Patent ID: 7503701

Claim:
An optical fiber system, comprising: an optical fiber; a connector coupled to the optical fiber, the connector comprising a first bore within which at least a portion of the optical fiber is disposed, a first opening adjacent to the first bore, a second opening adjacent to the first bore, and a fluid channel connecting the first opening and the second opening, the fluid channel defining a path by which at least one of a fluid and a gas enters through the first opening, contacts at least a portion of the optical fiber, and exits through the second opening; and a tubular member surrounding at least a portion of the connector and at least a portion of the optical fiber, the tubular member comprising a first end comprising a third opening, a second end comprising a fourth opening, and a body connecting the first end and the second end, the body defining a second bore within which at least a portion of the connector is disposed, the body comprising a wall disposed within the second bore, the wall connecting the tubular member and the connector and defining at least one fifth opening that allows flow of at least one of a fluid and a gas through the tubular member, between the first end and the second end, substantially around the connector.