and plugging the end of said plastic tube with a transparent plug for capturing said transparent liquid in said flexible plastic tube.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of making a liquid light guide comprising the following steps: providing a flexible plastic tube.; filling said tubing with a perfluorinated solution; vibrating said tubing containing said perfluorinated solution at ultrasonic frequencies; removing said perfluorinated solution from said tubing; flushing said clean tubing with a perfluorinated liquid rinse; removing said rinsing fluid from said tubing; permitting any remaining fluid in said tubing to evaporate; providing a transparent liquid having an index of refraction greater than the index of refraction of at least the inside of said flexible plastic tube; pre-cooling said transparent liquid below any temperature it is expected to encounter during its use; filling said flexible plastic tube with said transparent liquid; and plugging the end of said plastic tube with a transparent plug for capturing said transparent liquid in said flexible plastic tube.
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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) | 2000-11-03 | 2001-05-05 | 2001-11-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-11-03 | 2005-05-05 | 2005-11-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-11-03 | 2009-05-05 | 2009-11-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |