Mounting device for optical guides

Abstract

This invention describes a mounting device for an optical guide, comprising a sleeve with an end face and at least one fiber bundle, the fiber bundle being at least partially or segmentally fused to a glass tube around its circumferential surface. Here, the fiber bundle and the glass tube share a common end face and form a tapered region toward the common end face. The common end face has a rigid section fused to the glass tube, and the common end face is designed, or can be designed, as a ground surface and / or a polished surface. In the tapered region, the fiber bundle and the glass tube are at least partially or segmentally secured, or can be secured, to a fixed section of the sleeve or the sleeve by adhesive in a material-locking manner. The common end face of the fiber bundle and the glass tube is offset relative to the adhesive-bonded fixed section of the sleeve, such that the common end face is arranged, or can be arranged, to be offset from the adhesive-bonded fixed section. This means that the fixed section and the common end face are separable from each other or can be separated from each other.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a mounting device for an optical guide, comprising a sleeve having an end face and at least one fiber bundle, wherein a glass tube is fused to the fiber bundle at least partially or segmentally around its circumferential surface. The fiber bundle and the glass tube share a common end face. Here, the fiber bundle and the glass tube form a tapered region toward the common end face, and the common end face has a fused rigid section. The common end face is designed, or can be designed, as a ground surface and / or a polished surface. Further, in the tapered region, the fiber bundle and the glass tube are at least partially or segmentally secured in or on the sleeve by an adhesive in a material-locking manner, or can be secured in or on a fixing section of the sleeve. Background Technology

[0002] The applicant's patent DE3620368C2 describes an optical fiber guide having a fiber bundle molten into a glass tube. This patent describes an optical fiber guide whose end face region is formed by one end of an optical fiber bundle and a glass tube segment applied to that end, wherein the end face is polished. It is conceivable that both the glass tube segment and the optical fiber bundle are made of high-temperature resistant glass, and that the glass tube segment is applied to the optical fiber bundle in a molten state over a defined length such that the gaps between the individual optical fibers and / or between the optical fibers and the tube segment are at least partially filled by the material of the glass tube segment and / or by the material of the optical fiber cladding.

[0003] This process for manufacturing such optical guides is also known as GTF (Glass Tube Fusion). These optical guides are then mounted in metal sheaths or further processed into optical cables, primarily for medical applications.

[0004] Documents DE19703515C1 and DE10013482C2 also describe fiber bundles with molten glass tube sections. In both cases, it is conceivable that the glass tube needs to be removed again to further install the fiber bundle into the sleeve. This requires complex processes, which can potentially damage the light guide.

[0005] However, when these fiber bundles fused with glass tubes are installed into mounting sleeves, typically made of stainless steel, using adhesives, it has been found that this can cause stress in the fiber composite material, potentially leading to cracking. This is particularly problematic when such light guides are used in the medical field—where, after use, the light guides must undergo heat treatment processes such as steam sterilization for reuse. This can cause drastic temperature changes, damaging the light guide after only a few such cycles, rendering it unusable.

[0006] To prevent damage to the ends of fusion-spliced ​​optical fibers, a flexible optical guide is described in document US2016011356, in which at least one fusion-spliced ​​optical fiber end is fixed in an end member, wherein a buffer material layer is provided between the fusion-spliced ​​optical fiber end and the end member. The buffer material layer is designed to compensate for differences in thermal expansion and contraction between the fusion-spliced ​​optical fiber end and the end member to avoid damage to the fusion-spliced ​​optical fiber end, such as damage that may occur during repeated autoclaving. For example, the buffer layer can be made by wrapping the fusion-spliced ​​glass fiber end with PTFE tape, thread-locking tape, or the like.

[0007] This is a preliminary, seemingly feasible solution, especially for stress avoidance. However, a drawback is that this buffer layer cannot guarantee overall compactness. Microscopically visible gaps exist within these gaps, allowing bacteria to proliferate. Even autoclaving cannot completely eliminate bacteria, increasing the risk of contamination. This contamination can lead to serious complications for patients, particularly in medical settings.

[0008] Another approach to prevent cracking during or due to temperature changes is to use a permanently elastic adhesive. However, such adhesives have proven to lack long-term stability for, for example, hundreds of frequently required autoclaving cycles. Here, over time, the chemical bonds in the adhesive break, causing such adhesives to decompose or even liquefy with increasing reprocessing cycles, rendering the light guide unusable. Summary of the Invention

[0009] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an installation device that avoids the above-mentioned disadvantages and achieves a robust, long-term stable, and temperature-resistant light guide or light guide mounting component for continuous use, especially in medical technology environments.

[0010] The objective of this invention has been achieved through the subject matter of the independent claims. Preferred designs and extensions are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0011] According to the invention, the mounting device has an offset between the common end face of the fiber bundle and the glass tube and the adhesive-bonded fixing section of the sleeve, such that the common end face is arranged, or can be arranged, to be offset from the adhesive-bonded fixing section. Here, the particularly crack-prone common end face of the glass tube weld forms a protrusion, or extends beyond the sleeve end face by a specific distance, thereby isolating the adhesive-bonded fixing section from the sensitive area of ​​the common end face, thereby avoiding or at least reducing stress induced by the adhesive or bonding agent on the common end face of the fiber bundle and the glass tube.

[0012] In other words, a mounting device for a light guide is provided, comprising a sleeve with an end face and at least one fiber bundle, wherein the fiber bundle is surrounded by a glass tube on its circumferential surface and is at least partially or segmentally fused around its circumference, and the fiber bundle and the glass tube have or form a common end face. Further, the fiber bundle and the glass tube form a tapered region toward the common end face, and the common end face has a rigid section fused with the glass tube. This common end face is designed, or can be designed, as a ground surface and / or a polished surface. Furthermore, in the tapered region, the fiber bundle and the glass tube are at least partially or segmentally material-locked in or on the sleeve by an adhesive, or can be fixed in or on a fixed section of the sleeve. Thus, the material locking is particularly formed in or on the fixed section, but can also extend to the interior of the sleeve opposite to the end face—i.e., in or on the sleeve behind the fixed section. Furthermore, the common end face of the fiber bundle is offset relative to the fixed section of the sleeve, such that the common end face of the fiber bundle and the glass tube is arranged or can be arranged to be offset from the fixed section, and the fixed section and the common end face are separated from each other or can be separated from each other.

[0013] In the context of this invention, the mounting device particularly includes a sleeve in which fiber bundles can be mounted or bonded to a fused glass tube using an adhesive. Such fused fiber bundles can be positioned at the distal and proximal ends or at both ends of a light guide. The mounting device can also be understood as a means capable of attaching, connecting, arranging, or distributing to, or being attached to, connected to, arranged, or distributed to, other devices, components, or parts. These other devices, components, or parts may be light sources, camera modules, or endoscope handheld devices in medical settings and other applications.

[0014] Such an optical guide comprises at least one or more optical guiding elements in the form of multiple optical fibers, which thus constitute a fiber bundle. It may also be specified that the fiber bundle is at least partially or segmentally combined within or surrounded by a sheath, thereby forming a sheathed optical fiber cable. In the area of ​​the sheath or ferrule, the sheath may be removed, and the optical guiding elements may be secured solely within the sheath by material and / or shape fit, and if necessary, by force fit. It may also be specified that the elements are secured together with the sheath within the sheath. The optical guiding elements or optical fibers are preferably glass-based fibers (GOF) and are typically designed as a so-called core-cladding system.

[0015] In a preferred design for mounting devices for optical guides, the offset between the common end face of the fiber bundle and the glass tube and the end face of the sleeve is in the range of 0.1 mm to 2 mm, preferably in the range of 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm. Accordingly, it has been proven advantageous for this offset, or the amount of offset, between the common end face of the fiber bundle and the glass tube and the adhesive surrounding the fiber bundle in the fixing section. On the one hand, this is because, in terms of its mechanical stability, the self-supporting protrusion cannot be too large. In principle, an offset larger than the maximum of 2 mm can also be conceived, but it is not practically meaningful due to the increased mechanical sensitivity of such a design. However, on the other hand, a certain minimum distance needs to be maintained between the fusion zone (i.e., the fusion area of ​​the fiber bundle and the glass tube, especially in the area or near the common end face) and the edge of the adhesive or the joint (Verklebung) of the fiber bundle and the glass tube within the sleeve, to ensure adequate isolation from mechanical stresses caused, for example, by differences in thermal expansion in the fusion zone (especially the difference in thermal expansion between the adhesive and the sleeve and the glass). This avoids or at least reduces or minimizes the introduction of mechanical stress into the common end face, enabling the light guide to withstand repeated thermal stresses without damage, such as cracking, peeling, or delamination. Such stresses often occur, for example, in medical environments, such as during necessary reprocessing, particularly through heat treatment steps in sterilization (e.g., autoclaving), after the light guide has been used or before it is reused.

[0016] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, alternatively or additionally, a gap of 0.05 mm to 0.2 mm is formed, either partially or segmentally, in the fixing section between the glass tube and the sleeve, as a separation spacing for the adhesive. An excessively large separation spacing can cause excessive eccentricity of the fiber bundle within the sleeve, or may negatively affect the positional tolerance of the fiber bundle within the sleeve. This can be disadvantageous during operation, particularly during optical coupling, optical decoupling, or when positioning the light guide relative to other connected components. An excessively small separation spacing may result in insufficient adhesive wetting of the surface in certain areas, potentially creating air gaps. This can then be disadvantageous during reprocessing and use. Such air gaps can become filled with media, bacteria, or contaminants, which is unacceptable, especially in in vivo or surface medical applications, and can further damage the bond during reprocessing with chemical components, ultimately leading to light guide failure.

[0017] In another equally preferred embodiment of the mounting device for the light guide, the sleeve is alternatively or additionally designed such that the fixing section is arranged, or can be arranged, offset from the end face of the sleeve and has or can have a shoulder (Kranz), such that during installation, a circumferential groove is formed in the region of the common end face between the shoulder and the glass tube, wherein the end face of the sleeve and the fiber bundle form a plane with the common end face of the glass tube. In this way, the self-supporting fiber bundle fused with the glass tube receives all-around lateral mechanical protection. It should be noted that the shoulder of the sleeve can, in principle, protrude beyond the common end face of the fiber bundle and the glass tube. However, this may be disadvantageous in the manufacturing process, as the light guide or its end face typically needs to undergo grinding and polishing processes along with the fiber bundle mounted or bonded to the sleeve, which removes any protrusions that may exist on the shoulder.

[0018] To avoid an excessively narrow gap (as mentioned at the beginning, which promotes bacterial growth), the width of the groove between the shoulder of the mounting sleeve and the glass tube (groove width) is at least 0.3 mm, preferably at least 0.5 mm. This ensures that a sufficiently large attack opening or surface area is provided for sterilization processes used in medical environments (such as steam sterilization or autoclaving, or plasma sterilization processes such as the Staradil™ process) to achieve a sufficiently high bacterial reduction rate, such as a logarithmic reduction of several times (e.g., 6 times). Depending on the design of the light guide or the possible, permissible, or required overall geometry of the mounting device, especially the width or diameter of the mounting device transverse to its axis, the groove width can be in the range of up to a fraction of a millimeter, but in any case greater than 0.3 mm, or up to several millimeters, for example in the range of greater than or equal to 0.3 mm to 3 mm, preferably in the range of greater than or equal to 0.3 mm to 1.5 mm.

[0019] In an advantageous design for mounting devices used for optical guides, the sleeve comprises stainless steel (e.g., stainless steel made of material 1.4301 or 1.4305), plastic, or a combination of these two material categories (e.g., in the case of multi-component modular sleeves), or is composed of these materials. For plastic designs, plastics based on PPSU (polyphenylsulfone) or PEEK (polyetheretherketone) have proven particularly reliable in medical technology environments. These materials are advantageous in that they possess both sufficiently good thermal stability and exceptionally high mechanical stiffness.

[0020] Besides stainless steel, other metallic materials such as nickel silver or brass can be considered in principle. However, stainless steel is preferred in terms of corrosion resistance and biocompatibility, especially in medical technology environments. In principle, the following material selection criteria are advantageous: on the one hand, the material must possess sufficient mechanical stability to be held in the clamping device during the final grinding and polishing process. On the other hand, the material should not have a tendency to "stick," meaning it is preferably relatively brittle and / or filled with glass fiber (glass fiber reinforced plastic) or other fillers, such as ceramic or glass fillers. These fillers also bond well to the fiber bundles of the optical guide.

[0021] In advantageous embodiments of mounting devices for optical guides, the adhesive comprises or consists of highly cross-linked, brittle epoxy adhesives. These adhesives are used to ensure sufficiently good reprocessing. Typically, more than 100 to 1000 reprocessing cycles, especially autoclaving cycles, are required. For such brittle, highly cross-linked adhesives, key bonding properties include: the highest possible tensile shear strength, the highest possible glass transition temperature (as with high or increased hardness, the glass transition temperature is also an indicator of the degree of cross-linking), the lowest possible coefficient of thermal expansion, the lowest possible modulus of elasticity, and a relatively low coefficient of transverse shrinkage or low shear modulus (these are usually not provided in datasheets). Typically, only the modulus of elasticity is specified.

[0022] Typical adhesives suitable for this purpose typically have a Shore D hardness of 75 to 95 in their crosslinked, cured, or processed state, and generally have a glass transition temperature >95°C. Tensile shear strength is typically >13.5 N / mm², equivalent to approximately >2000 psi. Shore hardness is related to elastic modulus and shear strength. However, more critical are often the precise curing conditions of the adhesive and any fillers that may be present. Specifically, high crosslinking can be achieved through prolonged tempering and / or increased temperatures. Combined crosslinking in multiple stages can also be considered depending on the adhesive's chemical composition. Thus, for example, pre-crosslinking using UV light followed by thermal crosslinking can be used to achieve high crosslinking.

[0023] It should be noted here that this is essentially a conflict of objectives. On the one hand, particularly stable adhesives are required to withstand hundreds of reprocessing cycles, especially during autoclaving, while also requiring correspondingly high chemical bonding stability during plasma sterilization. On the other hand, these adhesives induce stress, which subsequently leads to stress cracking in the glass tube-fiber composite material that already exists during curing. However, as mentioned earlier, this situation can be avoided or at least significantly reduced by the design of this invention.

[0024] As described above in various embodiments of the mounting device, a particularly advantageous use of this mounting device is for optical guides and / or optical cables that can be repeatedly reprocessed by sterilization methods after each use in medical technology environments or medical applications. This approach according to the invention can be advantageously used particularly when the optical guide or optical cable serves as a connection between a light source and an endoscope, or for connecting such components, and / or in an optical guide integrated into an endoscope. Applications in industrial environments, such as energy technology and aerospace, are also conceivable, where high temperatures or drastic temperature fluctuations are particularly critical influencing factors. Attached Figure Description

[0025] The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0026] In the attached diagram: Figure 1 An installation device according to the prior art is shown schematically. Figure 2 The mounting device according to the invention is shown schematically. Figure 3 A variant of the mounting device is schematically shown, featuring a sleeve with a shoulder. Figure 4 schematically shown Figure 3 Another variant of the variant shown. Detailed Implementation

[0027] Figure 1 A schematic diagram illustrates an mounting device for an optical guide 1 according to the prior art, comprising a fiber bundle 2 fused to a glass tube 3 on its circumferential surface 2.5 using the GTF process described at the beginning. The fiber bundle 2 here has a tapered portion 2.4. The tapered portion 2.4 is due to the increasing packing density of the individual fibers due to the fusion between the fibers and the fusion with the glass tube 3 (until complete fusion or the formation and encirclement of a fully fused portion in or near the common end face 2.3). Therefore, the fiber bundle 2 with the glass tube 3 has a fused, and therefore rigid, segment 2.2 at least near its common end face 2.3, followed by a transition region where the fibers are only partially fused, transitioning to a non-fused segment 2.1. In this non-fused segment, the fibers in the fiber bundle 2 are arranged to be freely movable.

[0028] The typical diameter of the fiber bundle 2 thus fused is in the range of 0.5 to 10 mm. The length of the taper 2.4, or the length of the transition region between the non-fused section 2.1 of the fiber bundle 2 and the common end face 2.3 of the fiber bundle 2 and the glass tube 3, is typically between 0.5 mm and 20 mm. Here, the range of the transition region between the non-fused section 2.1 and the fully fused section 2.2 can typically be between 2 mm and 10 mm. Therefore, the diameter of the mounting device is also on a similar order of magnitude, and in any case, larger than the diameter of the fiber bundle used. For a fiber bundle with a diameter of 2 mm, the total diameter of the mounting device can be considered to be at least 3 mm. The minimum possible wall thickness of the sleeve 4 is, of course, determined by its material, while the maximum, permissible, or required total diameter is typically determined by the application of the optical guide mounted in this manner.

[0029] The GTF fiber bundle is then secured in the sleeve 4 within the area of ​​the fixing segment 4.3 of the sleeve 4 using adhesive 5, wherein the applied adhesive 5 ideally fills the gaps up to the common end face 2.3 to prevent gaps or voids. The sleeve 4 is ideally made of stainless steel, but can also be made of fiber-reinforced plastic or filled plastic as described above. The final common end face 2.3 of the fiber bundle 2 is then formed together with the end face of the sleeve 4 through a subsequent grinding and polishing process. As mentioned above, a disadvantage here is the stress induced in the welded segment 2.2 of the fiber bundle 2, which is introduced during the curing of the adhesive 5. Further stress is then generated due to temperature changes during reprocessing (e.g., by means of steam sterilization). This typically leads to cracks on the common end face 2.3, significantly reducing production yield and greatly limiting service life or the number of reprocessing cycles.

[0030] Figure 2 An embodiment according to the invention is illustrated schematically. In this embodiment, the fiber bundle 2, manufactured using the GTF process, protrudes beyond the sleeve 4 by an offset of 6, thereby maintaining a sufficient distance between the adhesive 5 in the adhesive gap or fixing segment 4.3 and the welded segment 2.2 of the fiber bundle 2. This reduces stress introduction during installation or adhesive curing and during reprocessing cycles in use, thereby significantly reducing the risk of crack formation. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it has proven advantageous for the offset 6 or offset amount between the common end face 2.3 of the fiber bundle 2 and the glass tube and the adhesive 5 or fixing segment 4.3 surrounding the fiber bundle 2 to be at least 0.1 mm to 2 mm, wherein, particularly preferred, the offset amount is 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm. Tests have shown that this offset 6 is substantially independent of the diameter of the fiber bundle 2 having the glass tube 3. Here, the adhesive or bonding agent should have a separation gap of 0.05 mm to 0.2 mm between the inner surfaces of the glass tube 3 and the sleeve 4.

[0031] Figure 2 A potential drawback of the illustrated embodiment is that the edges of the common end faces 2.3 of the fiber bundles 2 manufactured using the GTF process are exposed without protection. Therefore, Figure 3 Another embodiment is schematically illustrated, in which the sleeve 4 is designed such that the fixing section 4.3 is arranged offset 6 from the end face 4.1 and has a shoulder 4.2. This creates a circumferential groove 7 between the shoulder 4.2 and the glass tube 3 in the region of the common end face 2.3 in the installed state, and the sleeve end face 4.1 and the fiber bundle 2 form a plane with the common end face 2.3 of the glass tube 3. In this way, the exposed end of the fiber bundle with the fused glass tube can be provided with all-around lateral mechanical protection.

[0032] To avoid an excessively narrow gap (as mentioned at the beginning, which would promote the formation of bacteria or contaminants or hinder their reduction), the groove width 7.1 of the groove 7 is at least 0.3 mm, preferably at least 0.5 mm. During installation, care must be taken to ensure that the groove 7 between the shoulder 4.2 and the glass tube 3 is not covered or filled by the adhesive 5.

[0033] Optionally, it can be specified that after installation and grinding and polishing of the common end face 2.3, the groove 7 can be filled with a permanently elastic and self-leveling castable 8 to prevent the accumulation of particles that are difficult to remove during reprocessing. Such castables 8 are particularly suitable for high-temperature resistance, and can withstand typical temperature shocks of 135°C to 140°C during steam sterilization multiple times (typically hundreds of times, depending on the cycle used). Furthermore, such castables exhibit strong resistance to hydrolysis and chemicals. Materials particularly suitable for this purpose are silicone-based castables, such as so-called LSR (Liquid Silicon Rubber) castables or permanently elastic epoxy castables.

[0034] Figure 4 It shows Figure 3 A variant of the embodiment shown also features optional castable 8. The GTF weld of this tapered design is... Figures 1 to 3 The difference in the weld shown is that, due to the additional manufacturing process, the diameter ratio of the non-welded bundle (i.e., non-welded segment 2.1) to the welded segment 2.2 is greater than in other welds. Therefore, compared to Figures 1 to 3 Variants in Figure 4The end face 2.3 has a smaller or reduced diameter. As schematically shown, the sleeve 4 may also have additional sections, particularly in the region of the end face (e.g., sections with partially or segmentally reduced wall thickness), and / or may have additional clamping or locking elements (not shown here), which in turn facilitate or enable the mounting of the light guide thus installed to a light source, camera module, or handpiece (e.g., the handpiece of an endoscope). To facilitate the introduction or insertion of the fiber bundle 2 into the glass tube 3 prior to so-called GTF welding, the glass tube 3 may have a bushing 3.1 at the insertion end. This bushing 3.1 may be designed as a rounded bushing as shown, or as a tapered section (not shown).

[0035] List of reference numerals 1. Optical guide 2 fiber bundles 2.1 Non-welded area 2.2 Welding Area 2.3 Common end face 2.4 Conical section 2.5 circumferential surface 3 glass tubes 3.1 Bushing 4 sleeves 4.1 Casing end face 4.2 Protruding shoulder 4.3 Fixed Sections 5 adhesives 6 offset 7 grooves 7.1 Slot width 8. Castable refractory.

Claims

1. A mounting device for an optical guide (1), the mounting device comprising a sleeve (4) with an end face (4.1) and at least one fiber bundle (2), wherein, The fiber bundle (2) is at least partially or segmentally fused with a glass tube (3) around its circumferential surface (2.5), and the fiber bundle (2) and the glass tube (3) have a common end face (2.3), wherein, The fiber bundle (2) and the glass tube (3) together form a conical region (2.4) facing the common end face (2.3). in, The common end face (2.3) has a rigid section (2.2) that is fused to the glass tube (3), and wherein, The common end face (2.3) is designed as a ground surface and / or a polished surface, and wherein, In the conical region (2.4), the fiber bundle (2) and the glass tube (3) are at least partially or segmentally fixed in the sleeve (4) at the fixing section (4.3) of the sleeve (4) by an adhesive (5), wherein, The end face and the common end face (2.3) of the sleeve (4) are located in the same plane, or the common end face (2.3) protrudes beyond the end face of the sleeve (4). And among them The common end face (2.3) of the fiber bundle (2) and the glass tube (3) is offset (6) relative to the fixing section (4.3) of the sleeve (4) with the adhesive (5), such that: The common end face (2.3) is arranged to be offset (6) from the fixing segment (4.3) having the adhesive (5), and the fixing segment (4.3) is separated from the common end face (2.3) of the fiber bundle (2) and the glass tube (3). in, The offset (6) between the common end face (2.3) of the fiber bundle (2) and the glass tube (3) and the fixed section (4.3) of the sleeve is in the range of 0.1 mm to 2 mm. The formation of the conical region (2.4) is attributed to the increasing packing density of each fiber due to the continuous increase in the fusion between the fibers and the fusion with the glass tube (3), until complete fusion or the formation of a completely fused portion in or near the area of ​​the common end face (2.3).

2. The mounting device for the optical guide (1) according to claim 1, wherein, The offset (6) is in the range of 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm.

3. The mounting device for the optical guide (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, In the fixing section (4.3) between the inner side of the glass tube (3) and the sleeve (4), a gap of 0.05 mm to 0.2 mm is formed in part or in sections as a separation spacing for the adhesive (5).

4. The mounting device for the optical guide (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The sleeve (4) is designed such that the fixing section (4.3) is arranged to be spaced apart from the sleeve end face (4.1) by the offset (6) and has a shoulder (4.2) such that, during installation, a circumferential groove (7) is formed between the shoulder (4.2) and the glass tube (3) in the region of the common end face (2.3), wherein the sleeve end face (4.1) and the fiber bundle (2) form a plane with the common end face (2.3) of the glass tube (3).

5. The mounting device for the optical guide (1) according to claim 4, wherein, The groove width (7.1) of the groove (7) is at least 0.3 mm.

6. The mounting device for the optical guide (1) according to claim 5, wherein, The groove width (7.1) of the groove (7) is at least 0.5 mm.

7. The mounting device for the optical guide (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The sleeve (4) may be made of stainless steel, plastic, or a combination of both materials.

8. The mounting device for the optical guide (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The sleeve (4) is made of stainless steel, plastic, or a combination of these two material categories.

9. The mounting device for the optical guide (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The adhesive (5) comprises a highly cross-linked, brittle epoxy resin adhesive.

10. The mounting device for the optical guide (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The adhesive (5) is composed of a highly cross-linked, brittle epoxy resin adhesive.

11. The mounting device according to any one of the preceding claims is used for optical fiber (1) and / or optical fiber cable, wherein, The optical fiber and / or optical fiber cable can be repeatedly processed using sterilization methods in a medical environment.

Images