Abstract: In one aspect, an optical system is disclosed, which includes a light guide having an input end for receiving light from at least one light source and an output end through which light exits the light guide, said light guide further having at least one highly reflective surface positioned to provide specular reflection of at least a portion of the light entering via the input end of the light guide, where the highly reflective surface exhibits a specular reflectance of at least about 95% for light with one or more wavelengths in a wavelength range of about 380 nm to about 780 nm.

Abstract: In one aspect, a light pipe is disclosed. In some embodiments, the light pipe comprises an input section including a waveguide having a circular cross section; and an output section having a polygonal cross section, wherein the input section has an input surface for receiving light from one or more light sources and an output surface through which light exits the input section, and the output section has an input surface optically coupled to the output surface of the input section to receive at least a portion of the light exiting the input section, and an output surface through which light exits the light pipe.

Abstract: In one aspect, a light pipe is disclosed, which comprises a curved light-guiding waveguide including an input surface configured to receive light and an output surface configured for the light to exit the curved light-guiding waveguide through the output surface; and a plurality of lateral surfaces extending from the input surface to the output surface, wherein an envelope of the curved light-guiding waveguide is generated by a rotation of the input surface around a rotational axis; and the rotational axis is collectively parallel to at most one of the plurality of lateral surfaces.

Abstract: In one aspect, an optical system for delivering light into an optical fiber is disclosed, which comprises a phosphor-converted white light source for generating white light, a red light emitting diode (LED) for generating red light, and a light-delivery system for delivering at least a portion of said white light and said red light into an input port of an optical fiber.

Abstract: In one aspect, a light pipe is disclosed. In some embodiments, the light pipe comprises an input section including a waveguide having a circular cross section; and an output section having a polygonal cross section, wherein the input section has an input surface for receiving light from one or more light sources and an output surface through which light exits the input section, and the output section has an input surface optically coupled to the output surface of the input section to receive at least a portion of the light exiting the input section, and an output surface through which light exits the light pipe.

Abstract: In one aspect, a light pipe is disclosed, which comprises a curved light-guiding waveguide including an input surface configured to receive light and an output surface configured for the light to exit the curved light-guiding waveguide through the output surface; and a plurality of lateral surfaces extending from the input surface to the output surface, wherein an envelope of the curved light-guiding waveguide is generated by a rotation of the input surface around a rotational axis; and the rotational axis is collectively parallel to at most one of the plurality of lateral surfaces.

Abstract: An illumination system for illuminating a lumen within a body of a patient comprising a tube having a proximal end and an opposed distal end and an internal chamber, the tube being configured for placement within a lumen of the body. The system also includes an illumination subsystem including an optical fiber that is sized and configured to seat within the internal chamber of the tube and a light source for generating light that is emitted by the fiber optic cable. The optical fiber, when mounted within the tube and when the light source generates light, emits light at the distal end of the tube so as to transilluminate the lumen and surrounding tissue so as to be able to locate the distal end of the tube within the lumen of the patient.

Abstract: In one aspect, an optical system is disclosed, which comprises a lens having an input surface for receiving light from at least one light source and an output surface through which the light exits the lens, said lens further comprising a peripheral surface extending between said input surface and said output surface and configured to direct, via total internal reflection, at least a portion of the light incident thereon through said output surface to an output focal point. The optical system can further include a tapered light pipe optically coupled to the lens and a light guide (e.g., one or more optical fibers) that is optically coupled to the tapered light pipe. The lens directs the received light to an output focal point that is disposed within the tapered light pipe.

Abstract: In one aspect, a light-mixing system is disclosed, which includes a light pipe having an input surface configured for receiving light from a light source, a light-mixing segment optically coupled to the input surface, and an output surface optically coupled to said light-mixing segment through which light exits the light pipe. A putative vector normal to at least one of the input or the output surface forms a non-zero angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the light-mixing segment. In some embodiments, the non-zero angle can be, for example, about 90 degrees.

Abstract: In one aspect, an optical system for delivering light into an optical fiber is disclosed, which comprises a phosphor-converted white light source for generating white light, a red light emitting diode (LED) for generating red light, and a light-delivery system for delivering at least a portion of said white light and said red light into an input port of an optical fiber.

Abstract: In one aspect, an optical system for delivering light into an optical fiber is disclosed, which comprises a phosphor-converted white light source for generating white light, a red light emitting diode (LED) for generating red light, and a light-delivery system for delivering at least a portion of said white light and said red light into an input port of an optical fiber.

Abstract: In one aspect, an optical system for delivering light into an optical fiber is disclosed, which comprises a phosphor-converted white light source for generating white light, a red light emitting diode (LED) for generating red light, and a light-delivery system for delivering at least a portion of said white light and said red light into an input port of an optical fiber.

Abstract: In one aspect, a light-mixing system is disclosed, which includes a light pipe having an input surface configured for receiving light from a light source, a light-mixing segment optically coupled to the input surface, and an output surface optically coupled to said light-mixing segment through which light exits the light pipe. A putative vector normal to at least one of the input or the output surface forms a non-zero angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the light-mixing segment. In some embodiments, the non-zero angle can be, for example, about 90 degrees.

Abstract: An optical system is disclosed, which comprises a glass light pipe having an input surface for receiving light from a light source and an output surface through which light exits the light pipe, and a polymeric light pipe optically coupled at its input surface to the output surface of the glass light pipe to receive at least a portion of the light exiting the glass light pipe, said polymeric light pipe having a textured output surface. A plurality of microlenses is optically coupled to said textured surface of the polymeric light pipe, and a projection lens is optically coupled to the output surface of the polymeric light pipe to receive light therefrom.

Abstract: An optical system is disclosed, which comprises a glass light pipe having an input surface for receiving light from a light source and an output surface through which light exits the light pipe, and a polymeric light pipe optically coupled at its input surface to the output surface of the glass light pipe to receive at least a portion of the light exiting the glass light pipe, said polymeric light pipe having a textured output surface. A plurality of microlenses is optically coupled to said textured surface of the polymeric light pipe, and a projection lens is optically coupled to the output surface of the polymeric light pipe to receive light therefrom.

Abstract: In one aspect, a light-mixing system is disclosed, which includes a light pipe having an input surface configured for receiving light from a light source, a light-mixing segment optically coupled to the input surface, and an output surface optically coupled to said light-mixing segment through which light exits the light pipe. A putative vector normal to at least one of the input or the output surface forms a non-zero angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the light-mixing segment. In some embodiments, the non-zero angle can be, for example, about 90 degrees.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides an optic, which comprises a light pipe extending from a proximal end to a distal end about an optical axis, said light pipe being adapted to receive at its proximal end at least a portion of light emitted by a light source. The optic further comprises a central reflector optically coupled to said distal end of the light pipe for receiving at least a portion of the light transmitted through the light pipe and reflecting said received light, a peripheral reflector optically coupled to said central reflector for receiving at least a portion of said reflected light, and an output surface. The peripheral reflect is configured to redirect at least a portion of the light received from the central reflector to said output surface for exiting the optic.

Abstract: An optical system is disclosed, which comprises a glass light pipe having an input surface for receiving light from a light source and an output surface through which light exits the light pipe, and a polymeric light pipe optically coupled at its input surface to the output surface of the glass light pipe to receive at least a portion of the light exiting the glass light pipe, said polymeric light pipe having a textured output surface. A plurality of microlenses is optically coupled to said textured surface of the polymeric light pipe, and a projection lens is optically coupled to the output surface of the polymeric light pipe to receive light therefrom.

Abstract: An optical system is disclosed, which comprises a glass light pipe having an input surface for receiving light from a light source and an output surface through which light exits the light pipe, and a polymeric light pipe optically coupled at its input surface to the output surface of the glass light pipe to receive at least a portion of the light exiting the glass light pipe, said polymeric light pipe having a textured output surface. A plurality of microlenses is optically coupled to said textured surface of the polymeric light pipe, and a projection lens is optically coupled to the output surface of the polymeric light pipe to receive light therefrom.

Abstract: Environmentally sealed optical systems, and methods for sealing them, are disclosed. Such optical systems include area lighting panels and other optical systems. For example, in one exemplary aspect of the invention, a sealed optical system includes a substrate having first and second light sources disposed thereon, and a light-shaping panel with first and second optics formed therein that are positioned (e.g., aligned) to receive light from the first and second light sources, respectively. A sealing membrane is disposed between the substrate and the light-shaping panel, with a first adhesive surface contacting the substrate and a second adhesive surface contacting the light-shaping panel. The sealing membrane has first and second openings formed therein that allow light to pass from the first and second light sources to the first and second optics, respectively, while allowing the sealing membrane to independently seal the light sources from one another and from the external environment.