Patent ID: 7121734

Claim:
A ferrule comprising: a cylindrical body constructed from a single piece of ceramic material consisting primarily of zirconia and having an outer circumferential surface, a substantially uniform outer diameter along an entire longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body with an outer diameter error of 2.0 μm or less, a first insertion hole bounded by a first inner surface of the cylindrical body and configured to receive therein a first preselected portion of an optical fiber so that the first preselected portion of the optical fiber is in direct contact with the first inner surface of the cylindrical body, and a second insertion hole disposed in communication with the first insertion hole and bounded by a second inner surface of the cylindrical body and configured to receive therein a second preselected portion of the optical fiber enclosed in a buffer coating so that the second preselected portion of the optical fiber is in direct contact with the second inner surface of the cylindrical body the first and second insertion holes forming part of a through-hole of the cylindrical body, the through-hole having an intermediate portion disposed between and in communication with the first and second insertion holes, the intermediate portion having a tapered surface converging toward the first insertion hole; and a flange member separate and independent from the cylindrical body and connected directly to the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical body so as to be disposed only over the second insertion hole of the cylindrical body.