OPTICAL FIBER CABLE CONNECTOR

Abstract

A delivery system extends from a laser radiation source for connecting to a medical device that utilizes the laser radiation for medical treatment. The delivery system comprises an optical fiber connecting to a male launch connecter. The male launch connector having a body portion with the optical fiber fixed or constrained therein and the optical fiber terminating at a male ferrule with a forward directed fiber facet, the male ferrule may be cantilevered within the body portion by the optical fiber line providing freedom of movement of the male ferrule. The launch connector engages a receiving connector on the medical device first with mechanical connection portions and then more finely aligning optical connection portions by the male ferrule self aligning in a female ferrule with cooperating tapered surfaces. The male portion may fully seat in the female portion with cooperating cylindrical surfaces.

Claims

1. An optical fiber connector coupling for connecting a laser radiation source to a medical device by way of an optical fiber, the coupling comprising a launch connector and a medical device connector, each of the launch connector and medical device connector having respective outer mechanical connection portions configured as a tubular portions that interface with one another, and each of the launch connector and medical device connector having respective inner optical connection portions, each of the inner optical connection portions positioned in respective recesses defined by the respective tubular portions, the launch connector optical connection portion comprising a male ferrule with a length, a forward end, and a rearward end, the male ferrule connecting to an optical fiber, the optical fiber anchored with respect to a body portion of the launch connector at a position displaced rearwardly from the ferrule, whereby the male ferrule is resiliently supported within the launch connector tubular portion at the rearward end of the male ferrule.

2. The optical fiber connector coupling of claim 1 wherein the medical device connector comprises a female ferrule sized for receiving the male ferrule, the male ferrule and female ferrule each having cooperating cylindrical registration surfaces.

3. The optical fiber connector coupling of claim 2 wherein the male ferrule and female ferrule are slidingly engageable without any stop surfaces on the male ferrule and female ferrule obstructing said sliding engagement.

4. The optical fiber connector coupling of claim 1, wherein the male ferrule is supported exclusively by the optical fiber and any coverings on the optical fiber when the launch connector is in a pre-connection condition

5. The optical fiber connector coupling of claim 4 wherein a distance between the male ferrule and an anchor position of the optical fiber is 4 to 15 mm.

6. The optical fiber connector coupling of claim 2, wherein when the coupling is in fully coupled condition, the male ferrule is engaged with the female ferrule only at a cylindrical interface surface.

7. The optical fiber connector coupling of claim 1, wherein the male ferrule is supported resiliently by the optical fiber and any coverings on the optical fiber when the launch connector is in a pre-connection condition.

8. The optical fiber connector coupling of claim 7 wherein the optical fiber is connected to the body portion through resilient material engaging the optical fiber.

9. The optical fiber connector coupling of claim 8 wherein the resilient material is configured as at least one web.

10. The optical fiber connector of claim 8, wherein there is a circumferential gap extending around a circumference of the male ferrule for the entire length of the male ferrule when the launch connector is in a pre-connection condition.

11. The optical fiber connector coupling of claim 7, wherein the male ferrule is connected to the body portion through resilient material engaging the ferrule at a rear end portion of the ferrule and is positioned intermediate the optical fiber.

12. A coupling for connecting a laser radiation source to a medical device, the coupling comprising a launch connector on a fiber optic cable extendable from or connectible to the laser radiation source, the launch connector for coupling with the medical device and providing the laser radiation to the medical device, the launch connector comprising: a body portion defining a mechanical connection portion, the mechanical connection portion defining a recess; an optical connection portion fixed within the body portion in the recess, the optical connection portion comprising a male ferrule with a length and a cylindrical outer surface, the optical fiber centrally fixed to the male ferrule, the male ferrule resiliently mounted in the body portion and spaced from the body portion along the cylindrical surface of the male ferrule for the entire length of the male ferrule.

13. The coupling for connecting a laser radiation source to a medical device of claim 12, wherein the male ferrule is supported exclusively by an optical fiber line, the optical fiber line comprising at least an optical fiber.

14. The coupling for connecting a laser radiation source to a medical device of claim 13, wherein the optical fiber line further comprises at least one sheathing layer on the optical fiber.

15. The coupling for connecting a laser radiation source to a medical device of claim 12, further comprising a receiving connector having a receiving connector body portion defining a receiving connector mechanical connection portion configured as a tubular portion, the tubular portion defining a recess, the receiving connector further having a receiving connector optical connection portion comprising a female ferrule, the female ferrule not extending axially out of the tubular portion.

16. The coupling for connecting a laser radiation source to a medical device of claim 15, wherein when the coupling is in a fully coupled state, the male ferrule seats with the female ferrule exclusively at a cylindrical seating surface.

17. The coupling of claim 16, wherein the female ferrule has a central through hole extending from a first end to an opposite second end, the through hole having a diameter at the first end, the through hole decreases in diameter to a mid portion, the through hole at the midportion having a fixed diameter, the midportion extending axially, the through hole then having an opening portion where the diameter increases to a diameter at the second end, mid portion defining the cylindrical seating surface.

18. The coupling for connecting a laser radiation source to a medical device of claim 16, wherein the receiving connector comprises a sensor for detecting when the coupling is fully engaged, the sensor comprising an electrical switch that detects the presence of the mechanical connection portion of the body portion of the launch connector.

19. An optical fiber connector coupling for connecting a laser radiation source to a device, the coupling comprising a launch connector with a mechanical connection portion and an optical connection portion comprising a male ferrule with connected to an optical fiber, the male ferrule resiliently supported within a body portion of the launch connector, the male ferrule having a cylindrical outer surface, the coupling further comprising a receiving connector, the receiving portion comprising a mechanical connection portion for cooperating with the mechanical connection portion of the launch connector, and an optical connection portion comprising a female ferrule, the female ferrule having an internal cylindrical surface the slidingly engages the cylindrical outer surface of the male ferrule, the female ferrule not having a stop surface limiting the insertion distance of the male ferrule into the female ferrule.

20. The optical fiber connector coupling for connecting a laser radiation source to a device of claim 19, wherein the male ferrule has an optical fiber line extending from the male ferrule to an anchor position in the body portion that is displaced from the ferrule a distance of about 4 to 15 mm, the male ferrule being supported within the body portion exclusively by the optical fiber line, the optical fiber line comprising at least an optical fiber.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a delivery system with a launch connector disconnected from a connector on a medical device in accord with inventions herein.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a coupling for a laser radiation delivery system connected to a medical device in accord with embodiments of the invention.

[0016] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the coupling of FIG. 2 in a partial mechanical coupling in accord with embodiments of the invention.

[0017] FIG. 4 is a detailed cross sectional view of FIG. 3 showing the mechanical coupling and optical coupling with a frustoconical registration of the ferrule and optical registration receiver optical coupling in accord with embodiments of the invention.

[0018] FIG. 5A is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of a coupling illustrating mechanical connection portions and optical connection in a pre-connection condition.

[0019] FIG. 5B is a cross sectional view of the coupling of FIG. 5A with a cylindrical registration of a male ferrule and the female ferrule in accord with embodiments of the invention.

[0020] FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of a coupling with cylindrical registration and a conical registration of a male ferrule and with a stop surface in the optical registration receiver.

[0021] FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment with the outer mechanical connection portion of the launch connector exterior to the mechanical connection portion of the medical device mechanical connection portion.

[0022] FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of coupling according to embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a delivery system 20 comprises a optical fiber cable 22 and a launch connector 24. The launch connector 24 and a connector 28 on a medical device 30 defining an optical fiber coupling 32 for providing laser radiation to the medical device 30 from the laser radiation source 34.

[0024] Referring to FIGS. 1-4, each of the connectors 24, 28 have a mechanical connection portion 36, 38 and respective optical connection portion 40, 42 configures as a male ferrule and a female ferrule respectively. The launch connector 24 has a body portion 48 that extends from a forward or proximal end 52 to a rearward or distal end 54 of the connector 24. A strain relief tail portion 56 provides transitional support to the optical fiber cable as it exits the connector. The optical fiber cable extends axially along a central axis 58 in apertures 60 of the body portion such that the cable may be spaced from inward surfaces 62 of the body portion. In the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, the optical fiber cable is supported by a compliant fiber supports 64, 66. The compliant fiber supports may be disc shaped with the fiber fixed to the center 70 of the discs 64, 66, such as by adhesive and with the disc supported at its peripheral portion 72 by the body portion 48. The compliant fiber supports 64, 66 may provide axial displacement capability and cushioning of the optical connection portion 40 with respect to the body portion of the launch connector 24.

[0025] The mechanical connection portion of the launch connector is a mechanical registration guide configured as a tubular end portion 36.

[0026] The optical connection portion 40 of the launch connector 24 comprises a ferrule 78 with an optical fiber 80 fixed in a axial bore 81 therein such as by adhesive 82. The optical fiber may have two or more sheathings 86, 88 covering the fiber rearward of the ferrule 78. The ferrule 78 may have a frustoconical portion 90 with a tapered surface 92 at its forward end 94 and rearward of the tapered surface have a cylindrical surface 96. The ferrule may be formed of conventional materials such as glass, bronze, other metals, and ceramic materials.

[0027] The launch connector 24 has a graspable portion 100 for manual manipulation of the connector. The graspable portion may have a bulbous portion 102, a recessed portion 104, and a forward lip 106, all facilitating handling of the connector, particularly in a medical setting where users may be wearing gloves and ready and quick access and control of the connector is advantageous. The diameter d of the graspable portion may be from 5 to 20 mm in embodiments. In other embodiments the diameter of the graspable portion may be from 8 to 16 mm. The graspable portion 100 may be unitary or integral with the body portion 48 of the launch connector 24 and may be formed of polymers including, for example, thermoplastic elastomers.

[0028] The medical device connector 28 has the optical coupling portion 42 which couples with the optical connection portion 40 of the launch connector. The optical connection portion comprises an optical registration receiver configured as a female ferrule 112 formed of ceramic material, glass, metal, or other conventional materials. A recess 118 is defined by a reverse frustoconical surface 120 that conforms to the tapered surface 92 of the launch connector optical coupling portion configured as a male ferrule 40. The female ferrule is fixed to a body portion 122 of the medical device connector and the medical device connector is attached to a wall 126 or other structure of the medical device. The body portion, or other structure of the connector 28 provides a mechanical registration receiver 130 configured as a tubular portion 38 that conforms to and snugly receives the tubular portion 36 of the launch connector.

[0029] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the coupling is made by the tubular portion 36 of the launch connector 24 initially being partially inserted into the mechanical connection portion 38 of the medical device connector 28, as shown in FIG. 3. The connectors are in an axial alignment, this provides a gross or prealignment of the optical connection portions before they make contact or are engaged, that is, the connectors can only move axially and rotationally with respect to one another. As shown in FIG. 4, when the optical coupling portions make contact the ferrule and optical registration receiver self-align by way of the conforming cooperating surfaces 92, 120 and the ferrule 78 and optical fiber 80 are slightly displaced rearwardly facilitated by the compliant members 64, 66. When the launch connector is fully seated the optical connection portions are fully engaged.

[0030] Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, another embodiment is illustrated with launch connector 224 and a medical device connector 228. The medical device optical coupling portion, configured as a female ferrule 242, has a tapered lead-in surface 220 and a cylindrical seating surface 222. The optical coupling portion 240 of the launch connector 224 comprises a ferrule 278 with a cylindrical outer surface 296 and chamfered guide-in surface 300. The optical coupling portion further comprising an optical fiber line 280 that is fixed to the body portion 248 such as by adhesive 249. The optical fiber line 280 and ferrule may cantilever outwardly from the body portion providing lateral movement capability of the ferrule such that the optical connection portions may self-align when they initially engage. The optical fiber line includes an optical fiber and may include sheathing or other layers on the optical fiber. When the ferrule 278 is finally seated in the female ferrule, the coupling is complete, there is no axially loading on the optical connection portion of the launch connector 224. There are no stop surfaces on the female ferrule to axially position, forward-rearwardly, the male ferrule. The female ferrule may have a throughhole 279 that and internal surface 280 with a diameter D1 that converges from a first side 281 to a mid portion 282 with a cylindrical surface 222, and then diverges to the second side 284 resulting in an hour glass shape. The male ferrule 278 is separated from an anchored position 288 by a distance D. In embodiments this distance is 4-15 mm, or thereabout. In embodiment distance D is 6 to 11 mm. The male ferrule cantilevers forwardly by the optical fiber line and has a gap 292, that is, space, between the outer surface of the male ferrule and the body portion of the connector.

[0031] Similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, the tubular portions of the mechanical connection portion of the embodiments of FIGS. 5A and 5B first engage to provide a gross alignment of the optical connection portions, then the optical portions engage, self align by movement of the male ferrule, and then fully engage with cylindrical surface seating on cylindrical surface. The forward-rearward placement is not as critical to coupling performance as the radial and axial alignment.

[0032] Means 63, schematically shown, for confirming complete coupling is provided on the medical device and connecting to the laser source to prevent the laser for operating if the coupling is not fully coupled. Such can be by way of micro switches, 63.2, and other means known in the art. Such means may provide a lock-out of the laser radiation source. That is, unless the complete connection of the coupling is verified, the laser light source is not allowed to generate the laser radiation.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 6, another embodiment is illustrated with launch connector 324 and a medical device connector 328. The medical device optical coupling portion 342 has a tapered lead-in surface 320 and a cylindrical seating surface 322 and a stop surface 324. The optical coupling portion 340 of the launch connector 324 comprises a ferrule 378 with a cylindrical outer surface 396 and a tapered forward surface 400. The optical coupling portion further comprising an optical fiber 380 that is compliantly attached to the body portion 348 through compliant members 364, 366. The optical fiber 380 and ferrule may cantilever outwardly from the body portion providing lateral movement capability of the ferrule such that the optical connection portions may self-align when they initially engage. Upon final seating of the ferrule in the optical registration receiver the ferrule and optical fiber may be slightly displaced rearward facilitated by the compliant members.

[0034] Referring to FIG. 7, another embodiment is illustrated with launch connector 424 and a medical device connector 428. The medical device optical coupling portion 442 has a tapered lead-in surface 420 and a cylindrical seating surface 422. The optical coupling portion 440 of the launch connector 424 comprises a ferrule 478 with a cylindrical outer surface 496. The optical coupling portion further comprising an optical fiber 480 that is fixed to the body portion 448. The optical fiber 480 and ferrule may cantilever outwardly from the body portion providing lateral movement capability of the ferrule such that the optical connection portions may self-align when they initially engage. The bore 490 of the body portion constrains laterally the ferrule allowing some lateral movement of the ferrule. Upon final seating of the ferrule in the optical registration receiver 491 the ferrule and optical fiber are not under axial loading. The mechanical connection portion 436 of the launch connector envelops the mechanical connection portion 438 of the medical device mechanical connection portion which is different than the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1-6.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 8, another embodiment is illustrated with a launch connector 502 and a receiving connector 504. In this embodiment the optical fiber line 510 has a optical fiber with multiple layers of sheathing 512 removed in the connector. The male ferrule is a high precision glass male ferrule 520 connecting to sleeve 538 that connects to compliant material, such as a thermoplastic elastomer, configured as a ring 542, provides slight compliance along all axis. The launch connector has a strain relief boot 550 for the optical fiber line 510. The female ferrule 556 has a precision bore 558 that engages and aligns the male ferrule 520 in centration and axial position. A ball detent mechanism 568 including a circumferential spring 571 engages with a exterior groove 569 in the tubular portion 570 of the body portion 572 of the launch connector. A latch arm 580 pivots about the body portion of the receiving connector 504 to push out the launch connector.

[0036] The mechanical connection portions may be configured as bayonet connections, screw on connections, press fit connections, or detent connections.

[0037] The following U.S. patents are incorporated by reference for all purposes: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,329,541; 5,907,650; 5,943,460; 6,238,103; 7,503,701; 8,419,293; 8,888,378; 9,329,350; 9,393,081; 9,395,496; and 9,429,713.

[0038] The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any incorporated by reference references, any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed The above references in all sections of this application are herein incorporated by references in their entirety for all purposes.

[0039] Although specific examples have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose could be substituted for the specific examples shown. This application is intended to cover adaptations or variations of the present subject matter. Therefore, it is intended that the invention be defined by the attached claims and their legal equivalents, as well as the following illustrative aspects. The above described aspects embodiments of the invention are merely descriptive of its principles and are not to be considered limiting. Further modifications of the invention herein disclosed will occur to those skilled in the respective arts and all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the invention.