Abstract: The present invention relates to the design and manufacture of microstructured optical fibres. The invention has particular application in the manufacture of microstructured optical fibres for imaging purposes such as, for example, endoscopy, ear-implants, and chip-to-chip interconnects. A first aspect of the invention provides a method of producing a microstructured optical fibre from a preform, said method including the steps of: creating zones of relatively high refractive index at predetermined locations in said preform, said zones substantially surrounded by material of relatively low refractive index to create an array of light guiding cores, and subsequently drawing said preform to create a length of said microstructured optical fibre.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing a preform for a holey optical fibre, and more particularly, to a method of producing polymer holey optical fibre using novel capillary and cane designs that allow a construction of complex holey structures. The capillaries may have a complex internal structure including multiple holes, holes of non-circular shape, off-centre holes, holes of different sizes, or any combination of these. The canes may have a complex external shape to define interstitial holes when the canes arc combined in a stack (see FIG. 1). The capillaries and canes may be made of different materials and combined within the same structure.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of preparing a preform for an optical fibre, and more particularly to a method of preparing a preform for a polymer holey optical fibre. The invention provides a method of preparing a preform for manufacture of a polymer holey optical fibre comprising casting a preform body in a mould from a suitable material, said mould including at least one protrusion adapted to form a corresponding hole within the preform, and subsequently separating the preform body and mould. The invention also provides a method of preparing a preform for manufacture of a polymeric holey optical fibre comprising separately casting one or more elements of a preform in respective mould(s) from a suitable material, and separating said elements from said respective mould(s) and combining said elements to construct a preform having a plurality of holes therein, each hole being formed in an element or formed by the combination of two or more elements.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of producing a preform for an optical fibre. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of preparing preforms for the production of holey optical fibres. The invention provides a method of producing an optical fibre, said method comprising applying heat to the interior of a preform and subsequently drawing said optical fibre from said preform. The invention also provides a method of producing an optical fibre, said method comprising preparing a preform comprising a body of optically suitable material and removing material at predetermined locations in the body so as to provide a plurality of holes within the body, applying heat to the interior of the preform and subsequently drawing said optical fibre from said preform.