Abstract: A system for sensing a characteristic of fluid flowing to or from the body of a human or animal comprising a conduit having a first end adapted to be outside the body, a second end adapted to be received within the body, and a flow passage through which fluid can flow between the first and second ends and a probe including a sensor for sensing a characteristic of the fluid. The probe is mounted on the conduit with the sensor in the flow passage. The sensor is isolated from the fluid flowing in the flow passage.

Abstract: A system for sensing a characteristic of fluid flowing to or from the body of a human or a comprising a conduit having a first end adapted to be outside the body, a second end adapted to be received within the body, and a flow passage through which fluid can flow between the first and second ends and a probe including a sensor for sensing a characteristic of the fluid. The probe is mounted on the conduit with the sensor in the flow passage. The sensor is isolated from the fluid flowing in the flow passage.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a connector body, an optical fiber mounted on the connector body and a receptacle having a cavity for receiving the connector body. The connector body has a cam surface, and the receptacle cooperates with the cam surface when the receptacle and connector body are appropriately positioned to urge the connector body farther into the cavity to place optical portions of the connector body and the receptacle into substantial engagement.

Abstract: An apparatus for aligning and terminating at least one optical fiber of a fiber optic cable within the fiber optic connector assembly aong a predetermined axis. The fiber optic connector comprises a rigid tubular body having a bore dimensioned for receiving the fiber optic cable, a central axis concentric with the predetermined axis, a split alignment sleeve having an outer dimension greater in dimension than the bore of the rigid tubular body, and a threaded alignment sleeve holder having a central aperture dimension for receiving the rigid tubular body and the compressible split alignment sleeve. The apparatus further includes a compression pin which is inserted into the forward end of the fiber optic connector to concetrically align and separate the fibers of the fiber optic cable.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a connector body, an optical fiber mounted on the connector body and a receptacle having a cavity for receiving the connector body. The connector body has a cam surface, and the receptacle cooperates with the cam surface when the receptacle and connector body are appropriately positioned to urge the connector body upwardly and farther into the cavity to place optical portions of the connector body and the receptacle into substantial engagement.

Abstract: An apparatus connectible to an instrument comprising an optical fiber for conducting light along its length and a connector body for use in coupling the optical fiber to the instrument. The connector body defines an enclosure having an entrance passage leading into the enclosure and an exit passage leading from the enclosure. The optical fiber extends through the entrance passage into the interior of the enclosure and into the exit passage. The optical fiber has an enlarged end portion which cooperates with the exit passage to retain the end portion in the exit passage.

Abstract: A connector for coupling a pair of single optical fibers is disclosed. The connector comprises a base plate having a V-groove in its upper surface having a transverse cross-section of an equilateral triangle. Two sets of three equal diameter cylindrical rods lay in the groove each defining an interstitial space therebetween which receives an optical fiber. The sets of rods have mating end faces which abut each other in the groove. A compression plate is mounted over the base plate to arrange the rods in the V-groove so that the centers of the rods are disposed at the vertices of the same equilateral triangle so that the fibers in the interstitial spaces between the rods will become precisely laterally aligned. The groove in the base plate may contain a larger number of rods for aligning a plurality of optical fibers within the interstices defined by the rods. The groove may also have the configuration of a truncated equilateral triangle. A flat cable single optical fiber connector is also disclosed.

Abstract: A hermaphroditic connector for coupling a pair of single optical fibers is disclosed. The connector comprises a pair of connector members each containing at least one single optical fiber terminated by a termination pin. The pin includes a metal eyelet crimped about the optical fiber in three places providing three, spaced, curved indentations which centrally position the fiber in the pin. When the connector members are mated, the mating termination pins are positioned so that the indentations therein are generally aligned. A cam or spring device is forced into the indentations in the mating termination pins to accurately laterally align the pins and, hence, the optical fibers therein.

Abstract: A connector for coupling a pair of single optical fibers is disclosed. Each contact of the connector utilizes three spheres of equal diameter defining a tricuspid interstitial space therebetween into which the end of a fiber is mounted. The spheres are embraced by a circular race and may engage each other but always engage the race. When a pair of contacts is mated in axial abutting relationship, the spheres in the mating abutting contacts nest with respect to each other, thereby precisely laterally aligning the optical fibers which are mounted in the interstitial spaces of the sets of spheres in the two contacts. Spring means are included to urge the spheres inwardly and are releasable to facilitate insertion of a single optical fiber extending axially and to compensate for alignment tolerances.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable for use in a fiber optic connector in which a ferrule is compressed around the end of the fiber bundle in the cable. The bore in the ferrule has a cylindrical wall with circumferentially spaced flat surfaces thereon which minimize the compression hoop effects on the peripheral fibers of the bundle, thereby maximizing fiber bundle consolidation.

Abstract: A heremaphroditic connector for coupling a pair of single optical fibers is disclosed. The connector comprises a pair of connector members each containing at least one single optical fiber terminated by a termination pin. The pin includes a metal eyelet crimped about the optical fiber in three places providing three, spaced, curved indentations which centrally position the fiber in the pin. When the connector members are mated, the mating termination pins are positioned so that the indentations therein are generally aligned. A cam or spring device is forced into the indentations in the mating termination pins to accurately laterally align the pins and, hence, the optical fibers therein.

Abstract: A connector for coupling a pair of single optical fibers is disclosed. The connector comprises a deformable elastomeric alignment element having a bore therethrough having a central uniform diameter portion and outwardly tapered end portions. Two sets of three equal diameter cylindrical rods are mounted in the opposite ends of the bore. Each set of rods defines an interstitial space therebetween which receives an optical fiber. The sets of rods have mating end faces which abut each other in the bore. The rods of each set have an interference fit in the central portion of the bore causing the rods to be resiliently compressed inwardly to engage each other and the fiber therebetween. By the compression of the rods, the rods of each set are disposed at the vertices of an equilateral triangle so that the fibers in the interstitial spaces between the rods become precisely laterally aligned.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable for use in a fiber optic connector in which a ferrule is compressed around the end of the fiber bundle in the cable. The bore in the ferrule has a cylindrical wall with circumferentially spaced flat surfaces thereon which minimize the compression hoop effects on the peripheral fibers of the bundle, thereby maximizing fiber bundle consolidation.

Abstract: An optical coupler comprising an optical chamber having a reflective wall. A light emitting device, such as an LED or the end of an optical fiber, is positioned adjacent to one end of the optical chamber. The end of a receiving optical fiber extends into the chamber from the opposite end thereof. A light transmitting filler fills the chamber so that light emitted into the chamber by the light emitting device will reflect off the chamber wall and impinge upon the outer surface of the receiving fiber. The receiving fiber is insensitive to alignment problems due to the close proximity of the reflector and receiver surfaces and the large receiving surface area.

Abstract: A connector for coupling a transmitting single optical fiber to a receiving single optical fiber in which the ends of the fibers are mounted in the respective ends of a bore in an alignment tube. The end faces of the fibers are spaced from each other and a restriction is formed in the bore between such end faces. The wall of the bore adjacent to each end of the restriction is tapered so that the optical beam emitted from the transmitting fiber is restricted in the restriction and thereafter reconstructed to its emitted numerical aperture prior to reaching the end face of the receiving fiber. The transmitting fiber is slidably mounted in the bore so as to be separable therefrom.

Abstract: An elongated hollow termination pin assembly for mechanically terminating a fiber bundle of a fiber optic cable. The pin assembly includes an elongated hollow pin with coaxially slidable outer sleeve and an O-ring of resilient material mounted in a groove about the pin immediately adjacent to the end of the sleeve toward the terminal end of the cable. A backward facing shoulder is provided about the circumference of the sleeve so that a retaining clip within the connector shell can restrain backward axial movement of the sleeve. The pin can slide within the sleeve, however, and is resiliently constrained by the O-ring to provide a positive abutment force at the interface of the fiber bundles, dampen contact vibrations, and absorb axial tolerances. Alternatively, the O-ring may be positioned between a forwardly facing shoulder on the connector body and the retaining clip, with a tine on the clip engaging a rearwardly facing shoulder on the pin.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector for providing a removable light signal transfer connection between the ends of at least one pair of fiber optic cables. The fiber optic cable consists of a jacket and at least one, and usually a plurality of glass fiber conducting elements within said jacket. The fiber optic cable ends to be connected are each encased within an elongated hollow terminating pin. The optical fibers are constrained within the terminating pin into a compact shape having the cross-sectional outline of a hexagon or other polygon. The guide sleeve is provided which includes axial grooves which engage the corners of the polygon face at the terminal end of the terminating pin to effect twist mode or rotational alignment. The guide sleeve is of small cross-section in the vicinity of the point of abutment of the opposing fiber bundles but flares toward the insertion ends.