Patents by Inventor Bernd Schultheis
Bernd Schultheis has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Patent number: 11899257Abstract: An optical-electrical conductor assembly is provided that includes an optical waveguide that has an outer organic jacket layer and a functional layer system disposed on the outer jacket layer of the optical waveguide. The functional later has a base layer portion with a single layer or a sequence of layers and an electrically conductive layer disposed on the base layer portion. The electrically conductive layer has a single layer or a sequence of layers.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2021Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: SCHOTT AGInventors: Bernd Schultheis, Oliver Keiper, Christian Henn
-
Patent number: 11713275Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compositions that can be used for optical fibers and other systems that transmit light in the near-, mid- and/or far-ranges of the infrared spectrum, such as for example in the wavelength range of 1.5 ?m to 14 ?m. The optical fibers may comprise a light-transmitting chalcogenide core composition and a cladding composition. In some embodiments, the light-transmitting chalcogenide core composition has a refractive index n(core) and a coefficient of thermal expansion CTE(core), and the cladding composition has a refractive index n(cladding) and a coefficient of thermal expansion CTE(cladding), wherein n(cladding) is less than n(core) and in some embodiments wherein CTE(cladding) is less than CTE(core). In some embodiments, the chalcogenide glass core composition comprises a) sulfur and/or selenium, b) germanium, and c) gallium, indium, tin and/or one or more metal halides.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2019Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: SCHOTT CORPORATIONInventors: Bernd Schultheis, Nathan Carlie, Lothar Willmes, Simone Monika Ritter, Bernd Hoppe, William James
-
Patent number: 11633090Abstract: An endoscope is provided that includes a first component, a second component, a light source, an image capturing element, and a light guide. The second component has a proximal end and a distal end with proximal end coupled to the first component. The light source is integrated in the first component and includes a laser and a converter. The laser emits primary light and the converter converts the primary light at least partially into secondary light that has a different wavelength. The image capturing element is arranged at the distal end. The light guide has an optical fiber that extends through the second component. The converter is coupled to the proximal end such that the primary and secondary light is injected into the optical fiber, is conducted from the proximal end to the distal end, and emitted at the distal end.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2020Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: SCHOTT AGInventors: Bernd Schultheis, Martin Cramer, Hubertus Russert, Holger Werner, Jens Vietor, Volker Hagemann, Jürgen Meinl, Jonas Grimm, Oliver Keiper
-
Publication number: 20230087914Abstract: An illumination system for a medical technology therapy and/or diagnosis system is provided. The system includes a light source, preferably a laser light source, and a light guide, which at a proximal end can be connected to the at least one light source and/or can be assigned thereto, and which system has at the distal end of the light guide a diffuser element having a longitudinal axis which extends into or in the diffuser element perpendicularly with respect to an input face of the light guide, wherein the diffuser element emits light laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis over its active length in the operating state, wherein the diffuser element has at least one diffuser base body and the diffuser base body contains a matrix that has at least one scattering element and is enclosed at least on its cladding surface by a solid encapsulation.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2022Publication date: March 23, 2023Applicant: SCHOTT AGInventors: Bernd Schultheis, Lothar Willmes, Oliver Keiper, Hubertus Russert, Jonas Grimm, Juergen Meinl, Martin Cramer
-
Publication number: 20220397262Abstract: An illumination system for a medical technology therapy and/or diagnosis system is provided. The system includes a light source, an optical waveguide, and an optical element in the form of a diffuser element. The optical waveguide has a first end that is connectable or assignable to the light source and the diffuser element is arranged at a second end of the optical waveguide so that light from the optical waveguide is injected into the optical element. The optical element has a lateral surface covered by a reflector layer at least in a section thereof. The reflector layer includes a mirror layer. The optical element has a light-reflecting area covered by the reflector layer and a light-transmissive area that is free of the reflector layer. Thus, light injected into the optical element is reflected on the light-reflecting area and emitted from the light-transmissive area.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2022Publication date: December 15, 2022Applicant: SCHOTT AGInventors: Bernd Schultheis, Christian Henn, Tobias Klink, Oliver Keiper, Hubertus Russert
-
Patent number: 11510553Abstract: The disclosure relates to diagnostic, surgical, and/or therapeutic devices for being introduced into the human or animal body or for in vitro examination of human or animal blood samples or other body cells, in particular to an endoscope or a disposable endoscope that includes at least one illumination light guide and/or image guide for transmitting electromagnetic radiation, the illumination light guide or image guide having a proximal end face for incoupling or outcoupling of electromagnetic radiation and a distal end face for incoupling or outcoupling of electromagnetic radiation. The proximal and/or distal end faces consist of plastic elements that are transparent at least partially or in sections thereof, the transparent plastic being biocompatible and/or having non-toxic properties to human or animal cell cultures for exposure durations of less than one day. This allows for the production of assemblies for disposable endoscopes, inter alia.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2020Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: SCHOTT AGInventors: Bernd Schultheis, Björn Bleisinger, Andreas Dietrich, Markus Kappel, Hubertus Russert, Martin Cramer, Thomas Weingärtner
-
Patent number: 11464395Abstract: The disclosure relates to diagnostic, surgical, and/or therapeutic devices for being introduced into the human or animal body or for in vitro examination of human or animal blood samples or other body cells, in particular to an endoscope or a disposable endoscope that includes at least one illumination light guide and/or image guide for transmitting electromagnetic radiation, the illumination light guide or image guide having a proximal end face for incoupling or outcoupling of electromagnetic radiation and a distal end face for incoupling or outcoupling of electromagnetic radiation. The proximal and/or distal end faces consist of plastic elements that are transparent at least partially or in sections thereof, the transparent plastic being biocompatible and/or having non-toxic properties to human or animal cell cultures for exposure durations of less than one day. This allows for the production of assemblies for disposable endoscopes, inter alia.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2020Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: SCHOTT AGInventors: Bernd Schultheis, Björn Bleisinger, Andreas Dietrich, Markus Kappel, Hubertus Russert, Martin Cramer, Thomas Weingärtner
-
Patent number: 11408606Abstract: An illumination system is provided that includes a laser light source, a light guide, a connector, and an emission element. The laser light source has a numerical aperture. The light guide has a proximal end and a distal end. The connector has a connector housing and connects and/or assigns the laser light source at the proximal end. The emission element is at the distal end. The connector housing has a device that reduce an influence of a range of variation of the numerical aperture so that an emission behaviour of the emission element is independent of a range of variation of the numerical aperture.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2020Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: SCHOTT AGInventors: Bernd Schultheis, Oliver Keiper, Hubertus Russert, Andreas Dietrich
-
Publication number: 20210403366Abstract: A drawn glass element for producing glass optical waveguides is provided. The element has two first length portions with a first cross-sectional area and which define the two ends of the glass element; a second, intermediate length portion between the two first length portions, which has a second cross-sectional area smaller than the first cross-sectional area; a first transition portion between the intermediate length portion and one of the first length portions; and a second transition portion between the intermediate length portion and another of the first length portions. The first and second transition portions have a cross-sectional area that steadily changes and merges from the first cross-sectional area into the second cross-sectional area.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2021Publication date: December 30, 2021Applicant: SCHOTT AGInventors: Jan Philipp STEIGLEDER, Bernd SCHULTHEIS, Martin CRAMER, Christian SCHWEDLER, Hubertus RUSSERT, Bernhard HUNZINGER, Holger WERNER
-
Publication number: 20210318494Abstract: An illumination system for medical therapeutic and/or diagnostic system is provided. The illumination system includes a laser light source and a light guide. The light guide has a proximal end that is connectable and/or assignable to the one laser light source. The light guide has a distal end with a diffuser element having a radial, spherical emission characteristic. The diffuser element includes a diffuser main body made of an inorganic material, in particular a glass, a glass ceramic, a glass-like substance or a composite substance of the aforementioned substances. The diffuser main body has a scattering element and has a surface that is pore-free and smooth.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2021Publication date: October 14, 2021Applicant: SCHOTT AGInventors: Bernd SCHULTHEIS, Oliver KEIPER, Jürgen MEINL, Hubertus RUSSERT, Jonas GRIMM, Lothar WILLMES, Martin CRAMER
-
Publication number: 20210282631Abstract: An endoscope is provided that has a first component having an LED that emits light and a second component having a proximal end, a distal end, an image capturing element, and a light guide. The proximal end is coupled to the first component. The image capturing element being arranged at the distal end. The light guide comprising an optical fiber extending through the second component. The LED is coupled to the proximal end such that the light is injected into the optical fiber and is conducted from the LED at the proximal end to the distal end and to emit the light at the distal end. The optical fiber has a cross section of at least 80 ?m and has a polymer-based coating or a protective sheathing made of a polymer-based tube material arranged on an outer surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2021Publication date: September 16, 2021Applicant: SCHOTT AGInventors: Bernd Schultheis, Martin Cramer, Hubertus Russert, Holger Werner, Jürgen Meinl, Jonas Grimm, Oliver Keiper, Steffen Astheimer, Björn Bleisinger, Christian Schwedler
-
Publication number: 20210169316Abstract: An endoscope is provided that includes a first component, a second component, a light source, an image capturing element, and a light guide. The second component has a proximal end and a distal end with proximal end coupled to the first component. The light source is integrated in the first component and includes a laser and a converter. The laser emits primary light and the converter converts the primary light at least partially into secondary light that has a different wavelength. The image capturing element is arranged at the distal end. The light guide has an optical fiber that extends through the second component. The converter is coupled to the proximal end such that the primary and secondary light is injected into the optical fiber, is conducted from the proximal end to the distal end, and emitted at the distal end.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2020Publication date: June 10, 2021Applicant: SCHOTT AGInventors: Bernd Schultheis, Martin Cramer, Hubertus Russert, Holger Werner, Jens Vietor, Volker Hagemann, Jürgen Meinl, Jonas Grimm, Oliver Keiper
-
Publication number: 20210149135Abstract: An optical-electrical conductor assembly is provided that includes an optical waveguide that has an outer organic jacket layer and a functional layer system disposed on the outer jacket layer of the optical waveguide. The functional later has a base layer portion with a single layer or a sequence of layers and an electrically conductive layer disposed on the base layer portion. The electrically conductive layer has a single layer or a sequence of layers.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2021Publication date: May 20, 2021Applicant: SCHOTT AGInventors: Bernd SCHULTHEIS, Oliver KEIPER, Christian HENN
-
Publication number: 20210093170Abstract: A light guide is provided that includes a fiber bundle, a jacket, a proximal end, a distal end, and a terminated end face. The fiber bundle has a plurality of optical fibers. The jacket encloses at least a part of the plurality of optical fibers and/or the fiber bundle. The jacket has a maximum outer lateral dimension that is greater than a maximum outer lateral dimension of the fiber bundle by at most 500 ?m. The terminated end face is on the proximal end and/or the distal end. The terminated end face has a maximum lateral outer dimension that is not larger than the maximum outer lateral dimension of the jacket.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2020Publication date: April 1, 2021Applicant: SCHOTT AGInventors: Bernd Schultheis, Martin Cramer, Hubertus Russert, Holger Werner, Lukas Walter, Hildegard Voigt, Markus Kappel, Erwin Steiger
-
Publication number: 20210063011Abstract: An illumination system is provided that includes a laser light source, a light guide, a connector, and an emission element. The laser light source has a numerical aperture. The light guide has a proximal end and a distal end. The connector has a connector housing and connects and/or assigns the laser light source at the proximal end. The emission element is at the distal end. The connector housing has a device that reduce an influence of a range of variation of the numerical aperture so that an emission behaviour of the emission element is independent of a range of variation of the numerical aperture.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2020Publication date: March 4, 2021Applicant: SCHOTT AGInventors: Bernd Schultheis, Oliver Keiper, Hubertus Russert, Andreas Dietrich
-
Publication number: 20210022588Abstract: The disclosure relates to diagnostic, surgical, and/or therapeutic devices for being introduced into the human or animal body or for in vitro examination of human or animal blood samples or other body cells, in particular to an endoscope or a disposable endoscope that includes at least one illumination light guide and/or image guide for transmitting electromagnetic radiation, the illumination light guide or image guide having a proximal end face for incoupling or outcoupling of electromagnetic radiation and a distal end face for incoupling or outcoupling of electromagnetic radiation. The proximal and/or distal end faces consist of plastic elements that are transparent at least partially or in sections thereof, the transparent plastic being biocompatible and/or having non-toxic properties to human or animal cell cultures for exposure durations of less than one day. This allows for the production of assemblies for disposable endoscopes, inter alia.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2020Publication date: January 28, 2021Applicant: SCHOTT AGInventors: Bernd SCHULTHEIS, Björn BLEISINGER, Andreas DIETRICH, Markus KAPPEL, Hubertus RUSSERT, Martin CRAMER, Thomas WEINGÄRTNER
-
Publication number: 20210027917Abstract: An optoelectrical guide/conductor system is provided that includes an optoelectrical guide/conductor arrangement and an at least regionally electrically conductive adapter sleeve. The arrangement has an optical waveguide with an outer, organic sheath layer and a conductive layer. The conductive layer is a single layer or a sequence of layers, which is directly or indirectly on the outer sheath layer. The sleeve mechanically embraces the arrangement and electrically contacts the conductive layer such that the adapter sleeve is insertable into a connection mount, arranged e.g. on a handpiece, for transmitting optical and/or electrical signals through the conductive layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2020Publication date: January 28, 2021Applicant: SCHOTT AGInventors: Bernd Schultheis, Oliver Keiper, Christian Henn
-
Publication number: 20200222712Abstract: An illumination system is provided that includes a laser light source and an optical waveguide connected to and/or associated with the laser light source at a proximal end thereof. The illumination system includes a diffuser element at the distal end of the optical waveguide with a longitudinal axis extending perpendicular to the coupling surface of the optical waveguide into the diffuser element. The diffuser element emits light over its active length laterally of the longitudinal axis and has at a base body with a scattering element. The scattering element is aligned along the longitudinal axis substantially parallel or at an angle thereto. An emission intensity homogenizer along the longitudinal axis is provided. The illumination system exhibits an intensity distribution of lateral emission deviating by at most ±50% from an average lateral emission intensity.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2020Publication date: July 16, 2020Applicant: SCHOTT AGInventors: Bernd SCHULTHEIS, Hubertus RUSSERT, Oliver KEIPER, Martin CRAMER, Jürgen MEINL, Lothar Wilhem WILMES, Jonas GRIMM
-
Publication number: 20190292094Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compositions that can be used for optical fibers and other systems that transmit light in the near-, mid- and/or far-ranges of the infrared spectrum, such as for example in the wavelength range of 1.5 ?m to 14 ?m. The optical fibers may comprise a light-transmitting chalcogenide core composition and a cladding composition. In some embodiments, the light-transmitting chalcogenide core composition has a refractive index n(core) and a coefficient of thermal expansion CTE(core), and the cladding composition has a refractive index n(cladding) and a coefficient of thermal expansion CTE(cladding), wherein n(cladding) is less than n(core) and in some embodiments wherein CTE(cladding) is less than CTE(core). In some embodiments, the chalcogenide glass core composition comprises a) sulfur and/or selenium, b) germanium, and c) gallium, indium, tin and/or one or more metal halides.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2019Publication date: September 26, 2019Applicant: SCHOTT CORPORATIONInventors: Bernd Schultheis, Nathan Carlie, Lothar Willmes, Simone Monika Ritter, Bernd Hoppe, William James
-
Patent number: 10254535Abstract: An illumination system is provided that includes a spatial fiber arrangement with an optical element at the distal end of the fiber arrangement. The fiber arrangement has a first region including individual fibers with a significantly smaller active diameter in comparison with the individual fibers of a remaining region. The optical element at the distal end is assigned the remaining region. The fiber arrangement can be a rigid fiber rod that includes an intermediate region provided between the first region and the remaining region. The intermediate region suppresses stray light transfers between the first and remaining regions. The fiber arrangement can include an optical coupling element at a proximal end of the fiber rod.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2017Date of Patent: April 9, 2019Assignee: SCHOTT AGInventors: Bernd Schultheis, Hubertus Russert, Holger Werner, Kevin Tabor