US 12,222,556 B2
Method of re-connecting optical fibers and system
Elbert Gerjan Van Putten, 'S-Hertogenbosch (NL); and Adrianus Johannes Gerardus Mank, Eindhoven (NL)
Assigned to KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V., Eindhoven (NL)
Appl. No. 18/033,833
Filed by KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V., Eindhoven (NL)
PCT Filed Oct. 27, 2021, PCT No. PCT/EP2021/079862
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Apr. 26, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/096345, PCT Pub. Date May 12, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 20206132 (EP), filed on Nov. 6, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0400643 A1, Dec. 14, 2023
Int. Cl. G02B 6/38 (2006.01); A61B 5/06 (2006.01); A61B 34/20 (2016.01); G01B 11/16 (2006.01); G01D 5/353 (2006.01); G01M 11/00 (2006.01); G02B 6/02 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 6/3843 (2013.01) [A61B 2034/2061 (2016.02); A61B 2562/0266 (2013.01); G01B 11/161 (2013.01); G01D 5/3538 (2013.01); G01M 11/3181 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of re-connecting a first optical fiber (12) with a second optical fiber, the method comprising:
positioning a first end section of the first fiber and a second end section of the second fiber in proximity so as to be aligned with one another along a longitudinal axis of the first and second end sections in a current connection position including a current connection orientation, in which a current relative rotational angle between the first and second end sections about the longitudinal axis is not known with respect to a relative rotational angle between the first and second end sections in a registered connection orientation which has been determined with respect to a coordinate system during a previous connection of the first fiber with the second fiber, the first fiber and the second fiber each having a plurality of outer cores,
optically interrogating the outer cores of the first and second fibers through the current connection position to receive optical signals from the outer cores, and
modifying, from the optical interrogation of the outer cores, the registered connection orientation such that the first and second fibers in the current connection orientation including the current relative rotational angle between the first and second end sections about the longitudinal axis are correctly registered with respect to the coordinate system.