The present disclosure relates to a fiber and a laser probe assembly with a probe tip that houses the fiber. In certain aspects, the fiber includes a core and an outer cladding surrounding the core. The core is configured to transmit a laser light beam while the core and the outer cladding are both configured to transmit an illumination light. Using a fiber that is configured to transmit a laser light beam as well as an illumination light allows for a more compact fiber and probe tip, allowing for medical procedures that require a narrower probe.

An expanded beam connector has a MOST ferrule; a fiber to be retained within the MOST ferrule; and, a collimating lens abutting the fiber for expanding the optical beam of the fiber wherein the lens and fiber are in alignment to a common optic axis. In one embodiment, the collimating lens can have a conical cutout configured to aid in aligning the fiber to the common optic axis. In another embodiment, the collimating lens can have a semi-cylindrical tab protruding from the rear with a V-groove configured to interact with a flexible feature on the interior of the ferrule to align the fiber to the common optic axis.

A passive microscopic Fabry-Pérot Interferometer (FPI) sensor includes a three-dimensional microscopic optical structure formed on a cleaved tip of the optical fighter using a two-photon polymerization process on a photosensitive polymer by a three-dimensional micromachining device. The three-dimensional microscopic optical structure having a hinged optical layer pivotally connected to a distal portion of a suspended structure. A reflective layer is deposited on a mirror surface of the hinged optical layer while in an open position. The hinged optical layer is subsequently positioned in the closed position to align the mirror surface to at least partially reflect a light signal back through the optical fiber.

A method of forming a coaxial wire that includes providing a sacrificial trace structure using an additive forming method, the sacrificial trace structure having a geometry for the coaxial wire, and forming a continuous seed metal layer on the sacrificial trace structure. The sacrificial trace structure may be removed and a first interconnect metal layer may be formed on the continuous seed layer. An electrically insulative layer may then be formed on the first interconnect metal layer, and a second interconnect metal layer is formed on the electrically insulative layer. Thereafter, a dielectric material is formed on the second interconnect metal layer to encapsulate a majority of an assembly of the first interconnect metal layer, electrically insulative layer and second interconnect metal layer that provides said coaxial wire. Ends of the coaxial wire may be exposed through opposing surfaces of the dielectric material to provide that the coaxial wire extends through that dielectric material.

A method of making passive microscopic Fabry-Pérot Interferometer (FPI) sensor includes forming a three-dimensional microscopic optical structure on a cleaved tip of an optical fiber that reflects a light signal back through the optical fiber. The reflected light is altered by refractive index changes in the three-dimensional structure that is subject to at least one of: (i) thermal radiation; and (ii) volatile organic compounds.

The present disclosure relates to a process by which an optical fiber is terminated with a ferrule to form an optical fiber connector assembly. The ferrule is heated at a heating temperature whereby the ferrule bore (and ferrule microhole) expands. The optical fiber is then inserted into the ferrule microhole. The ferrule then contracts when heat is no longer applied resulting in an interference fit between the optical fiber and the ferrule microhole based on the dimensions of the optical fiber and the ferrule microhole. The interference fit yields certain optical fiber characteristics within the optical fiber connector assembly. The present disclosure also relates to an optical fiber having an outer cladding comprising titania-doped silica and the resulting optical fiber characteristics.

A thermoplastic filament comprising multiple polymers of differing flow temperatures in a regular geometric arrangement, and a method for producing such a filament, are described. Because of the difference in flow temperatures, there exists a temperature range at which one polymer is mechanically stable while the other is flowable. This property is extremely useful for creating thermoplastic monofilament feedstock for three-dimensionally printed parts, wherein the mechanically stable polymer enables geometric stability while the flowable polymer can fill gaps and provide strong bonding and homogenization between deposited material lines and layers. These multimaterial filaments can be produced via thermal drawing from a thermoplastic preform, which itself can be three-dimensionally printed. Furthermore, the preform can be printed with precisely controlled and complex geometries, enabling the creation of monofilament and fiber with unique decorative or functional properties.

A thermoplastic filament comprising multiple polymers of differing flow temperatures in a geometric arrangement and an interior channel containing a structural or functional thread therein is described. A method for producing such a filament is also described. Because of the difference in flow temperatures, there exists a temperature range at which one polymer is mechanically stable while the other is flowable. This property is extremely useful for creating thermoplastic monofilament feedstock for three-dimensionally printed parts, wherein the mechanically stable polymer enables geometric stability while the flowable polymer can fill gaps and provide strong bonding and homogenization between deposited material lines and layers. These multimaterial filaments can be produced via thermal drawing from a thermoplastic preform, which itself can be three-dimensionally printed. Furthermore, the preform can be printed with precisely controlled and complex geometries, enabling the creation of a filament or fiber with an interior thread contained within the outer, printed filament or fiber. This thread adds structural reinforcement or functional properties, such as electrical conductivity or optical waveguiding, to the filament.

A light guide is provided that includes a fiber bundle, a jacket, a proximal end, a distal end, and a terminated end face. The fiber bundle has a plurality of optical fibers. The jacket encloses at least a part of the plurality of optical fibers and/or the fiber bundle. The jacket has a maximum outer lateral dimension that is greater than a maximum outer lateral dimension of the fiber bundle by at most 500 μm. The terminated end face is on the proximal end and/or the distal end. The terminated end face has a maximum lateral outer dimension that is not larger than the maximum outer lateral dimension of the jacket.

Refractory anchoring devices include a main body and a mounting feature for mounting to a thermal vessel. The main body has the shape of two end-to-end Y's forming a central segment, two branch segments extending from each end of the central segment, and an extension segment extending from each of the four branch segments, to collectively form four unenclosed cell openings that are each semi-hexagonal in shape. Some embodiments include four reinforcement segments with each one extending into a respective cell opening, four voids with each one extending through respective adjacent branch and extension segments, an underbody gap formed under the central segment for refractory interlinking between cell openings, and/or a single stud-welding stud for the mounting feature. Refractory anchoring systems and methods include an array of the refractory anchoring devices arranged and mounted so that the unenclosed semi-hexagonal cell openings of adjacent anchoring devices cooperatively form substantially hexagonal cells.