Patent ID: 7377703

Claim:
A device for optically connecting two coaxially opposingly disposed optical fibers for the purpose of transmission of an optical signal, the-device comprising a ferrule said ferrule comprising: a) a longitudinally extending cylindrical body made of Shape Memory Material (SMM), said body having a middle portion, said middle portion having a first end and a second end, a first connection clamp and a second connection clamp, said connection clamps being located on either end of said middle portion, each connection clamp having a free end associated therewith, said body and said connection clamps also having a bore that traverses a central axis through said connection clamps and said middle portion, said bore having a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the optical fibers to be connected, b) said body also having one of more pairs of longitudinal slots that traverse the diameter of said body, each of said pair of slots beginning within a connection clamp and extending to the free end of the other connection clamp and, c) a first cap and a second cap comprising a wire whose diameter is approximately the same as the diameter of the optical fiber, such that when inserted into said bore of said body from each side, said cap wires penetrate into the ferrule from each side, and abut each other at the middle of the length of the body of the ferrule.