CONFOCAL IMAGE GUIDE
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United States of America Patent
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Issued Date -
Jul 26, 2007
app pub date -
Jan 22, 2007
filing date -
Jan 20, 2006
priority date (Note) -
Abandoned
status (Latency Note)
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Abstract
In certain aspects, the present disclosure provides image guides having a plurality of spaced-apart optical fibers. The fibers are spaced apart sufficiently to allow parallel pixel acquisition from at least a portion of the plurality of fibers. In some examples, the fibers are encased in a rigid matrix. The image guides are, in some examples, enclosed in a rigid material. In specific examples, the rigid material is flexible, allowing the image guide to bend or flex. Further provided are methods for fabricating such image guides. According to a particular method, fibers in an image guide are individually mobilized. A portion of the image guide is heated until the mobilized fibers obtain a plastic state. The image guide is then drawn, cooled, and axially cut. The fiber ends may be ground or polished to obtain fibers of a particular diameter or desired surface characteristics.
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