Abstract: A trocar assembly can include a cannula, a seal cartridge, and an obturator. The seal cartridge is configured to be releasably coupled to the cannula and to be disposed at least partially within the cannula in a coupled configuration of the seal cartridge. The obturator is configured to directly latch to the cannula and to extends through the cannula and the seal cartridge in a coupled configuration of the obturator.

Abstract: A method for doping silica soot with fluorine during laydown, including providing a bait rod, and providing a burner, wherein the burner emits a reactant flame. The method also including providing at least one first gas-feed separate from the burner, wherein the gas-feed supplies a first jet of fluorine-based gases, and depositing a layer of silica soot on the bait rod by vaporizing a silica producing gas within the reactant flame of the burner. The method further including supplying the first jet of fluorine-based gases to the silica soot deposited on to the bait rod via the first gas-feed subsequent to vaporizing at least a portion of the silica producing gas within the reactant flame of the burner.

Abstract: Disclosed is a dispersion compensating optical fiber that includes a refractive index profile selected to provide dispersion at 1550 nm of between −90 and −150 ps/nm/km; dispersion slope at 1550 nm of less than −1.5 ps/nm2/km; and kappa of between 40 and 95. The profile preferably has a core surrounded by a cladding layer of refractive index &Dgr;c, and at least three radially adjacent regions including a central core region having &Dgr;1, a moat region having a refractive index &Dgr;2, and an annular ring region having a refractive index &Dgr;3, wherein &Dgr;1>&Dgr;3>&Dgr;c>&Dgr;2.

Abstract: Disclosed are refractive index profiles for total dispersion compensating optical waveguide fibers for use in high data rate, long length telecommunications systems. The optical waveguide fibers in accord with the invention provide substantially equal compensation of total dispersion over a range of wavelengths, thus facilitating wavelength division multiplexed systems. Also disclosed are spans of optical waveguide fiber that include a length of transmission fiber together with a length of the compensating fiber. The spans are joined end to end in series arrangement to form the optical waveguide fiber part of a telecommunication system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a dispersion compensating optical fiber that includes a refractive index profile selected to provide dispersion at 1550 nm of between −90 and −150 ps/nm/km; dispersion slope at 1550 nm of less than −1.5 ps/nm2/km; and kappa of between 40 and 95. The profile preferably has a core surrounded by a cladding layer of refractive index &Dgr;c, and at least three radially adjacent regions including a central core region having &Dgr;1, a moat region having a refractive index &Dgr;2, and an annular ring region having a refractive index &Dgr;3, wherein &Dgr;1>&Dgr;3>&Dgr;c>&Dgr;2.

Abstract: Disclosed are refractive index profiles for total dispersion compensating optical waveguide fibers for use in high data rate, long length telecommunications systems. The optical waveguide fibers in accord with the invention provide substantially equal compensation of total dispersion over a range of wavelengths, thus facilitating wavelength division multiplexed systems. Also disclosed are spans of optical waveguide fiber that include a length of transmission fiber together with a length of the compensating fiber. The spans are joined end to end in series arrangement to form the optical waveguide fiber part of a telecommunication system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a dispersion compensating optical fiber that includes a core surrounded by a cladding layer of refractive index &Dgr;c. The core includes at least three radially adjacent regions, a central core region having &Dgr;1, a moat region having a refractive index &Dgr;2 and an annular ring region having a refractive index &Dgr;3, such that &Dgr;1>&Dgr;3>&Dgr;c>&Dgr;2. The fiber exhibits a dispersion at 1550 which is less than −30 ps/nm/km, and a &kgr; value obtained by dividing the dispersion value by the dispersion slope which is between 40 and 100.

Abstract: Disclosed is a dispersion compensating optical fiber that includes a core surrounded by a cladding layer of refractive index &Dgr;c. The core includes at least three radially adjacent regions, a central core region having &Dgr;1, a moat region having a refractive index &Dgr;2 and an annular ring region having a refractive index &Dgr;3, such that &Dgr;1 >&Dgr;3>&Dgr;c>&Dgr;2. The fiber exhibits a dispersion at 1550 which is less than −30 ps/nm/km, and a &kgr; value obtained by dividing the dispersion value by the dispersion slope which is between 40 and 100.

Abstract: Disclosed is a dispersion compensating optical fiber that includes a core surrounded by a cladding layer of refractive index &Dgr;c. The core includes at least three radially adjacent regions, a central core region having &Dgr;1, a moat region having a refractive index &Dgr;2 and an annular ring region having a refractive index &Dgr;3, such that &Dgr;1>&Dgr;3>&Dgr;c>&Dgr;2. The fiber exhibits a dispersion slope which is less than −1.0 ps/nm2/km over the wavelength range 1525 to 1565, a dispersion at 1550 which is less than −30 ps/mn/km, and a &kgr; value obtained by dividing the dispersion value by the dispersion slope which is greater than 35 and preferably between 40 and 100.

Abstract: A method for doping silica soot with fluorine during laydown, including providing a bait rod, and providing a burner, wherein the burner emits a reactant flame. The method also including providing at least one first gas-feed separate from the burner, wherein the gas-feed supplies a first jet of fluorine-based gases, and depositing a layer of silica soot on the bait rod by vaporizing a silica producing gas within the reactant flame of the burner. The method further including supplying the first jet of fluorine-based gases to the silica soot deposited on to the bait rod via the first gas-feed subsequent to vaporizing at least a portion of the silica producing gas within the reactant flame of the burner.

Abstract: Disclosed are refractive index profiles for total dispersion compensating optical waveguide fibers for use in high data rate, long length telecommunications systems. The optical waveguide fibers in accord with the invention provide substantially equal compensation of total dispersion over a range of wavelengths, thus facilitating wavelength division multiplexed systems. Also disclosed are spans of optical waveguide fiber that include a length of transmission fiber together with a length of the compensating fiber. The spans are joined end to end in series arrangement to form the optical waveguide fiber part of a telecommunication system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a dispersion compensating optical fiber that includes a core surrounded by a cladding layer of refractive index &Dgr;c. The core includes at least three radially adjacent regions, a central core region having &Dgr;1, a moat region having a refractive index &Dgr;2 and an annular ring region having a refractive index &Dgr;3, such that &Dgr;1 >&Dgr;3>&Dgr;c>&Dgr;2. The fiber exhibits a dispersion slope which is less than −1.0 ps/nm2/km over the wavelength range 1525 to 1565, a dispersion at 1550 which is less than −30 ps/mn/km, and a &kgr; value obtained by dividing the dispersion value by the dispersion slope which is greater than 35 and preferably between 40 and 100.