WO2005076047A1

WO2005076047A1 - Optical product with integral terminal part

Info

Publication number: WO2005076047A1
Application number: PCT/AU2005/000147
Authority: WO
Inventors: Matthew Henderson
Original assignee: Matthew Henderson
Priority date: 2004-02-06
Filing date: 2005-02-07
Publication date: 2005-08-18

Abstract

A drawn fibre device (15) includes a functional terminal part (12) and one or more fibres (14) drawn from, and integrally connected to the terminal part (12) to enable the device to achieve a functionality involving co-operation between the function of the fibres (14) and the functions of the terminal part (12) formed integrally therewith. The device is formed by first forming a functional terminal part (12) and one or more drawable portions (13, not shown), integrally connected to the terminal part (12), and then drawing fibres (14) from the one or more drawable portions (13) to form fibres (14) integrally connected to the terminal part (12).

Description

"Optical product with integral terroinal part"

Cross-Re fercπce to Related Applications The present application claims priority from Provisional Patent Application No 2004900558 filed on 6 February 2004, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to the design and use of products based on drawn or drawable parts, including optical fibres. The invention provides one or more new devices the construction of which is based on such fibres.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Fibres, including optical fibres can be manufactured from a range of materials including glass and polymers. The first step of manufacturing a fibre is to create a preform. A preform is traditionally a cylindrical entity of glass or other material used as the source material from which the fibre is drawn. The preform is heated so that it softens and a fibre drawn from the softened material in a one or two stage process depending on the initial size of the preform. A bigger diameter preform is generally drawn down into a cane in a first pass. The cane is then heated and drawn down into a fibre in a second pass. Any material not drawn down is generally discarded or recycled and generally results in huge λvastage. In the past it has been known to include a hole or other structure in the preform. As the fibre is drawn down these holes or structures also shrink down and appear in the fibre. These fibres have traditionally been called Holey Fibres and lately, as Micro- structured Fibres. The focus of much of the work in optical fibres is creating telecommunications and data communications applications. These applications generally require the use of long lengths of fibre. Various applications have also been developed and commercialised, such as sensors, fibre-lasers, indicators, illuminators and other applications which involve the modification of the initial fibre by specifying different materials, doping or treatments, that result in a variety of special fibres and functionality. The outcome of all these methods is however always a fibre. One of the key problems and costs of current optical fibres in particular is the connection of devices to fibres and the interconnection between fibres. In this document the term "Holey Fibre" means a fibre with one or more holes appearing in the fibre. The term "Micro-structured Fibre" means any fibre with any kind of structure created in it, including Holey Fibres, unless the context clearly requires otherwise. Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this application. Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect the present invention provides a device comprising a functional terminal part and one or more fibres drawn from, and integrally connected to, the terminal part to enable the device to achieve a functionality, wherein the terminal part and the one or more fibres co-operate to provide the functionality of the device. According to a second aspect the present invention provides a device comprising a functional terminal part and one or more drawable portions, integrally connected to the terminal part, whereby fibres may be drawn from the one or more drawable portions to enable the device to achieve a functionality, wherein the terminal part and the one or more fibres co-operate to provide the functionality of the device. According to a third aspect the present invention provides a method of forming a device comprising a functional terminal part and one or more fibres drawn from, and integrally connected to, the terminal part to enable the device to achieve a functionality, wherein method comprises the steps of forming a functional terminal part and one or more drawable portions, integrally connected to the terminal part: drawing fibres from the one or more drawable portions to form fibres integrally connected to the terminal part; whereby the drawn fibres and the terminal part co-operate to provide the functionality of the device. In various embodiments of the invention various functional structures may be incorporated into the terminal part and/or its precursor such as lenses, connectors, sensors, detectors, mounting structures, etc. and a drawable-portion from which the fibres arc drawn, moulded or extruded. Although as stated above, devices may be formed by extruding or moulding fibres, preferably a device is formed by initially creating a precursor device with a drawable-portion. This precursor device will generally have a section designed to be drawn and a terminal part which is not drawn or not full drawn down to a fibre. The precursor device can be created in many ways, including moulding, casting, extruding, drawing or assembling a part from many piece-parts; including any glass / silica / plastic / polymer forming processes. As the initial step of a multi-step process in the manufacturing of a complete product, the terminal part of the device is specifically designed and tailored to facilitate the functions of a variety of structures, such as connectors, lenses, tools, mounting means and other such structures. In one particularly preferred embodiment, at least one of the fibres is a Holey Fibre or a Micro-structured Fibre. In the case of a Holey Fibre or a Micro-structured Fibre, large numbers of holes can be formed and complex structures such as for handling gas and fluids, can be achieved by creating a stack of thinner parts which are assembled to create the drawable-portion. For example, in preparing holes in a preform for drawing into a Holey Fibre it is much easier to prepare holes in a thin piece of material from a process such as drilling, than it is to drill deep parallel holes in a thick piece of material. These thinner parts can then be stacked up to create the drawable- portion. Each of the drawable structured portions of a device are then heated and drawn into a fibre. The result is therefore a complete product or a piece-part of a product, incorporating one or more fibres connected to terminal part which incorporates one or more of a variety of possible functional structures. The drawn-end (or ends in the case of mυltiple-drawable-portions) may also be terminal portions incorporating functional structures, or alternatively they may be detached after drawing leaving a fibre end which may be polished or otherwise terminated. The fibres may be any type of fibre but are preferably optical, or more preferably Holey or Micro-structured Fibres Embodiments of the device may also include cases where the terminal portion is itself drawn from a precursor. One example of this is when the precursor has been drawn into a cane and the cane then forms the piece-part, some of which is drawn into a fibre and some of which remain as the functional structure. Another example where the terminal part is formed from apart of the lead into the fibre, before it is fully drawn down into its smallest diameter or dimension. By creating various structures in a precursor device or during one of the intermediate manufacturing stages, a range of devices, features or functions can be tailored into the product. In the case of Holey and Micro-structured Fibres, fluids, gases, tiny solid pieces including cells, wires, etc, can be passed through the fibre. In one highly preferred embodiment, Holey Fibres arc employed to act as an endoscope, When a large number of holes are formed in the fibre, the material between the holes acts as a light pipe. The image viewed at the remote end is an image made up of pixels from each of the tiny light pipes. By creating lenses in the non-drawn terminal part or using a combination of partly drawn fibre coupled with fully drawn fibre, the resulting device can cause the image to be enlarged (magnified) or reduced in size. The device can therefore be configured to allow a Holey Fibre to act as a microscope or as a telescope. The device can therefore be used, for example, to reduce or enlarge the image for viewing with the human eye, or scaling the image to a size suitable for use with a semiconductor device such as a CCD camera, an optical camera; an optical detector, etc. These devices can therefore be used as means to interface with micro-technology and nano-technology applications. The terminal portion of the device may act as a connector and a connector such as a threaded connector can be created in the teπninal part of the device to connect other devices such as detectors and imagers, or light sources, including lasers, LEDs. Connectors can also be created to join fibres together. Connectors can be made at one end or both ends of the fibre or at the ends of multiple fibres which have been drawn from different portions on the precursor device. The connectors can be designed to allow fibres to be connected together with a variable amount of rotation. This allows the amount of polarisation between fibres to be controlled. In the case of Holey Fibres, holes can be aligned. This allows fibres used in endoscopic applications to operate through a connector. In the case of data communications applications where a Micro-structured Fibre is used to carry data down the individual light pipe within the fibre say, the connector can be designed to select different light pipes or data streams, In the case of Holey Fibres carrying fluids or gases, the holes can be aligned to allow the fluids or gases to flow through the connector. While round holes will generally be used, other shapes such as square or hexagonal holes or ever irregular shaped holes may be used in some applications. More complex structures can also be created by forming a hole in the precursor, inserting bundles of fibres into the hole and then drawing down the structure such that the interstices between the fibres in the bundle form a holey structure. In the case of Holey Fibres, fluids and gasses can flow through the minute holes in the fibre. In devices employing this feature, fluid channels can be formed in the precursor device for passage and handling of gas and fluids. By preparing a structure/connector in the terminal part with a hole or multiple holes from the connector through to the structured, drawable-portion, a fluid or gas channel can be created from the terminal part into the holes in the fibre after it is drawn. When the drawable-portion is drawn down; is can be drawn down to the extent required or drawn down to optimise fluid or gas flow in the fibre. Several connectors/valves can be used to connect to different holes. This would allow, for instance, drugs or chemicals which do not mix to be delivered down a single fibre through different holes. Alternatively some holes could be used for fluid or gas delivery and others for fluid or gas sampling or draining. Likewise, valve controls for air aspiration, lens washing and air insufflation for surgical procedures can be structured. Lenses, light pipes, reflectors, mirrors and other kinds of optical structures can be created to guide, bend, focus, etc, the light in and out of the terminal part and fibre- portion. Such lenses and other such optical structures can be created at one end or both ends of a single fibre device or at a one end or a plurality of ends of a multi-fibre device depending on the functionality of the device and how the drawable-structured-portion is drawn. Lenses, light pipes, reflectors, mirrors and other such optical structures can be created to match the optical functionality of both hollow and solid fibres, Holey Fibres and Micro-structured Fibres. Beam Splitters and Beam Combiners can be created in the precursor to direct light between fibres or other devices connected to the terminal part. The drawable-portion of the precursor device can be structured such as a rod with various structure-intervals along the rod. The rod is then heated between these structures and a fibre drawn between each structure. The result is a string of functional portions distributed along a fibre. Hooks, knives, sampling tools, micro-containers and other typ^es of mechanical tools can be created at the end of a fibre. Holes can be created with a large enough diameter to pass tools through, such as catheters, electrodes, biopsy forceps and other flexible devices. Support structures can be created in the terminal ends to support such tools. By arranging a series of holes around the outside of the terminal end and the connected fibre and then controlling the pressure of fluid or gas flowing in the holes, the fibre-end can be made to bend in different directions. Distal-tip deflection control allows poly-directional control and locking capabilities for endoscopy, Shaped Memory Alloys can also be inserted in the holes in the Holey Fibre of a specially designed end piece to control and steer the direction of the fibre, in applications such as endoscopes. A terminal part with multiple drawable-slructured-portioπs will enable the production of multiple fibres that can be utilised to perform a variety of tasks such the light source and light absorption sensor combination in the case of oximeters. This will also allow an endoscope based on this design to be equipped with a laser that can vaporise, coagulate or cut malignant tissue-structures. Tn the case of endoscopic applications, either by optics created in the terminal part or by creating different thicknesses in the fibre cross-sectional area, the image size can be enlarged or reduced. The precursor device is prepared with a portion which is to be drawn and a portion which is not to be drawn and forms the terminal part. Small holes are prepared in the precursor device, which extend from the terminal part tlirough to the section to be drawn. The endoscope function is performed by the material between the holes that act as tiny light guides to carry the image as a series of pixels from the drawn fibre section to the terminal part. At the termination of the holes in the terminal part a polished flat section or a frosted section or a lens or a connector suitable for connecting a camera is prepared or formed. This section can then be used to view the image "seen" by the opposite end of the fibre. As the tiny structures between the holes in the fibre are connected through to the larger viewing section on the terminal part, the image is therefore magnified, allowing tiny structures such as cells to be observed. Either by using the holes used to form the optical pathways carrying the endoscopic image or by including larger "auxiliary" holes in the fibre, gasses and fluids including drugs can be delivered through the holes in the fibre. If gas and fluid connectors in the terminal part, are connected via holes to the holes in the fibre, then gasscs and fluids can easily be delivered and samples taken through the endoscope using standard fluid and gas connections and methods. In the case of fluid or gas transmission, the option to create larger diameter holes and other structures would allow fluids and gases to exert greater forces than could otherwise be exerted from the fluid or gas flow in a Holey Fibre alone. Wires can also be passed through the holes in the fibres . A connection can also be created in the terminal part to connect a light source. This light source can be used to carry light along the fibre to illuminate the area being viewed. This light can be directed along some of the fine light pipes used for imaging or along dedicated light pipe structures or along the outer section or the sheaf of the endoscope. Generally holes cannot be formed to the very edge of the fibre, and so this outer ring of material can be used, to carry along the fibre, the light used for illumination. The outer ring or rings of holes therefore isolate the light used for illumination from the light returned as an image. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Embodiments of the device will now be described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows a precursor device having a terminal part and a drawable portion; Fig. 2 shows the device of Fig, 1 after the drawable portion has been drawn ^' down to a fibre; Fig. 3 shows a detail of an end of the fibre of the device in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 shows a further precursor device having a terminal part and a multi-lobe drawable portion; Fig. 5 shows the device of Fig. 4 after the drawable portion has been drawn down to a plurality of fibres; Fig. 6 shows a detail of a threaded connector used to interface an external part to a fluid / gas passage in the device; Fig. 7 shows a detail of a fitted connector used to interface an external part to a fluid / gas passage in the device; Fig. 8 shows a detail of a fibre having a single axial hole; Fig. 9 shows a detail of a fibre having a plurality of axial holes; Fig. 10 shows a detail of a solid fibre; Fig. 1 1 shows a detail of a fibre having a complex structure comprising groups of holes of various size and shape; Fig. 12 is a cross section view of the fibre of Fig. 11; Fig. 13 shows a detail of a fibre in which holes other than round holes can be created in the fibre; Fig. 14 is a side view of a part of a precursor made by stacking a number of slices in which the various holes requires are drilled or cut; and Fig. 15 is a perspective view of one of the slices used to form the stack as seen in Fig. 14. Fig. 16 shows a detail of a fibre structure formed by inserting multiple fibres into holes in a precursor which is then drawn.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the accompanying drawings, a number of embodiments of devices will be described in which a functional terminal part of the device is provided with one or more drawable portions which when drawn into fibres co-operate with the terminal part to provide a function of the device. Fig. 1 shows an example of a precursor device 11 prior to drawing in which a functional terminal portion 12 is integrally formed with a drawable portion 1 such that after drawing a fibre 13 out of the drawable portion 13 the device 15 of Fig. 2 is formed comprising the terminal portion 11 and the integrally formed fibre 14. The precursor device 11 can be created in many ways, including moulding, casting, extruding, drawing or assembling a precursor device from many piece-parts; including any glass / silica / plastic / polymer forming processes. As an initial step of a multi-step process in the manufacture of a complete product, the precursor device 11 provides the terminal part of the final device which is specifically designed and tailored to facilitate the functions of a variety of structures of the final device 15, such as mounting means and connectors 31, lenses 32, tools and other such structures. Some possible structures will be discussed in detail below. Each of these structures may also be subjected to subsequent processing for specific-applications; such as insertion of one or more additional piece-parts prior to or after the drawing process step or connection of additional components to the terminal part. In the precursor device 11 shown in Fig. 1, a first structure is associated with the surface 61 of the terminal part 12 which is formed as a lens the structure comprising a plurality of holes 19 (see Fig. 11) which provide an imaging structure which delivers an image to the surface 61. A second structure 62 provides a light path for an illumination function whereby a light source is located to project light into the region 62 via the adjacent surface of the terminal part 1 and the light is then directed to the outer region of the device where it may travel down the drawn fibre 14 (see Fig. 2) to illuminate the area where the image is being obtained. Further structures provide fluid / gas passages through the terminal part 12 into the drawn fibre 4 (see Fig. 2). Connectors 31, 32 are provided in the terminal part 12 to facilitate connection to the fluid / gas passages. After drawing, the end of the fibre may be cut and finished by polishing or other suitable treatment. However, alternatively the end of the drawn fibre may include a second functional terminal part which comprises part or all of the original lobe 1 of the precursor device (sec Fig. 1 - not to scale), which may be formed as a lens or other functional element. Referring to Fig. 3, which shows a detail of the end of the fibre 14 of Fig. 2, the fibre terminates in an enlarged end portion 17 including a lens 18 which was pre-formed before final drawing of the fibre. Note that the formation of the lens may be achieved at an intermediate step in the drawing, after the fibre has been drawn down to the desired thickness of the terminal portion 17 but before the final thickness of die fibre 14 is achieved. Referring to Fig. 4, a further precursor device is disclosed in which the primary terminal part 12 is associated with a drawable portion including a plurality of lobes 26 which can each be drawn into individual fibres as for the lobe 16 of Fig. 1. Fig, 5 shows the subsequent device after drawing of the fibres 24 from the lobes 26. The fibre 14 may be solid (i.e. no holes) as illustrated in Fig. 10 or may be provided with a single hole as seen in Fig. 8 or a plurality of holes as shown in Fig. 9.

More preferably the fibre 14 may be provided with a complex structure of holes as shown in Fig. 11 and 12, which provide a number of different functions. Referring to Fig. 13, a detail of a fibre structure 14 is shown with hexagonal holes 54, 55, 56, 57, illustrating that structures other than round holes can be created in the fibre. Referring to Fig. 14 and 15, in the case of Holey Fibres and Micro- structured Fibre, the number of holes can be increased and complex structures such as for handling gas and fluids, can be achieved by creating a plurality of thinner slices 41, which are assembled in a stack 42 to create the drawable-portion 13. For example, in preparing holes in a preform for drawing into a Holey Fibre it is much easier to prepare. holes in a thin piece of material using a process such as drilling, than it is to drill deep holes in a thick piece of material such as a preform. Larger holes and non-circular holes may be formed by moulding, stamping or pressing the slice 41. These thinner parts 41 can then be stacked up to create the drawable-portion, which upon heating fuses into an integrated structure. As illustrated in the detail of Fig. 1 , complex structures may also be formed in the drawn fibre 14 by creating holes in the precursor and inserting fibre bundles in the holes before drawing such that after drawing the areas 64, 65, 66, 61 result, in which the interstices between the fibres of the bundle create holes 68 in the resulting fibre structure. Each drawable-structured portion is heated and drawn into a fibre, which may include an optical, Holey or Micro-structured Fibre, resulting in¹ a complete product or a piece-part of a product, incorporating one or more fibres integrally connected to a variety of functional structures. As before, each drawn-end may also be subjected to subsequent processing for specific-applications. The drawn-ends may also be functional terminal structures as discussed above. Embodiments of the device may be made entirely out of material that has been drawn, in situations where there is a fibre attached to one or more larger pieces of drawn material. One example of tins is when a precursor is drawn into a cane and the cane then forms the precursor for a piece-part, some of which is drawn into a fibre and some of which remain as the functional structure. Another example is the use of part of the lead into the fibre, before it is fully drawn down into its smallest diameter or dimension. By creating various structures in α precursor device or during one of the intermediate m-mufacturing stages, a range of devices, features or functions can be tailored into the product. In the case of Holey and Micro-structured Fibres, fluids, gasses, tiny solid pieces including cells, wires, etc, can be passed through the fibre. Devices such as those described above, which incorporate Holey Fibre, if properly designed are capable of acting as an endoscope. When a large number of holes are formed in the fibre, the material between the holes acts as a light pipe. The image viewed at the remote end is an image made up of pixels from each of the tiny light pipes. By creating lenses in the non-drawable portion or using a combination of partly drawn fibre coupled with frilly drawn fibre, this device can cause the image to be enlarged (magnified) or reduced in size. The device can therefore allow a Holey Fibre to act as a microscope or as a telescope. The device can therefore for example, be used to reduce or enlarge an image for viewing with the human eye, or scaling the image to a size suitable for use with a semiconductor device such as a CCD camera or an optical camera; detectors, etc. Devices can therefore be tailored for use as means to interface with micro- technology and nano-technology applications.

EXAMPLES OF TERMINAL PART STRUCTURES Connectors Referring to Figs. 6 and 7 Connectors 31, 32 including threaded connectors 31 and fitted connectors 32 can be created in the terminal part 12 to connect devices such as light sources, including lasers, LEDs, detectors and imagers. Connectors can also be created to join fibres together. Connectors can be made at one end or both ends of the fibre or at the ends of multiple fibres which have been drawn from different portions on the precursor device 11, 21. The connectois can be designed to allow fibres to be connected together with a variable amount of rotation. This allows the amount of polarisation between fibres to be controlled. In the case of Holey Fibres, holes can be aligned. This allows fibres used in endoscopic applications to operate through a connector. In the case of data communications applications where a Micro-structured Fibre is used to carry data down the individual light pipe within the fibre say, the connect can be designed to select different light pipes or data streams. In the case of Holey Fibres carrying fluids of gases, the holes can be aligned to allow the fluids or gasses to flow through the connector.

Gas and Fluid Connectors and Channels In the case of Holey Fibres, fluids and, gases can flow tlirough the minute holes in the fibre. Referring to Figs. 11 and 12, devices can provide fluid channels 51 and 52, formed in the fibre portion 14 for passage and handling of gas and fluids. By preparing a connector 31 and associated structure in the terminal part 12 with a hole or multiple holes from the connector through to the structured, drawable-portion, a fluid or gas channel can be created from the terminal part into the holes in the fibre. When the drawable-portion is drawn down, it can be drawn down to the extent required to optimise fluid or gas flow in the fibre. Several connectors/valves can be used to connect to different holes. This allows drugs or chemicals which for example cannot be mixed to be delivered down a single fibre 14 through different holes 51, 52. Alternatively some holes could be used for fluid or gas delivery and others for fluid or gas sampling or draining, by applying a suction through the passage. Likewise, valve controls for air aspiration, lens washing and air insufflation for surgical procedures can be structured.

Lenses (Lens), Light Pipes, Reflectors, Mirrors and other optical structures Lenses 61 and 18, light pipes 62, reflectors, mirrors and other kinds of optical structures can be created to guide, bend, focus, etc the light in and out of the device and fibre-portion. Such lenses and other such optical structures can be created at one or both ends of the final device depending on the functionality of the final device and how the structured, drawable-portion is drawn. Lenses, light pipes, reflectors, mirrors and other such optical structures can be created to suite the optics of hollow and solid fibres, Holey Fibres and Micro-structured Fibres. Beam Splitters mid Beam Combiners Beam Splitters and Beam Combiners can be created in the precursor to direct light between fibres or other devices connected to the terminal part.

Clumps The drawable-portion of the device can be structured such as a rod with various structure-intervals along the rod. The rod is heated between these structures and a fibre drawn between each structure. The result is a string of functional portions distributed along a fibre.

Tools Hooks, knives, sampling tools, micro-containers and other types of mechanical tools can be created at the end of a fibre. Holes 53 can be created with a large enough diameter (or non-circular holes can be provided with sufficiently large dimensions) to allow wires, tools and other devices 54, 55, 56, such as catheters, electrodes, biopsy forceps and other, flexible devices, to pass tlirough. Support structures can be created (and attached) to support such tools where they exit from the terminal portion.

Fibre bending and steering By arranging a series of holes around the outside of the terminal part and the associated fibre and tiien controlling the pressure of fluid or gas flowing in the holes, the fibre-end can be made to bend in different directions, allowing, for example, distal- tip deflection control to provide poly-directional control and locking capabilities for endoscopy. Shaped Memory Alloys can also be inserted in the holes in the Holey Fibre of a specially designed end piece to control and steer the direction of the fibre, in applications such as cndoscopes,

Multiple fibres and Laser Delivery A device 21 with multiple structured, drawable-portions will produce multiple fibres 14 that can be utilised to perform a variety of tasks such the light source and light absorption sensor combination in the case of oximeters. This will also allow an endoscope based on this design to be equipped with a laser that can vaporise, coagulate or cut malignant tis^'sue-struotures. Scaling In the case of endoscopic applications, either by optics created in the terminal part or by creating different thicknesses in the fibre cross-sectional area, the image size can be enlarged or reduced. In the case of fluid or gas transmission, larger diameter holes 51 , 52 and other structures would allow fluids and gases to exert greater forces than could otherwise be exerted from the fluid or gas flow in the small holes 1 of the fibre.

EXAMPLES OF APPLICATIONS The following are examples of applications or products based on devices of the type described above.

Magnifying Endoscope In this device, small holes are prepared in the precursor device, which extend from the terminal part through to the section to be drawn. The endoscope function is performed by the material between the holes that act as tiny light guides to carry the image as a scries of pixels from the drawn fibre section to the terminal part. At the terminatiun of the holes in the terminal part a polished flat section or a frosted section or a lens is formed. Alternatively the holes teπninate at a connector suitable for connecting a camera. This section can then be used to view the image "seen" by the fibre. As the tiny structures between the holes in the fibre are connected through to the larger viewing section on the terminal part, the image is therefore magnified allowing tiny structures such as cells to be observed. Either by using the holes used to form the optical pathways used to create the endoscopic image or by introducing larger holes in the fibre, gases and fluids including drugs can be delivered through the holes in the fibre. If gas and fluid connectors in the terminal part are connected via holes to the holes in the fibre, then gases and fluids can easily be delivered and samples taken through the endoscope using standard fluid and gas connections and methods. A connection means can be created in the terminal part to connect a light source. This light source can be used to carry light along the fibre to iUuminatc the image being viewed. This light can be directed along some of the fine light pipes used for imaging or along dedicated light pipe structures or along the outer section or the sheaf of the endoscope. Generally holes cannot be formed to the very edge of the fibre, and so this outer ring of material can be used to carry the light used for illumination along the fibre, the outer ring or rings of holes isolating the light used for illumination from the light used for imaging. It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments arc, therefore, to be considered in all respecLs as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A device comprising a functional teπninal part and one or more fibres drawn from, and integrally connected to, the teπninal part to enable the device to achieve a functionality, wherein the terminal part and the one or more fibres co-operate to provide the functionality of the device.

2. The device claimed in claim 1 wherein the device is formed by initially creating a precursor device with a drawable-portion.

3. The device claimed in claim 2 wherein the precursor device has a section designed to be drawn and a terminal part which is not drawn or not full drawn down to a fibre.

4. The device claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein the precursor device is created by one of moulding, casting, extruding, machining, drawing, assembling a part from many piece-parts, or heating and deforming,

5. The device claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein the precursor device is formed by a process selected from any glass forming, silica foπning, plastic forming or polymer forming processes.

6. A device comprising a functional terminal part and one or more drawable portions, integrally connected to the terminal part, whereby the drawable portions are precursors for the fibres which are subsequently drawn from the one or more drawable portions to enable the device to achieve a functionality, wherein the teπninal part and the one or more fibres co-operate to provide the functionality of the device, and the precursor drawable portions are provided with a structure which enables the functional co-operation of the respective subsequently drawn fibre with the teπninal part.

7. The device claimed in claim 6 wherein the device is created by one of moulding, casting, extruding, machining, drawing, assembling a part from many piece-parts, or heating and deforming.

8. The device claimed in claim 6 wherein the precursor device is formed by a process selected from any glass forming, silica forming, plastic forming or polymer forming processes. 9. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein at least one of the fibres is a Holey Fibre or a Micro-structured Fibre.

10. The device as claimed in claim 9 wherein the Holey Fibre or Micro-structured

Fibre is formed by creating a stack of thinner parts which are assembled to create a drawable-portion. 11. The device as claimed in claim 10 wherein the Holey Fibre or Micro-structured

Fibre contains complex structures.

12. The device as claimed in claim 11 wherein the Holey Fibre or Micro-structured Fibre contains at least one longitudinal hole passing through the fibre. 13. The device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the complex structures are used to pass gasses and fluids, or tiny solid pieces including cells or wires through the fibre. 5 14. The device as claimed in claim 12 or 13 wherein the Holey Fibre or Micro- structured Fibre contains a large number of holes, 15. The device as claimed in claim 12, 13 or 14 wherein the holes are formed in a preform for drawing into a Holey Fibre by forming a hole in each of a plurality of thin fibres or canes and then stacking up the fibres or canes to create the drawable-portion. 10 16. The device as claimed in claim 15 wherein the holes are formed in each of the plurality of thin fibres or canes by drilling. 17. The device as claimed in claims 15 or 16 each of the drawable structured portions of a device are then heated and drawn into a fibre. IS. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17 wherein a functional

15 structure is incorporated into the teπninal part and/or its precursor. 19. The device of claim 18 wherein the functional structure is a lens. 20. The device of claim 18 wherein the functional structure is a connector. 21. The device of claim 18 wherein the functional structure is a sensor interface. 22. The device of claim 18 wherein the functional structure is a detector interface. 20 23. The device of claim 18 wherein the functional structure is a mounting structure. 24. The device of claim 18 wherein the functional structure is a drawable-porti n from which the fibres are drawn, moulded or extruded. 25. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 24 wherein the drawn-end, or ends, are also be terminal portions incorporating functional structures.

25 26. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 24 wherein the drawn-end, or ends, are be detached after drawing leaving a fibre end which may be polished or otherwise terminated. 27. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 26 wherein the fibres are optical fibres.

30 28. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 27 wherein at least one of the fibres is a Holey or Micro-structured Fibre. 2 Th device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 28 wherein the terminal portion is itself drawn from a precursor into a cane and the cane then forms the piece-part, some of which is further drawn into a fibre and some of which remain as the teπninal

35 portion.

30. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 29 wherein the terminal part is formed from a part of a lead into the fibre, before it is fully drawn down into its smallest diameter or dimension.

31. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 30 wherein connectors are incorporated into distal ends of one or more of the fibres to connect other fibres to the device.

32. The device as claimed in claim 31 wherein the connectors allow connection with a variable amount of rotation of one fibre relative to the other fibre.

33. An endoscope comprising a functional terminal part and one or more fibres drawn from, and integrally connected to, the terminal part, wherein at least one of the one or more fibres is a Holey Fibre or Micro-structured Fibre and the terminal part and the one or more fibres co-operate to provide endoscope functionality, the terminal part being a remote end of the endoscope at which the operator views an image transmitted through one or more of the fibres. 34. The endoscope as claimed in claim 33 wherein the Holey Fibre or Micro- structured Fibre contains a large number of holes formed in the fibre, and where the material between t e holes acts as a plurality of light pipes.

35. The endoscope as claimed in claim 34 wherein the image viewed at the remote end is an image made up of pixels transmitted through each of the plurality of light pipes.

36. The endoscope as claimed in claim 35 wherein holey fibre comprises a wholly drawn section and a partially drawn section whereby the image size at the terminal portion is scaled to suite the output interface.

37. The endoscope as claimed in claim 35, or 36 wherein a lens or lenses are formed in the non-drawn terminal part to cause the image to be scaled to suite a respective output interface.

38. The endoscope as claimed in claim 35, 36 oτ 37 wherein an eyepiece is included on the terminal portion and the output is enlarged (magnified) for viewing by eye.

39. The endoscope as claimed in claim 35, 36 or 37 wherein an interface is included on the teπninal portion to enable interfacing to an imaging device and the output is scaled to suit the respective imaging device.

40. The endoscope as claimed in claim 39 wherein the imaging device is a CCD imaging cell or camera.

41. The endoscope as claimed in claim 39 wherein the imaging device is an optical detector or camera.

42. The endoscope as claimed in any one of claims 33 to 41 wherein one or more connectors are incorporated into the terminal portion to conned other devices to the endoscope. 43. The endoscope as claimed in claim 42 wherein a detector is connected to the 5 terminal portion via one of the connectors. 44. The endoscope as claimed in claim 42 wherein an imager is connected to the terminal portion via one of the connectors. 45. The endoscope as claimed in claim 42 wherein a gas and / or fluid delivery system is connected to the terminal portion via one of the connectors.

10 46. The endoscope as claimed in claim 42 wherein a sample removal system is connected to the terminal portion via one of the connectors. 47. The endoscope as claimed in claim 42 wherein a light source is connected to the teπninal portion via one of the connectors. 48. The endoscope as claimed in claim 47 wherein the light source is an LED 15 device. 49. The endoscope as claimed in claim 47 wherein the light source is a laser device. 50. The endoscope as claimed in any one of claims 42 to 49 wherein the connectors allow connection with a variable amount of rotation of the terminal portion relative to the connected device. 0 51, The endoscope as claimed in any one of claims 33 to 50 wherein one or more connectors are incorporated into distal ends of one or more of the fibres to connect other fibres to the endoscope. 52. The endoscope as claimed in claim 51 wherein the connectors allow connection with a variable amount of rotation of one fibre relative to the other fibre. 5 53. The endoscope as claimed in any one of claims 33 to 50 wherein at least one hole of the Holey Fibre or Micro-structured Fibre is a gas or fluid delivery passage to deliver a gas or fluid to or from the distal end of the fibre. 54. The endoscope as claimed in any one of claims 33 to 50 wherein at least one hole of the Holey Fibre or Micro-structured Fibre is a solids delivery passage to deliver 0 a solid material to or from the distal end of the fibre. 55. The endoscope as claimed in claim 54 wherein the solid material is a tissue sample removed from a patient by the endoscope. 56. The endoscope as claimed in claim 54 wherein the solid material is a wire or device for delivery into the patient by the endoscope.

57. A method of forming a device comprising a functional terminal part and one or more fibres drawn from, and integrally connected to, the terminal part to enable the device to achieve a functionality, wherein method comprises forming a functional terminal part and one or more drawable portions, integrally 5 connected to the terminal part: drawing fibres from the one or more drawable portions to form fibres integrally connected to the teπninal part; whereby the drawn fibres and the terminal part co-operate to provide the functionality of the device. 10 58. The method claimed in claim 57 wherein the device is formed by first creating a precursor device with a drawable-portion. 59. The device claimed in claim 58 wherein the precursor device has a section designed to be drawn and a terminal part which is not drawn or not full drawn down to a fibre. 15 60. The device claimed in claim 58 or 59 wherein the precursor device is created by one of moulding, casting, extruding, machining, drawing, assembling a part from many piece-parts, or heating and deforming. 61. The method claimed in claim 58 or 59 wherein the precursor device is formed by a process selected from any glass forming, silica forming, plastic forming or

20 polymer forming processes. 62. The method as claimed in any one of claims 57 to 61 wherein at least one of the fibres is a Holey Fibre or a Micro-structured Fibre and is formed by creating a stack of thinner parts which are assembled to create a drawable-portion. 63. The method as claimed in claim 62 wherein the Holey Fibre or Micro-structured 25 Fibre contains complex structures. 64. The method as claimed in claim 63 wherein the Holey Fibre or Micro-structured Fibre contains at least one longitudinal hole passing through the fibre, 65. The method as claimed in claim 63 or 64 wherein the Holey Fibre or Micro- structured Fibre contains a large number of holes,

30 66. The method as claimed in claim 64 or 65 wherein the holes are formed in a preform for drawing into a Holey Fibre by forming a hole in each of a plurality of thin fibres or canes and then stacking up the fibres or canes to create the drawable-portion. 67. The method as claimed in claim 66 wherein the holes arc formed in each of the plurality of thin fibres or canes by drilling.

35 68. The method as claimed in claims 66 or 67 each of the drawable structured portions of a device are then heated and drawn into a fibre.

69. The method as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 68 wherein a functional structure is incorporated into the terminal part and/or its precursor. 70. The method of claim 69 wherein the functional structure is a lens. 71. The method of claim 69 wherein the functional structure is a connector. 5 72, The method of claim 69 wherein the functional structure is a sensor interface. 73. The method of claim 69 wherein the functional structure is a detector interface. 74. The method of claim 69 wherein the functional structure is a mounting structure, 75. The method of claim 69 wherein the functional structure is a drawable-portion from which the fibres are drawn, moulded or extruded.

10 76. The method as claimed in any one of claims 57 to 75 wherein the drawn-end, or ends, are also formed as terminal portions incorporating functional structures. 77. The method as claimed in any one of claims 57 to 75 wherein the drawn-end, or ends, are be detached after drawing leaving a fibre end which may are subsequently polished or otherwise terminated.

15 78. The method as claimed in any one of claims 57 to 77 wherein the fibres are formed as optical fibres. 79. The method as claimed in any one of claims 57 to 78 wherein at least one of the fibres is formed as a Holey or Micro-structured Fibre. 80. e method as claimed in any one of claims 57 to 79 wherein the teπninal 0 portion is itself drawn from a precursor into a cane and the cane then forms the piece- part, some of which is further drawn into a fibre a d some of which remain as the terminal portion. 81. The method as claimed in any one of claims 57 to 80 wherein the terminal part is formed from a part of a lead into the fibre, before it is fully drawn down into its 5 smallest diameter or dimension. 82. The method as claimed in any one of claims 57 to 81 wherein the method further includes forming connectors into distal ends of one or more of the fibres to connect other fibres to the device. 83. The method as claimed in claim 82 wherein the connectors allow connection 0 with a variable amount of rotation of one fibre relative to the other fibre. 84. A method of forming optical trans mission portions of an endoscope the optical transmission portions comprising a functional teπninal part and one or more fibres drawn from, and integrally connected to, the terminal part, wherein at least one of the one or more fibres is a Holey Fibre or Micro-structured Fibre and the terminal part and 5 the one or more fibres co-operate to provide endoscope functionality, the terminal part being a remote end of the endoscope at which the operator views an image transmitted through one or more of the fibres and the method comprising: forming a functional teπninal part and one or more drawable portions, integrally connected to the terminal part; 5 drawing fibres from the one or more drawable portions to form fibres integrally connected to the terminal part, 85. The method as claimed in claim 84 wherein the Holey Fibre or Micro-structured Fibre contains a large number of holes formed in the fibre, and where the material between the holes acts as a plurality of light pipes. 10 86. The method as claimed in claim 85 wherein holey fibre is formed with a wholly drawn section and a partially drawn section whereby the image size at the terminal portion is scaled to suite the output interface. 87. The endoscope as claimed in claim 85 or 86, wherein a lens or lenses are formed in the non-drawn terminal part to cause the image to be scaled to suite a respective

15 output interface. 88. The method as claimed in claim 85, 86 or 87 including forming an eyepiece on the teπninal portion whereby the output is enlarged (magnified) for viewing by eye. 89. The method as claimed in claim 85, 86 or 87 including forming an interface on the teπninal portion to enable interfacing to an imaging device and scaling the output to

20 suit the respective imaging device. 90. The method as claimed in claim 89 wherein the imaging device is a CCD imaging cell or camera. 91. The method as claimed in claim 89 wherein the imaging device is an optical detector or camera,

25 92. The method as claimed in any one of claims 84 to 91 including incorporating one or more connectors into the teπninal portion to connect other devices to the endoscope. 93. The method as claimed in claim 92 including connecting a detector to the terminal portion via one of the connectors. 30 94. The method as claimed in claim 42 including connecting an imager to the terminal portion via one of the connectors. 95. The method as claimed in claim 92 including connecting a gas and/or fluid delivery system to the teπninal portion via one of the connectors. 96. The method as claimed in claim 92 including connecting a sample removal 35 system to the terminal portion via one of the connectors.

97. The method as claimed in claim 92 including connecting a light source to the terminal portion via one of the connectors,

98. The method as claimed in claim 97 wherein the light source is an LED device.

99. The method as claimed in claim 97 wherein the light source is a laser device. 100. The method as claimed in any one of claims 92 to 99 including forming connectors which allow connection with a variable amount of rotation of the terminal portion relative to the connected device.

101. The method as claimed in any one of claims 84 to 100 including forming one or more connectors in distal ends of one or more of the fibres to connect other fibres to the endoscope,

102. The method as claimed in claim 101 including forming connectoire which allow connection with a variable amount of rotation of one fibre relative to the other fibre.

) 03. The method as claimed in any one of claims 84 to 100 including forming a connection between at least one hole of the Holey Fibre or Micro-structured Fibre to a gas or fluid delivery system to enable delivery of a gas or fluid to or from the distal end of the Obre.

104. The method as claimed in any one of claims 84 to 100 including forming a connection between at least one hole of the Holey Fibre or Micro-structured Fibre and a solids delivery system to deliver a solid material to or from the distal end of the fibre. 105. The method as claimed in claim 104 wherein the solid material is a tissue sample removed from a patient by the endoscope.

106. The method as claimed in claim 104 wherein the solid material is a wire or device for delivery into the patient by the endoscope.