Abstract: An optical fiber cleaning assembly includes a cleaning tape, a first spool having the cleaning tape wound thereon, a second spool onto which the cleaning tape is drawn, a drive mechanism configured to move the cleaning tape from the first spool to the second spool, and one or more first connectors configured to mate with one or more connectors of a system, the system including a first optical fiber. The optical fiber cleaning assembly further includes one or more second connectors configured to mate with one or more optical fiber connectors of a device while the optical fiber cleaning assembly is attached to the system by the one or more first connectors, the device including a second optical fiber. The drive mechanism is configured to move the cleaning tape from the first spool to the second spool to wipe the face of the first or second optical fiber.

Abstract: An optical force sensor along with an optical processing apparatus and method are disclosed. The optical force sensor includes an optical fiber, a core included in the optical fiber, an instrument including the optical fiber, the instrument having a distal region, and a tubular structure encasing an end of the optical fiber and secured to the first conduit at the distal region of the instrument. When an optical interferometric system is coupled to the optical fiber, it processes reflected light from a portion of the core included within the tubular structure that does not include Bragg gratings to produce a measurement of a force present at the distal region of the instrument.

Abstract: An optical force sensor along with an optical processing apparatus and method are disclosed. The optical force sensor includes an optical fiber, a core included in the optical fiber, an instrument including the optical fiber, the instrument having a distal region, and a tubular structure encasing an end of the optical fiber and secured to the first conduit at the distal region of the instrument. When an optical interferometric system is coupled to the optical fiber, it processes reflected light from a portion of the core included within the tubular structure that does not include Bragg gratings to produce a measurement of a force present at the distal region of the instrument.

Abstract: A system includes a tool, an input device, a shape sensor system, and a processing unit. The processing unit is configured to determine a state estimate of the input device based on shape information from the shape sensor system, and control the tool based on the state estimate.

Abstract: An optical fiber cleaning assembly includes a cleaning tape, a first spool having the cleaning tape wound thereon, and a second spool onto which the cleaning tape is drawn. The optical fiber cleaning assembly further includes a drive mechanism for moving the cleaning tape from the first spool onto the second spool. A face of an optical fiber may be placed into contact with the cleaning tape, such that a portion of the cleaning tape wipes the face of the optical fiber as the drive mechanism moves the cleaning tape from the first spool onto the second spool.

Abstract: A tool may comprise an optical fiber including a proximal end, a distal end, an intermediate portion between the proximal end and the distal end, and an adjustable bend between the proximal end and the intermediate portion. Motion of the intermediate portion may be constrained to translational motion substantially along an axis defined by the optical fiber at the intermediate portion. The tool may also comprise a cylindrical passage through which the intermediate portion of the optical fiber extends and a housing enclosing the adjustable bend and the cylindrical passage. The cylindrical passage may extend through a cylindrical member that includes an outer wall surrounding the cylindrical passage. The housing encloses the outer wall of the cylindrical member.

Abstract: Example embodiments include an optical assembly for an optical interrogation system having a single core or a multicore sensing fiber, a measurement fiber to couple light into the sensing fiber, and a reference fiber arranged with the measurement fiber as part of an optical interferometer. A beam splitter combines light from the sensing fiber and with light from the reference fiber. A polarization beam splitting prism separates the combined light into first polarized light and second polarized light that is orthogonal to the first polarized light. The optical assembly can substantially reduce the size, complexity, or cost associated with the traditional optical components in an optical interrogation system that it replaces. Other example optical assemblies are described. Embodiments describe optical interrogation systems using the example optical assemblies.

Abstract: A system and method are used for an optical fiber having a core multiple, closely spaced optical gratings written along the core that create a repeated pattern in the core. A memory stores predetermined reference reflection data and measurement reflection data determined for a length of the core detected from interferometric patterns corresponding to scatter reflections received from the core. Data processing circuitry reduces or removes from the measurement reflection data information that corresponds to reflections due to the repeated pattern in the core to produce filtered measurement data. One or more portions of the filtered measurement data is/are correlated with one or more portions of the reference reflection data to produce multiple correlation values. The greatest of the multiple correlation values is determined, and a location along the fiber corresponding to the greatest correlation value is identified.

Abstract: A flexible tool includes an optical fiber including a proximal end, a distal end, an intermediate portion between the proximal end and the distal end and an adjustable bend between the proximal end and the intermediate portion. The intermediate portion may be constrained to have a single degree of freedom that is translational substantially along an axis defined by the optical fiber at the intermediate portion. The adjustable bend may be enclosed with a housing that provides space within the housing for the adjustable bend to adjust. The optical fiber may be used to provide shape sensing of the flexible tool.

Abstract: The ends of sensing and interrogating multicore fibers are brought into proximity for connection in a first orientation with one or more cores in the sensing fiber being paired up with corresponding one or more cores in the interrogating fiber. Optical interferometry is used to interrogate at least one core pair and to determine a first reflection value that represents a degree of alignment for the core pair in the first orientation. The relative position is adjusted between the ends of the fibers to a second orientation. Interferometry is used to interrogate the core pair and determine a second reflection value that represents a degree of alignment for the core pair in the second orientation. The first reflection value is compared with the second reflection value, and an aligned orientation is identified for connecting the sensing and interrogating fibers based on the comparison.

Abstract: Example embodiments include an optical assembly for an optical interrogation system having a single core or a multicore sensing fiber, a measurement fiber to couple light into the sensing fiber, and a reference fiber arranged with the measurement fiber as part of an optical interferometer. A beam splitter combines light from the sensing fiber and with light from the reference fiber. A polarization beam splitting prism separates the combined light into first polarized light and second polarized light that is orthogonal to the first polarized light. The optical assembly can substantially reduce the size, complexity, or cost associated with the traditional optical components in an optical interrogation system that it replaces. Other example optical assemblies are described. Embodiments describe optical interrogation systems using the example optical assemblies.

Abstract: A hinged tool includes a first member; a second member pivotally connected to the first member at a pivot; and an optical fiber. The optical fiber is fixed to the first member at a load application region and fixed to at least one of the pivot and the second member at a location such that the optical fiber bends when the first member and the second member are pivoted with respect to one another. A method of using a hinged tool includes measuring fiber strain in an optical fiber fixed to the hinged tool, and determining at least one of tool strain applied to the hinged tool and a degree of pivoting of the hinged tool using the fiber strain.

Abstract: An optical fiber includes multiple optical waveguides configured in the fiber. An interferometric measurement system mitigates or compensates for the errors imposed by differences in a shape sensing optical fiber's response to temperature and strain. A 3-D shape and/or position are calculated from a set of distributed strain measurements acquired for a multi-core optical shape sensing fiber that compensates for these non-linear errors using one or more additional cores in the multicore fiber that react differently to temperature changes than the existing cores.

Abstract: The ends of sensing and interrogating multicore fibers are brought into proximity for connection in a first orientation with one or more cores in the sensing fiber being paired up with corresponding one or more cores in the interrogating fiber. Optical interferometry is used to interrogate at least one core pair and to determine a first reflection value that represents a degree of alignment for the core pair in the first orientation. The relative position is adjusted between the ends of the fibers to a second orientation. Interferometry is used to interrogate the core pair and determine a second reflection value that represents a degree of alignment for the core pair in the second orientation. The first reflection value is compared with the second reflection value, and an aligned orientation is identified for connecting the sensing and interrogating fibers based on the comparison.

Abstract: A hinged tool includes a first member; a second member pivotally connected to the first member at a pivot; and an optical fiber. The optical fiber is fixed to the first member at a load application region and fixed to at least one of the pivot and the second member at a location such that the optical fiber bends when the first member and the second member are pivoted with respect to one another. A method of using a hinged tool includes measuring fiber strain in an optical fiber fixed to the hinged tool, and determining at least one of tool strain applied to the hinged tool and a degree of pivoting of the hinged tool using the fiber strain.

Abstract: An optical fiber includes multiple optical waveguides configured in the fiber. An interferometric measurement system mitigates or compensates for the errors imposed by differences in a shape sensing optical fiber's response to temperature and strain. A 3-D shape and/or position are calculated from a set of distributed strain measurements acquired for a multi-core optical shape sensing fiber that compensates for these non-linear errors using one or more additional cores in the multicore fiber that react differently to temperature changes than the existing cores.

Abstract: A system and method are used for an optical fiber having a core multiple, closely spaced optical gratings written along the core that create a repeated pattern in the core. A memory stores predetermined reference reflection data and measurement reflection data determined for a length of the core detected from interferometric patterns corresponding to scatter reflections received from the core. Data processing circuitry reduces or removes from the measurement reflection data information that corresponds to reflections due to the repeated pattern in the core to produce filtered measurement data. One or more portions of the filtered measurement data is/are correlated with one or more portions of the reference reflection data to produce multiple correlation values. The greatest of the multiple correlation values is determined, and a location along the fiber corresponding to the greatest correlation value is identified.

Abstract: A method and structure for terminating an optical fiber are disclosed that provide an optical fiber termination structure with a small volume and very low return loss, even when the termination is in close proximity to reflective surfaces. In one example embodiment, the optical fiber termination reduces reflections into the one or more cores to a return loss of ?70 dB or less regardless of the presence of surfaces proximate the optical fiber termination. At the same time, a length of the optical fiber termination is less than 5 mm and a largest transverse dimension of the optical fiber termination is less than 325 um. The optical fiber termination is useful in fiber sensing applications in general and is particularly effective for terminating a multi-core fiber used in a distributed shape sensing application.

Abstract: A method and structure for terminating an optical fiber are disclosed that provide an optical fiber termination structure with a small volume and very low return loss, even when the termination is in close proximity to reflective surfaces. In one example embodiment, the optical fiber termination reduces reflections into the one or more cores to a return loss of ?70 dB or less regardless of the presence of surfaces proximate the optical fiber termination. At the same time, a length of the optical fiber termination is less than 5 mm and a largest transverse dimension of the optical fiber termination is less than 325 um. The optical fiber termination is useful in fiber sensing applications in general and is particularly effective for terminating a multi-core fiber used in a distributed shape sensing application.

Abstract: An optical device under test (DUT) is interferometrically measured. The DUT can include one or more of an optical fiber, an optical component, or an optical system. First interference pattern data for the DUT is obtained for a first path to the DUT, and second interference pattern data for the DUT is obtained for a second somewhat longer path to the DUT. Because of that longer length, the second interference pattern data is delayed in time from the first interference pattern data. A time varying component of the DUT interference pattern data is then identified from the first and second interference pattern data. The identified time varying component is used to modify the first or the second interference pattern data to compensate for the time-varying phase caused by vibrations, etc. One or more optical characteristics of the DUT may then be determined based on the modified interference pattern data.