US 12,279,751 B2
Image fiber, endoscope having image fiber, and endoscope system having endoscope
Masami Miyachi, Chiba (JP); and Manabu Kudo, Chiba (JP)
Assigned to Fujikura Ltd., Tokyo (JP)
Appl. No. 17/628,047
Filed by Fujikura Ltd., Tokyo (JP)
PCT Filed Jun. 25, 2020, PCT No. PCT/JP2020/024942
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 18, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/014876, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 28, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 2019-134005 (JP), filed on Jul. 19, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0257098 A1, Aug. 18, 2022
Int. Cl. A61B 1/00 (2006.01); A61B 1/04 (2006.01); G02B 6/02 (2006.01); G02B 6/06 (2006.01); G02B 23/26 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 1/00167 (2013.01) [A61B 1/0017 (2013.01); A61B 1/042 (2013.01); G02B 6/02 (2013.01); G02B 6/06 (2013.01); G02B 23/26 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image fiber comprising:
a plurality of cores;
a cladding that integrally encloses the plurality of cores;
a light guide fiber that propagates illumination light; and
a light guide layer that covers an entire periphery of an external peripheral surface of the cladding and that is in contact with an external peripheral surface of the light guide fiber, wherein
the light guide layer propagates the illumination light from the light guide fiber,
the light guide layer includes a cover layer made of resin,
a refractive index of the cover layer is higher than a refractive index of the cladding and is equal to or higher than a refractive index of the light guide fiber, and
the light guide fiber is at least partially disposed inside of the cover layer along a longitudinal direction of the light guide layer.