Abstract: A light source includes a body with a cavity, a reflector which is disposed within the cavity, a lamp assembly which is disposed within the cavity and a focusing lens which is disposed within the cavity. The optical fiber is optically coupled to and axially aligned with the focusing lens of the light-tube module.

Abstract: A combination light source and connector includes a housing having a front, a light-tube module and a connector. The light-tube module includes a body with a cavity, a reflector which is disposed within the cavity, a lamp which is disposed within the cavity, a focusing lens which is disposed within the cavity and optically aligned with the reflector and the lamp. The connector includes a socket which is coupled to the front of the housing and has a threaded bore, a plug which has a bore which receives the optical fiber and is adapted to be coupled to the socket, and a heat sink which has a disc-shaped portion with a bore which receives the optical fiber and a threaded stem portion with a bore which receives the optical fiber. The disc-shaped portion of the heat sink is slidably coupled within the cavity of the body of the light-tube module and disposed adjacent to the socket. The threaded stem portion of the heat-sink is threadedly coupled in the threaded bore of the socket.

Abstract: A combination electronic iris and connector for use with a light source, an optical fiber and a CCD, which is optically coupled to the optical fiber, includes a socket, a plug, a heat sink and an electronic iris. The socket has a threaded bore and is mechanically coupled to the light source. The plug is adapted to be coupled to the socket and has a bore for receiving the optical fiber. The heat sink has a disc-shaped portion having a bore for receiving the optical fiber and a threaded stem portion having a bore for receiving the optical fiber. The disc-shaped portion of the heat sink is slidably coupled to the light source and disposed adjacent to the socket. The threaded stem portion of the heat-sink is threadedly coupled in the threaded bore of the socket. The optical fiber is optically coupled to the light source. The electronic iris is disposed within the light source and axially aligned with the optical fiber. The electronic iris is controlled by feedback from the CCD from a feedback circuit.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector employs a fiber optic element including a light-receiving end having a transverse cross-sectional shape which complements the transverse cross-sectional shape of a light-receiving end of at least one other fiber optic element. The complementarily shaped light-receiving ends permit a plurality of fiber optic connectors to be arranged alongside one another so that they may be directly and simultaneously illuminated by a single spot of light emitted from a source of light.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in operating a dental drill is disclosed in which the air, water and light for the hand-held drill member are each delivered from an associated supply source, all of which are adapted to be located at a position remote from the working end of the drill and are coupled to the drill through a conduit cable, and in which control means for the selective energization of the light supply source is located within easy reach of the operator to permit turn-on and/or turn-off of the light supply source through simple fingertip control provided within a remote control unit which is totally electrically isolated from the high voltage present in the light supply source to protect both the operator and the patient from shock or injury. The light supply source may be automatically energized merely by lifting the instrument containing the dental fiber optics.The light unit may be independent of the dental drill to permit a wide variety of uses independently of its use with the dental drill.

Abstract: An improved eye glass or spectacle is provided which includes means for transmitting light in the form of a fiber-optic bundle disposed in or forming an arm of the spectacle frame. In one embodiment, the spectacle frame includes a pair of lens-holding members connected by a bridge, and a pair of side-supporting arms, each of the side arms including a first end pivotally connected to the lens-holding members and a second end including an ear-engagement portion. The light-transmitting means includes a fiber-optic bundle which is disposed in or forms at least one of the side-supporting arms. The fiber-optic bundle includes an optical face adjacent the first end of the side-supporting arm for projecting light within the viewing area of the spectacle frame. The second end of the side arm includes suitable means for connecting the fiber-optic bundle to a power supply for transmitting light through the fiber-optic bundle to the optical face for projecting light within the viewing area of the spectacle frame.

Abstract: A fiber optics element is provided which includes a fiber optics bundle having at least two optical surfaces or faces and support means supporting at least a portion of the fiber optics bundle with one optical face in a desired initial position, and yieldable means cooperating with the fiber optics bundle to permit movement of said one optical face relative to its said initial position upon application of pressure to said one optical face.In a preferred embodiment, the fiber optics element includes a fiber optics bundle having an optical surface or at each end, and is especially adapted for use in combination with a dental handpiece in a manner such that one optical face extends through the turbine housing portion of the dental handpiece. The fiber optics element further includes a tubular guide member, resilient support means in the form of a flexible tubular member, and a plunger assembly; the fiber optics bundle extends through each of the above components.

Abstract: An autoclavable instrument, such as an autoclavable laryngoscope, is provided which includes fiber optics illuminating means and is especially adapted for medical and/or dental applications. The illuminating means includes an elongated sintered glass rod formed from an oriented fiber optics bundle comprising a plurality of glass fibers. The elongated glass rod may include curved or bent portions so as to conform to the contours of the instrument. A method is also provided for making an instrument as described above.