An interstitial recessed cantilever latch mechanism for fiber optic and electrical connectors is disclosed. This mechanism enables the design of more spatially efficient multi-position connectors while retaining the reliability and tactile feedback of traditional connector latch mechanisms. The mechanism also allows the receptacle interface to be substantially simplified, and reduces the number of unique components required by means of a hermaphroditically assembled backshell half.

An optical connecting component is an optical connecting component to be connected to another optical connecting component, which includes an optical waveguide component, an alignment component for fixing the optical waveguide component, and a magnetic structure integrated with the alignment component. A positioning structure is provided on a connecting end face of the alignment component, in which the positioning structure determines a relative position between the connecting end face and a connecting end face of an alignment component provided in the other optical connecting component.

An intravascular or other 2D or 3D imaging apparatus can include a minimally-invasive distal imaging guidewire portion. A plurality of thin optical fibers can be circumferentially distributed about a cylindrical guidewire core, such as in an spiral-wound or otherwise attached optical fiber ribbon. A low refractive index coating, high numerical aperture (NA) fiber, or other technique can be used to overcome challenges of using extremely thin optical fibers. Coating and ribbonizing techniques are described. Also described are non-uniform refractive index peak amplitudes or wavelengths techniques for FBG writing, using a depressed index optical cladding, chirping, a self-aligned connector, optical fiber routing and alignment techniques for a system connector, and an adapter for connecting to standard optical fiber coupling connectors.

An optical fiber array includes a plurality of single-core fibers each having a core and a cladding and each having, in a distal end surface thereof, a beam expanding portion capable of expanding a mode field diameter (MFD) of light propagating in the core, and a ferrule having an optical fiber holding hole into which the plurality of single-core fibers are inserted, and an end surface in which the optical fiber holding hole opens. A cladding diameter of each of single-core fiber in the beam expanding portion decreases toward the distal end surface. The optical fiber holding hole has a tapered portion whose inner diameter decreases toward the end surface and against which the distal end surfaces abut.

A multi-fiber push-on/pull-off (MPO) connector and an MPO connector tool configured to facilitate insertion and removal into and from an MPO adapter. The MPO connector includes a ferrule, an inner housing holding the ferrule, an outer housing slidably coupled to the inner housing, and a clip coupled to one end of the outer housing and including a main body, a pair of longitudinally extending latch arms for engaging the outer housing, and a pair of laterally extending posts extending from the main body. In use, the MPO connector tool is positionable to apply a force on the laterally extending posts to translate the clip thereby translating the outer housing longitudinally to facilitate connector insertion and removal.

An optical connection structure includes a MCF, a first ferrule, a plurality of optical fibers, and a second ferrule. The MCF includes first cores and a first cladding. The first ferrule has a first inner hole and a first ferrule end surface. Each optical fiber optically connected to the MCF includes a second core and a second cladding. The second ferrule has a second inner hole housing tip parts of the optical fibers, and a second ferrule end surface. The second ferrule fixes the tip parts of the optical fibers in the second inner hole by an adhesive. The adhesive is packed in the second inner hole such that a surface of the adhesive is recessed from the second ferrule end surface into the second inner hole. A refractive-index matching material is applied in a space sealed by the first ferrule end surface and the second ferrule end surface.

An optical fiber array includes a plurality of single-core fibers each having a core and a cladding and each having, in a distal end surface thereof, a beam expanding portion capable of expanding a mode field diameter (MFD) of light propagating in the core, and a ferrule having an optical fiber holding hole into which the plurality of single-core fibers are inserted, and an end surface in which the optical fiber holding hole opens. A cladding diameter of each of single-core fiber in the beam expanding portion decreases toward the distal end surface. The optical fiber holding hole has a tapered portion whose inner diameter decreases toward the end surface and against which the distal end surfaces abut.

A windowless multi-fiber ferrule including a ferrule body. The ferrule body includes a plurality of outer slots. The ferrule body defines an inner passage that extends through a length of the ferrule body from a front end to a rear end. The inner passage includes a main chamber and a row of parallel fiber bores. The ferrule body includes a first and a second major side which each define a plurality of slots. The ferrule body includes ferrule walls which are located between the main chamber and the major sides. The ferrule walls have a first thickness at the outer slots and a second thickness at the regions between the outer slots which is thicker than the first thickness. The main chamber includes sink locations adjacent the regions between the outer slots.

An optical connecting device for a surgical instrument including a coupling for connecting first and second optical fiber bundles. The coupling including: a tubular sleeve having an outer surface defining an internal space for receiving an end of the first optical fiber bundle in the internal space of the tubular sleeve; a clamp movably disposed on the outer surface of the tubular sleeve, the clamp having one or more of a first convexity and a first concavity; and a union having one or more of a second convexity and a second concavity. The clamp has a continuous longitudinal opening along its longitudinal extension and on its outer side such that the clamp can be elastically deformed in a radial direction, and the clamp is configured to elastically deform such that one or more of the first convexity and the first concavity engages with one or more of the second convexity and the second concavity of the union.

An optical connector holding two or more LC-type optical ferrules is provided. The optical connector includes an outer body, an inner front body accommodating the two or more LC-type optical ferrules, ferrule springs for urging the optical ferrules towards a mating connection, and a back body for supporting the ferrule springs. A removable inner front body for polarity change is disclosed. A multi-purpose rotatable boot assembly for polarity change is disclosed. The multi-purpose boot assembly can be pushed and pulled to insert and remove the micro connector from an adapter receptacle.