The current disclosure shows a fiber optic slip ring with through bore, or an off-axis fiber optic rotary joint to provide transmission of optic data between mechanically rotational interface with a through bore. Said fiber optic slip ring with through bore may include a ring assembly and a brush block assembly within a rotor and a stator. Said ring assembly may include a ring, a ring holder and a fiber. Said brush block assembly may include a fiber brush, a brush block, an optic index matching fluid, and shaft seals. Said ring may be a donut-shaped waveguide with flat surface on one side. Said fiber brush may have an angled-surface, which is fully contacted with said flat surface on said ring at any time so that during the rotation of said rotor, the optic signal can be transmitted between said fiber and said fiber brush in either direction.

An optical coherence tomography device includes a base with a detection end and a mounting end, a movable base and a second drive mechanism. An optical imaging catheter is pivotally connected to the detection end. The optical imaging catheter is provided with an imaging end and a connecting end. The connecting end is detachably connected to the detection end, and the connecting end is provided with a first connecting part. The movable base is provided with a fiber optic rotary joint, a hollow shaft and a first drive mechanism. The end of the hollow shaft is provided with a second connecting part. When the movable base moves toward the detection end, the second connecting part is configured to be connected to the first connecting part so that the optical imaging catheter is coupled with the hollow shaft. The device is capable of manually or automatically connecting the optical imaging catheter.

An optical connector (20) includes a plurality of collimation elements (23a, 23b) which are associated with a plurality of optical fibres (21a, 21b), respectively, and which are carried by a support (24). The support is mounted for rotation in a bearing (27) about a rotation axis (z), the collimation elements (23a) are arranged in the support so as to be equidistant from this rotation axis, and the support has at least one member for angular positioning (28) about the axis. The invention also relates to an optical connection assembly (10) including a first such optical connector and a second optical connector (20′) which is configured to be nested coaxially with the first one. An electrical connector may be provided with such an optical connector, and a connection system may be provided with such an electrical connector.

An automated fiber optic rotary joint (FORJ) dynamically measures, using an angle encoder, twists in an optical fiber cable caused by movements of a mouse or other animal and automatically unwinds the optical fiber cable(s) by engaging a motor. To optimize its efficiency, the unwinding process is activated automatically only when the angle encoder reaches a predetermined threshold. In some embodiments, the optical fiber is unwound in increments of 360°. Various embodiments allow simultaneous transfer of optical signals through independent channels to and from multiple sites of a freely moving animal through a rotating interface and with minimal mechanical impact on the natural behavior of the animal. The design principle leads to a minimal variation of light transmission over rotation suitable for life science applications. A single channel FORJ device can be readily expanded to a two-, three- or more-channel device.

The invention describes an optical rotary transmitter with at least two housing parts, which are mounted so as to be rotatable relative to one another about an axis of rotation.

An interior space is enclosed together with the at least two housing parts to be fluid impermeable manner by a membrane which completely encloses the interior space along one portion along the axis of rotation in a circumferential direction about the axis of rotation. The membrane is arranged so that at least portions of the surface of the membrane facing away from the interior space are accessible.

A method of recovery of optical fiber expended during a parabolic launch trajectory of a spacecraft is disclosed. An optical fiber adapted for transmission of high optical energy sufficient to launch the spacecraft is connected at one end to the spacecraft and is released during launching of the spacecraft. The optical fiber expended from the spacecraft is then engaged by a drum spooler following launch of the spacecraft and the fiber has been fully spooled out by the spacecraft. The optical fiber is then reeled in prior to the fiber contacting the Earth. The recovered optical fiber is then collected for processing, cleaning and rewinding for future use of subsequent series of launches for as many times as possible.

An optical fiber connector configured to rotationally align a first optical fiber with a second optical fiber is provided. The connector can include at least two rotational alignment features. At least one of the two rotational alignment features can include at least one ferrule configured to hold at least the first optical fiber.

A fiber-optic system for use in optical sensing includes a multicore sensing fiber having at least two cores of which each of the at least two cores has a first core diameter, and a multicore lead-in fiber having at least two cores including a position corresponding with the position of the at least two cores of the multicore sensing fiber. Each of the at least two cores of the multicore lead-in fiber have a second core diameter. The second core diameter is substantially larger than the first core diameter. The system further includes an alignment means for aligning the multicore sensing fiber and the multicore lead-in fiber so that the lead-in fiber and the multicore sensing fiber are configured for coupling radiation between the fibers through the cores.

Exemplary apparatus, systems, methods of making, and methods of using a rotary junction are provided. A rotary junction having multiple channels is provided herein. The rotary junction has a first coupling optic and a second coupling optic where the rotating optical fiber or other waveguide comping from the first coupling optic passes through the second coupling optics.

A housing for enabling coupling of light from a light source to an optical light guide. The housing allows for the optical light guide to rotate about its axis with respect to the housing and a light source while at the same time maintaining the optical coupling with the light source. Accordingly, it is desirable to couple light from a light source to an optical light guide, where the optical light guide is freely rotatable about its axis. This is obtained by a locking mechanism of the housing where the light source is arrangeable. The locking mechanism includes a circumferential structure adapted to receive at least one radial locking member of the optical light guide. The circumferential structure is configured such that the optical light guide is rotatable about its axis in the locking mechanism while maintaining a spatial relationship between the end portion of the optical light guide and the light source.