Patent ID: 9090666
Filing Date: 2015-07-28
Classification: C07K,G01N,G02B

Abstract:
1. A lensed optical fiber for illuminating a bore of a predetermined capillary tube, where said bore has an axis, comprising: an optical fiber having first and second ends and an axis, said optical fiber being arranged to conduct light applied to said first end to said second end and emit said light from said second end, said optical fiber having a core and a cladding layer, said core having a diameter of at least 50 microns, said second end having a predetermined shape comprising first and second flat regions and a third region disposed between said first and said second flat regions, said third region being selected from the group consisting of curved and flat regions, said third region, when curved, having a predetermined radius of curvature, said first and said second flat regions being sloped or slanted with respect to said axis of said optical fiber and also being sloped or slanted at an angle of less than 42 degrees with respect to a perpendicular line drawn to said axis of said optical fiber, said first, second, and third regions being discrete and each facing in a different direction, said third region having an extent between said first and said second flat regions that is smaller than the diameter of said core of said optical fiber and between 0.5 and 2 times the diameter of said bore of said capillary tube, whereby when said optical fiber is illuminated at said first end by a light source, light will be conducted by said optical fiber to said second end of said optical fiber and emitted from said first, second, and third regions and focused on said bore of said capillary tube.