Abstract: An assembly for redirecting light emitted by an end-emitting optical fiber into an inner lumen of a body is provided. According to one implementation, the body includes one or more surfaces disposed on or in the body onto which the light is configured to impinge when the end emitting optical fiber is activated, the one or more surfaces being configured to alter the trajectory of the light so that the light is directed to impinge on a light reflector of a cap removably attached to the body, the light reflector of the cap being configured to redirect the light distally into the inner lumen of the body.

Abstract: An assembly for redirecting light emitted by an end-emitting optical fiber into an inner lumen of a body is provided. According to one implementation, the body includes one or more surfaces disposed on or in the body onto which the light is configured to impinge when the end emitting optical fiber is activated, the one or more surfaces being configured to alter the trajectory of the light so that the light is directed to impinge on a light reflector of a cap removably attached to the body, the light reflector of the cap being configured to redirect the light distally into the inner lumen of the body.

Abstract: According to one implementation a central venous catheter is provided that includes an end emitting optical fiber that is configured to end emit bacterial disinfecting light to disinfect a conduit located inside the hub, the conduit connecting the working lumen of an infusion shaft with a working lumen of a main shaft.

Abstract: An assembly for redirecting light emitted by an end-emitting optical fiber into an inner lumen of a body is provided. According to one implementation, the body includes one or more surfaces disposed on or in the body onto which the light is configured to impinge when the end emitting optical fiber is activated, the one or more surfaces being configured to alter the trajectory of the light so that the light is directed to impinge on a light reflector of a cap removably attached to the body, the light reflector of the cap being configured to redirect the light distally into the inner lumen of the body.

Abstract: According to one implementation an apparatus for bacterially disinfecting a surface is provided. The apparatus includes a flexible body that contains therein at least one radially emitting optical fibers that is configured to emit bacterial disinfecting light. The radially emitting fibers having an axial and/or radial freedom of movement within a channel in which it is housed inside the flexible body such that when the flexible body changes shape the axial and/or radial freedom of movement reduces the amount of tensile stress applied along the length of the radially as compared to an amount of tensile stress that would otherwise be applied to the radially emitting fiber in an absence of the axial and/or radial freedom of movement of the radially emitting fiber inside the channel.

Abstract: According to one implementation an apparatus for bacterially disinfecting a surface is provided. The apparatus includes a flexible body that contains therein at least one radially emitting optical fibers that is configured to emit bacterial disinfecting light. The radially emitting fibers having an axial and/or radial freedom of movement within a channel in which it is housed inside the flexible body such that when the flexible body changes shape the axial and/or radial freedom of movement reduces the amount of tensile stress applied along the length of the radially as compared to an amount of tensile stress that would otherwise be applied to the radially emitting fiber in an absence of the axial and/or radial freedom of movement of the radially emitting fiber inside the channel.

Abstract: According to one implementation a central venous catheter is provided that includes an end emitting optical fiber that is configured to end emit bacterial disinfecting light to disinfect a conduit located inside the hub, the conduit connecting the working lumen of an infusion shaft with a working lumen of a main shaft.

Abstract: According to one implementation an assembly is provided that includes an end emitting optical that is configured to end emit bacterial disinfecting light. A portion of the length of the end emitting optical fiber resides in a lumen of a body. The body has an internal disinfecting target area. The end emitted bacterial disinfecting light is configured to impinge on one or more surfaces disposed on or in the body, the one or more surfaces being configured to alter the trajectory of the bacterial disinfecting light so that the bacterial disinfecting light is directed toward the disinfecting target area via a designated disinfecting light pathway.

Abstract: Light disinfecting systems are provided in which light emanating from an end or side of an optical fiber is used to disinfect a target site. According to one implementation a light beam emanating from an end emitting optical fiber is directed into a body that includes a plurality of optical surfaces that are configured to direct at least a portion of the beam of bacterial disinfecting light to the target site. According to one implementation the plurality of optical surfaces include a first refractive optical surface, a second refractive optical surface and a total reflective surface with the total reflective optical surface being disposed between the first and second refractive optical surfaces in a designated optical pathway of the beam of bacterial disinfecting light.

Abstract: According to one implementation an apparatus for bacterially disinfecting a surface is provided. The apparatus includes a flexible body that contains therein at least one radially emitting optical fibers that is configured to emit bacterial disinfecting light. The radially emitting fibers having an axial and/or radial freedom of movement within a channel in which it is housed inside the flexible body such that when the flexible body changes shape the axial and/or radial freedom of movement reduces the amount of tensile stress applied along the length of the radially as compared to an amount of tensile stress that would otherwise be applied to the radially emitting fiber in an absence of the axial and/or radial freedom of movement of the radially emitting fiber inside the channel.

Abstract: Light disinfecting systems are provided in which light emanating from an end or side of an optical fiber is used to disinfect a target site. According to one implementation a light beam emanating from an end emitting optical fiber is directed into a body that includes a plurality of optical surfaces that are configured to direct at least a portion of the beam of bacterial disinfecting light to the target site. According to one implementation the plurality of optical surfaces include a first refractive optical surface, a second refractive optical surface and a total reflective surface with the total reflective optical surface being disposed between the first and second refractive optical surfaces in a designated optical pathway of the beam of bacterial disinfecting light.

Abstract: Light disinfecting systems are provided in which light emanating from an end or side of an optical fiber is used to disinfect a target site. According to one implementation a light beam emanating from an end emitting optical fiber is directed into a body that includes a plurality of optical surfaces that are configured to direct at least a portion of the beam of bacterial disinfecting light to the target site. According to one implementation the plurality of optical surfaces include a first refractive optical surface, a second refractive optical surface and a total reflective surface with the total reflective optical surface being disposed between the first and second refractive optical surfaces in a designated optical pathway of the beam of bacterial disinfecting light.

Abstract: Light disinfecting systems are provided in which light emanating from an end or side of an optical fiber is used to disinfect a target site. According to one implementation a light beam emanating from an end emitting optical fiber is directed into a body that includes a plurality of optical surfaces that are configured to direct at least a portion of the beam of bacterial disinfecting light to the target site. According to one implementation the plurality of optical surfaces include a first refractive optical surface, a second refractive optical surface and a total reflective surface with the total reflective optical surface being disposed between the first and second refractive optical surfaces in a designated optical pathway of the beam of bacterial disinfecting light.

Abstract: According to one implementation an assembly is provided that includes an end emitting optical that is configured to end emit bacterial disinfecting light. A portion of the length of the end emitting optical fiber resides in a lumen of a body. The body has an internal disinfecting target area. The end emitted bacterial disinfecting light is configured to impinge on one or more surfaces disposed on or in the body, the one or more surfaces being configured to alter the trajectory of the bacterial disinfecting light so that the bacterial disinfecting light is directed toward the disinfecting target area via a designated disinfecting light pathway.

Abstract: According to one implementation a central venous catheter is provided that include a main shaft and an infusion shaft. The main shaft has a proximal end, a distal end and a working lumen, the distal end configured for placement inside a patient. The infusion shaft has a proximal end, a distal end and a working lumen. The assembly further includes an optical fiber that is configured to emit bacterial disinfecting light. The distal end of the infusion shaft is coupled to the proximal end of the main shaft by a conduit located inside a hub. The conduit fluidly connects the working lumen of the infusion shaft with the working lumen of the main shaft. The hub has a channel that houses at least a portion of the length of the optical fiber.

Abstract: According to one implementation an assembly is provided that includes an optical fiber having a length and an infusion shaft having a lumen in which at least a first portion of the length of the optical fiber resides. A hub that is connected to the infusion shaft has a channel that houses at least a second portion of the length of the optical fiber. T second portion of the length of the optical fiber is not held taut along at least a portion of the length of the channel.

Abstract: According to one implementation an assembly is provided that includes a first and second optical fibers and a body that has respective first and second lumens in which at least a portion of the length of the first and second optical fiber reside. The first optical fiber is an end emitting fiber that is configured to end emit bacterial disinfecting light to disinfect at least a first portion of the body, and the second optical fiber is a radial emitting fiber that is configured to radially emit bacterial disinfecting light to disinfect at least a second portion of the body.

Abstract: According to one implementation an assembly is provided that includes an end emitting optical that is configured to end emit bacterial disinfecting light. A portion of the length of the end emitting optical fiber resides in a lumen of a body. The body has an internal disinfecting target area. The end emitted bacterial disinfecting light is configured to impinge on one or more surfaces disposed on or in the body, the one or more surfaces being configured to alter the trajectory of the bacterial disinfecting light so that the bacterial disinfecting light is directed toward the disinfecting target area via a designated disinfecting light pathway.

Abstract: A central venous catheter (CVC) that includes internal bacterial disinfecting capabilities. According to some implementations the CVC includes a main shaft that is configured for placement inside a patient and an infusion shaft. An optical fiber that includes a first portion and a second portion is configured to emit bacterial disinfecting light with the first portion residing inside at least one of the main shaft and infusion shaft. The CVC further includes a hub wherein the distal end of the infusion shaft is coupled to the proximal end of the main shaft by a conduit located inside the hub. The hub has a first channel that houses the second portion of the first optical fiber.

Abstract: An assembly for detecting a substance on an outer surface of a shaft. According to one implementation the assembly includes an elongate shaft having an outer surface and a radially emitting fiber spirally disposed inside the elongate shaft. A plurality of through holes are located between the radially emitting fiber and the outer surface with the through holes being longitudinally spaced-apart from one another. A laser under the control of a controller is optically coupled with the radially emitting fiber. The controller is configured to cause the laser to deliver pulsed light with a pulsed width into the radially emitting fiber. The longitudinal distance between adjacent through holes are such that the pulse width is shorter than a time for the light to travel between the adjacent through holes.