JP2024010346A - Light guide structure and method for manufacturing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a light guide structure which stabilizes light distribution and has small optical loss, and a method for manufacturing the same.

SOLUTION: A light guide structure 3 includes: an optical fiber 4 having a core 41 and a clad 42; a reflection member 5 for reflecting emission light emitted from an end face 41 of the core 41 in a direction crossing the axial direction of the optical fiber 4; and a light transmitting storage member 6 for storing at least a part of the optical fiber 4 and the reflection member 5. A space between the end face 41a of the core 41 inside the storage member 6, and the reflection member 5 is filled with a filler 7 having light transmitting property, and positions of the core 41 and the reflection member 6 relative to the storage member 6 are fixed by the filler 7.

SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

COPYRIGHT: (C)2024,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a light guide structure configured with an optical fiber and a method for manufacturing the same.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a medical device for performing medical treatment by irradiating laser light, there is a device that guides laser light generated by a laser light source to a target area for treatment or the like through an optical fiber. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a laser light guiding member (optical fiber), a conical reflecting member (reflecting mirror) disposed opposite to the radiation end of the laser light guiding member with a space therebetween, and an end of the laser light guiding member. A medical laser device is described, which includes a second tube member (protective cover) housing a reflective member and a second tube member (protective cover).

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-346891

As mentioned above, in a structure in which an optical fiber and a reflecting member are arranged facing each other, if the relative positions and angles of the optical fiber and the reflecting member are shifted, the light distribution of the laser light reflected by the reflecting member will be is different from the expected one. Particularly, when the reflecting member has a conical shape and the laser beam is reflected on the conical surface as in the one described in Patent Document 1, a slight positional or angular shift greatly affects the light distribution. In addition, in a configuration in which an optical fiber and a reflecting member are arranged with a space in between, such as the one described in Patent Document 1, the higher the intensity of the laser light, the greater the optical loss due to Fresnel reflection at the end face of the optical fiber. It will happen.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a light guide structure with stable light distribution and low optical loss, and a method for manufacturing the same.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an optical fiber having a core and a cladding, and a reflector that reflects emitted light emitted from an end face of the core in a direction crossing the axial direction of the optical fiber. member, and a light-transmissive housing member that houses at least a portion of each of the optical fiber and the reflective member, wherein a light-transmissive housing member is provided between the end face of the core and the reflective member inside the housing member. The present invention provides a light guide structure, which is filled with a filler having a chemical properties, and the positions of the core and the reflective member are fixed with respect to the housing member by the filler.

Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing the above-mentioned light guide structure, in which the optical fiber is inserted into the accommodation member, and a part of the optical fiber is inserted into the accommodation member. a first step of causing the optical fiber to protrude from the optical fiber; a second step of attaching the liquid filler around the part of the optical fiber; A method for manufacturing a light guide structure is provided, which includes a third step of pushing the filler into the inside of the housing member, and a fourth step of solidifying the filler inside the housing member.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a light guide structure with stable light distribution and low optical loss, and a method for manufacturing the same.

1 is a schematic diagram showing a treatment device using a light guide structure according to an embodiment of the present invention as a catheter together with a patient to be treated. (a) is a schematic diagram schematically showing a part of the light guide structure inserted into the patient's body together with a blood vessel. (b) is a diagram of the tip of the light guide structure viewed from the axial direction. (a) is a cross-sectional view of the light guide structure. (b) is a sectional view showing each member constituting the light guide structure. (a) is an explanatory diagram showing a first step of a method for manufacturing a light guide structure. (b) is an explanatory diagram showing the second step of the method for manufacturing the light guide structure. (c) is an explanatory diagram showing the third step of the method for manufacturing the light guide structure. It is a sectional view of the light guide structure concerning the 1st modification. It is a sectional view of the light guide structure concerning the 2nd modification. It is a sectional view of the light guide structure concerning the 3rd modification. It is a sectional view of the light guide structure concerning the 4th modification. It is a sectional view of the light guide structure concerning the 5th modification. (a) thru|or (c) are explanatory drawings which show an example of the manufacturing method of the light guide structure based on the 5th modification.

[Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a treatment device using a light guide structure as a catheter according to an embodiment of the present invention together with a patient to be treated. The treatment device 1 has a main body 2 and a light guide structure 3, and the distal end of the light guide structure 3 is inserted into the patient's P body. The main body 2 has a light source 21 that emits laser light, and the laser light generated by the light source 21 enters the base end portion of the light guide structure 3.

FIG. 2(a) is a schematic diagram schematically showing a part of the light guiding structure 3 inserted into the body of the patient P together with the blood vessel _P1 . In FIG. 2(a), a part of the blood vessel _P1 of a patient P is cut out, and the light guide structure 3 is shown inserted into the blood vessel _P1 as an object to be inserted. The laser beam Lr scattered and emitted from the light guide structure 3 irradiates the treatment area P ₂ and causes the drug contained in the treatment area P ₂ in advance to react. Intravascular laser treatment is thereby performed. FIG. 2(b) is a diagram of the tip of the light guide structure 3 viewed from the axial direction. As shown in FIG. 2(b), the light guide structure 3 emits the laser beam Lr radially. Note that the tip portion of the light guide structure 3 may be covered with a light-transmitting cover.

FIG. 3(a) is a cross-sectional view of the light guide structure 3. FIG. 3(b) is a cross-sectional view showing each member constituting the light guide structure 3. As shown in FIG. The light guide structure 3 includes an optical fiber 4 that guides the laser light generated by the light source 21 as propagating light to the treatment area _P2 , a reflective member 5 that reflects the light guided to the optical fiber 4, and a reflective member 5 that reflects the light guided to the optical fiber 4. A cylindrical housing member 6 that accommodates at least a portion of each of the members 5 is provided. The housing member 6 has optical transparency in the wavelength range of the laser beam Lr. As a material for the housing member 6, for example, acrylic, styrene, polycarbonate, or polyolefin resin used as optical plastic, or glass can be used.

The optical fiber 4 includes a core 41 through which light propagates, a clad 42 that covers the outer periphery of the core 41, and a coating 43 that covers the outer periphery of the clad 42. In this embodiment, the optical fiber 4 is a glass-clad fiber, and the core 41 and cladding 42 are made of silica glass. Coating 43 is, for example, polyimide. The optical fiber 4 has a core 41 and a cladding 42 that are cleaved together with a coating 43. Here, the cleave cut is a cutting method in which the optical fiber 4 is locally bent to generate stress and cut by applying a diamond or carbide blade to the bent portion. Note that a polymer clad fiber can also be used as the optical fiber 4. In the polymer clad fiber, the core 41 is made of quartz glass, the cladding 42 is made of polymer, and the coating 43 is made of, for example, fluororesin.

The reflecting member 5 reflects the emitted light emitted from the end surface 41 a of the core 41 of the optical fiber 4 in a direction intersecting the axial direction of the optical fiber 4 within the housing member 6 . The optical fiber 4 and the reflective member 5 are coaxially arranged in the housing member 6 so that the central axis C ₄ of the optical fiber 4 and the central axis C ₅ of the reflective member 5 coincide. The housing member 6 holds the optical fiber 4 and the reflective member 5 such that the central axis C ₄ of the optical fiber 4 and the central axis C ₅ of the reflective member 5 coincide with the central axis C ₆ of the housing member 6 .

The reflecting member 5 is made of metal such as stainless steel, and integrally includes a conical portion 51 formed in a conical shape and a cylindrical portion 52 formed in a cylindrical shape. 52 are arranged in the axial direction along the central axis _C5 . The conical portion 51 is arranged within the housing member 6 so as to face the end surface 41a of the core 41. The outer diameter of the cylindrical portion 52 is the same as the maximum outer diameter of the conical portion 51. In this embodiment, a portion of the cylindrical portion 52 is accommodated in the housing member 6, and another portion of the cylindrical portion 52 protrudes from the housing member 6. However, the entire cylindrical portion 52 may be housed in the housing member 6. That is, it is sufficient that at least a portion of the cylindrical portion 52 is housed in the housing member 6 together with the conical portion 51.

The conical surface 51a, which is the outer peripheral surface of the conical portion 51, is a reflective surface that reflects the emitted light emitted from the end surface 41a of the core 41. Note that the conical surface 51a of the conical portion 51 may be coated to increase reflectance. Examples of such coatings include gold plating and silver plating. The cone angle θ of the conical portion 51 is, for example, 60° or more and 120° or less. In this embodiment, the cone angle θ is 90°, and the laser beam Lr emitted from the core ₄₁ along the central axis C4 of the optical fiber 4 is directed along the central axis _C4 as shown in FIG. 3(a). reflected at right angles. The laser beam Lr reflected by the conical surface 51a of the reflecting member 5 passes through the housing member 6 and is emitted from the outer peripheral surface 6a of the housing member 6 to the outside.

A light-transmitting filler 7 is filled between the end surface 41a of the core 41 of the optical fiber 4 and the reflective member 5 inside the housing member 6, and the filler 7 prevents the optical fiber 4 from being connected to the housing member 6. The positions of the core 41 and the reflecting member 5 are fixed. The filler 7 is densely packed at least between the end surface 41a of the core 41 and the conical surface 51a of the conical portion 51 of the reflective member 5 without forming bubbles.

The filler 7 is an optical adhesive having optical transparency in the wavelength range of the laser beam Lr, and for example, silicone resin, epoxy resin, or acrylic resin can be suitably used as the filler 7. The filler 7 has a refractive index close to that of the core 41. The difference between the refractive index of the filler 7 and the refractive index of the core 41 is preferably within ±10% of the refractive index of the core 41, and more preferably within ±5% of the refractive index of the core 41. The refractive index of the filler 7 can be adjusted by using a refractive index adjusting agent, and it is preferable that the refractive index of the filler 7 is approximated to be equal to the refractive index of the core 41.

Furthermore, the refractive index of the housing member 6 is close to that of the core 41 . The difference between the refractive index of the housing member 6 and the refractive index of the core 41 is preferably within ±10% of the refractive index of the core 41, and more preferably within ±5% of the refractive index of the core 41. Since the refractive index of the housing member 6 is close to the refractive index of the core 41, reflection on the inner surface 6b of the housing member 6 can be suppressed. The refractive index of the housing member 6 can be adjusted by using a refractive index adjusting agent, and it is preferable that the refractive index of the housing member 6 is approximated to be equal to that of the core 41.

The inner diameter Di of the housing member 6 is slightly larger than the outer diameter D 4 of the portion of the optical fiber ₄ accommodated in the housing member 6 and the outer diameter D ₅ of the cylindrical portion 52 of the reflecting member 5 . A filler 7 is inserted between the optical fiber 6b and the outer circumferential surface 4a of the optical fiber 4 and the outer circumferential surface 52a of the cylindrical portion 52. The outer diameter Do of the housing member 6 is, for example, 0.3 mm. The outer diameter _D4 of the optical fiber 4 is, for example, 0.125 mm. The difference between the inner diameter Di of the housing member 6 and the outer diameter _D4 of the optical fiber, and the difference between the inner diameter Di of the housing member 6 and the outer diameter _D5 of the cylindrical portion 52 are determined by the center of the optical fiber 4 and the reflective member 5. In order to suppress misalignment and inclination of the optical fiber 4 and reflection member 5 with respect to the housing member 6, it is desirable that the distance be 0.05 mm or less.

Note that FIG. 3A shows a state in which the filler 7 has entered the entire area between the inner surface 6b of the housing member 6, the outer circumferential surface 4a of the optical fiber 4, and the outer circumferential surface 52a of the cylindrical portion 52. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the filler 7 enters at least a portion between the inner surface 6b of the housing member 6 and the outer circumferential surface 4a of the optical fiber 4, and It is only necessary that the filler 7 enters at least a portion between it and 52a.

Next, a method for manufacturing the light guide structure 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4(a) to 4(c). The method for manufacturing the light guide structure 3 includes a first step of inserting the optical fiber 4 into the housing member 6 and protruding a part of the optical fiber 4 including the end surface 41a of the core 41 from the housing member 6; A second step of attaching a liquid filler 7 around the protruding portion of the optical fiber 4, and pushing the optical fiber 4 and liquid filler 7 protruding from the housing member 6 into the interior of the housing member 6 together with the reflective member 5. It has a third step and a fourth step of solidifying the filler 7 inside the housing member 6.

FIG. 4(a) is an explanatory diagram showing the first step. In the first step, for example, the housing member 6 is arranged so that one end face 6c is vertically upward, and the optical fiber 4 is inserted into the hollow portion 60 of the housing member 6 from the other end face 6d. The optical fiber 4 passes through the hollow portion 60 of the housing member 6, and a portion of the optical fiber 4 including the end face 41a of the core 41 protrudes from one end face 6c of the housing member 6.

FIG. 4(b) is an explanatory diagram showing the second step. In the second step, for example, the liquid filler 7 is dripped from the nozzle 70, and the one end surface 6c of the housing member 6 and the optical fiber are wrapped so as to wrap around a part of the optical fiber 4 protruding from the one end surface 6c of the housing member 6. A liquid filler 7 is applied to 4. Note that the method for attaching the liquid filler 7 is not limited to dropping it from the nozzle 70, but for example, by dipping the housing member 6 in the liquid filler 7 with one end surface 6c of the housing member 6 facing downward. A liquid filler 7 may be applied to one end surface 6c of the optical fiber 4 and the optical fiber 4 protruding from the end surface 6c.

FIG. 4(c) is an explanatory diagram showing the third step. In the third step, for example, the tip of the conical portion 51 of the reflective member 5 is brought into contact with the center of the end surface 41a of the core 41, and a part of the reflective member 5 is pushed into the housing member 6 together with the optical fiber 4. The optical fiber 4 and the reflective member 5 are coaxially arranged within the housing member 6 due to the self-alignment effect due to the surface tension of the liquid filler 7. Thereafter, in the fourth step, the optical fiber 4 and the reflective member 5 are fixed to the housing member 6 by solidifying the filler 7 inside the housing member 6 .

As the filler 7, a photocurable or thermosetting optical adhesive can be suitably used. When the filler 7 is of a photocurable type, the filler 7 is cured by irradiating light of a predetermined wavelength from outside of the housing member 6 . Further, when the filler 7 is of a thermosetting type, the filler 7 is heated and hardened from the outside of the housing member 6 using, for example, a heater.

(Effects of embodiment)
According to the embodiment described above, since the core 41 of the optical fiber 4 and the reflective member 5 are fixed to the housing member 6 by the filler 7, the inclination and positional shift of the reflective member 5 with respect to the housing member 6 are suppressed. Light distribution becomes stable. Furthermore, Fresnel reflection at the end surface 41a of the core 41 is suppressed, thereby suppressing optical loss. In particular, in this embodiment, the reflecting member 5 integrally includes the conical portion 51 and the cylindrical portion 52, and a part of the cylindrical portion 52 is accommodated in the housing member 6. The cylindrical portion 52 accurately suppresses inclination and displacement of the reflecting member 5. Furthermore, the heat of the reflecting member 5 due to receiving the laser beam Lr is radiated from the cylindrical portion 52 of the portion protruding from the housing member 6, and overheating of the reflecting member 5 can be suppressed, and the reflecting member 5 is (Computed Tomography) It becomes easier to see in an image, and the position of the reflective member 5 can be easily confirmed from outside the patient P's body.

(Modified example)
Next, light guide structures 3A to 3E according to first to fifth modified examples 1 to 5 of the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 10. The light guiding structures 3A to 3E have an optical fiber 4, a reflecting member 5, and a housing member 6, like the light guiding structure 3 according to the above embodiment, and the optical fiber 4 inside the housing member 6 A filler 7 is filled between the light guiding structure 3 and the reflecting member 5, but the structure other than that is different from the light guiding structure 3 according to the embodiment described above. Regarding each component of the light guide structures 3A to 3E shown in FIGS. 5 to 10, the same reference numerals as in FIG. omitted.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a light guide structure 3A according to a first modification. A light leakage suppressing portion 81 is formed in the light guide structure 3A so as to cover one end surface 6c of the accommodation member 6, and suppresses leakage light leaking from the end surface 6c in the axial direction of the accommodation member 6. Further, a tapered portion 82 is formed in the light guide structure 3A so as to cover the other end surface 6d of the housing member 6. The outer diameter of the tapered portion 82 becomes smaller as the portion moves away from the other end surface 6d in the axial direction.

The light leakage suppressing portion 81 includes a base material 810 having light transmittance and a large number of particles 811 dispersed and mixed therein. The base material 810 is, for example, silicone resin. The particles 811 are, for example, fine light scattering particles that reflect and scatter light, and more specifically are metal powders of titanium oxide, aluminum oxide, silver, copper, iron, or alloys thereof. However, as the particles 811, fine light-absorbing particles such as carbon black or metal oxide that absorb light may be used.

The leakage light suppressing portion 81 covers a part of the outer circumferential surface 52 a of the cylindrical portion 52 of the reflecting member 5 that protrudes from the housing member 6 . The distance L from one end surface 6c of the housing member 6 in the axial direction to the outer surface 81a of the leakage light suppressing portion 81 is longer as the portion of the reflecting member 5 is closer to the cylindrical portion 52, and the leakage light suppressing portion 81 is shaped like a bowl. It is formed. This prevents the peripheral edge of one end surface 6c of the housing member 6 from getting stuck in the unevenness of the blood vessel _P1 when the light guide structure 3 is inserted into the blood vessel _P1 of the patient P. 3 into the blood vessel _P1 .

The tapered portion 82 is made of, for example, a photocurable or thermosetting resin, and is formed by adhering it to the other end surface 6d of the housing member 6 and the outer circumferential surface 4a of the optical fiber 4 in a liquid state before curing and curing it. be done. By forming the tapered portion 82, when the light guide structure 3 is extracted from the blood vessel _P1 of the patient P, the peripheral edge of the other end surface 6d of the housing member 6 is prevented from getting caught in the unevenness of the blood vessel _P1 , and the guide It becomes easier to extract the optical structure 3 from the blood vessel _P1 . Note that the material of the tapered portion 82 may be the same as the material of the leakage light suppressing portion 81. Alternatively, the material of the tapered portion 82 may be the same as the material of the filler 7. Further, it is preferable that the leak light suppressing portion 81 and the tapered portion 82 be formed after the filler 7 is hardened and the optical fiber 4 and the reflecting member 5 are fixed to the housing member 6.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a light guide structure 3B according to a second modification. The light guiding structure 3B has a guide wire 9 attached to a cylindrical portion 52 of the reflecting member 5 protruding from one end surface 6c of the housing member 6. The guide wire 9 includes a distal end guide 91, a helical body 92 formed by spirally winding an elastic wire, and a reinforcing wire 93 fixed to the cylindrical portion 52 of the reflective member 5. The tip guide 91, the spiral body 92, and the reinforcing wire 93 are made of stainless steel, for example. The tip guide 91 integrally includes a hemispherical part 911 formed in a hemispherical shape and a cylindrical part 912 having a smaller diameter than the hemispherical part 911, and the cylindrical part 912 is fitted into one end of the spiral body 92. There is. The cylindrical portion 52 of the reflective member 5 is fitted and fixed to the other end of the spiral body 92 . The reinforcing wire 93 is formed to gradually become thinner from the cylindrical portion 52 of the reflecting member 5 toward the tip guide 91, and reinforces the bending rigidity of the spiral body 92. The guide wire 9 is attached to the reflective member 5, so that the light guide structure 3B can be easily inserted into the blood vessel _P1 .

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a light guide structure 3C according to a third modification. In the above embodiment, a case has been described in which the core 41 and cladding 42 of the optical fiber 4 are housed in the housing member 6 in a state covered with the coating 43, but in the light guide structure 3C according to the third modification, The cladding 42 is housed in the housing member 6 together with the core 41, with the coating 43 on the tip end of the optical fiber 4 removed and the outer circumferential surface 42a exposed. The outer peripheral surface 42a of the cladding 42 is the outer peripheral surface of the portion of the optical fiber 4 accommodated in the housing member 6. A filler 7 is inserted between the inner surface 6b of the housing member 6 and the outer circumferential surface 42a of the cladding 42. According to this configuration of the light guide structure 3C, the inner and outer diameters of the housing member 6 can be reduced by the thickness of the coating 43, and the diameter of the light guide structure 3C can be reduced.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a light guide structure 3D according to a fourth modification. In the above embodiment, a case has been described in which the inner diameter Di of the housing member 6 is larger than the outer diameter D4 of the optical fiber ₄ inside the housing member 6 and the outer diameter D5 of the cylindrical portion 52 of the reflecting member ₅ . , in the light guiding structure 3D, the inner diameter of the housing member 6 before the optical fiber 4 and the cylindrical portion 52 of the reflecting member 5 are inserted is the outer diameter of the optical fiber 4 and the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion 52 of the reflecting member 5. The optical fiber 4 and the cylindrical portion 52 of the reflective member 5 are press-fitted into the housing member 6. According to this configuration of the light guide structure 3D, it becomes possible to more accurately suppress misalignment between the optical fiber 4 and the reflecting member 5 and inclination of the optical fiber 4 and the reflecting member 5 with respect to the housing member 6.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a light guide structure 3E according to a fifth modification. FIGS. 10A to 10C are explanatory diagrams showing an example of a method for manufacturing a light guide structure 3E according to a fifth modification. Similar to the light guide structure 3A according to the first modification, the light guide structure 3B is provided with a tapered part 83 that covers the other end surface 6d of the housing member 6. It is made up of part of 7.

In FIG. 10(a), the housing member 6 with the liquid filler 7 attached to the other end face 6d of the housing member 6 is placed vertically so that one end face 6c is upward and the other end face 6d is downward. It shows the state where it is held. In FIG. 10(b), the optical fiber 4 is inserted into the hollow part 60 of the housing member 6 from the other end surface 6d, and a part of the optical fiber 4 including the end surface 41a of the core 41 is inserted from the one end surface 6c. It is shown in an upwardly protruding state. In FIG. 10(c), a liquid filler 7 is attached to one end surface 6c of the housing member 6 and the optical fiber 4 so as to wrap around a part of the optical fiber 4 protruding from the one end surface 6c of the housing member 6. It shows the condition. FIG. 10(d) shows a state in which a part of the reflecting member 5 is pushed into the housing member 6 together with the optical fiber 4.

In this manufacturing method of the light guide structure 3E, when the optical fiber 4 is inserted into the hollow part 60 of the housing member 6, the liquid filler 7 attached to the other end surface 6d of the housing member 6 is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the optical fiber 4. 4a, and then a part of the optical fiber 4 is pulled out from the other end surface 6d of the housing member 6 during the transition from the state shown in FIG. 10(c) to the state shown in FIG. 10(d). A tapered portion 83 is formed.

According to this manufacturing method, the tapered portion 83 can be easily formed. Furthermore, even if the liquid filler 7 attached to one end surface 6c of the accommodation member 6 and the liquid filler 7 attached to the other end surface 6d of the accommodation member 6 mix, the filling inside the accommodation member 6 may be prevented. Since the refractive index of the agent 7 does not change, the reflectance of the laser beam Lr at the end surface 41a of the core 41 and the inner surface 6b of the housing member 6 is not affected.

(Summary of embodiments and modifications)
Next, technical ideas understood from the embodiments and modified examples described above will be described using reference numerals and the like in the embodiments. However, each reference numeral in the following description does not limit the constituent elements in the scope of the claims to those specifically shown in the embodiments.

[1] An optical fiber (4) having a core (41) and a cladding (42), and emitted light emitted from the end face (41a) of the core (41) with respect to the axial direction of the optical fiber (4). A reflective member (5) that reflects in a crossing direction, and a light-transmissive housing member (6) that houses at least a portion of each of the optical fiber (4) and the reflective member (5), A light-transmitting filler (7) is filled between the end surface (41a) of the core (41) and the reflective member (5) on the inside of the member (6). ), the positions of the core (41) and the reflective member (6) with respect to the housing member (6) are fixed by a light guide structure (3, 3A to 3D).

[2] The reflective member (5) has a conical portion (51) formed in a conical shape and a cylindrical portion (52) formed in a cylindrical shape, and the cylindrical portion (52) has a Said [1 ] The light guiding structure (3, 3A to 3D).

[3] The inner diameter (Di) of the housing member (6) is equal to the outer diameter (D ₄ ) of the optical fiber (4) inside the housing member (6) and the cylindrical portion ( The filler (7) is slightly larger than the outer diameter (D ₅ ) of the accommodating member (6) and between the optical fiber (4) and the cylindrical portion (52). ), the light guide structure (3, 3A to 3C) according to the above [2].

[4] The light guiding structure (3D ).

[5] The light guide according to any one of [2] to [4] above, wherein a part of the cylindrical portion (52) of the reflecting member (5) protrudes from the housing member (6). Structure (3, 3A to 3D).

[6] A method for manufacturing the light guide structure (3, 3A to 3D) according to [1] above, in which the optical fiber (4) is inserted into the housing member (6), and the optical fiber (4) is inserted into the housing member (6). ) of the optical fiber (6), a second step of depositing the liquid filler (7) around the part of the optical fiber (6), and a third step of pushing the part of the fiber (4) and the liquid filler (7) into the housing member (6) together with the reflective member (5); and pushing the filler (7) into the housing member (6) A fourth step of solidifying inside the light guide structure (3, 3A to 3D).

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the embodiments described above do not limit the invention according to the claims. Furthermore, it should be noted that not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential for solving the problems of the invention. Further, the present invention can be implemented with appropriate modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and for example, it is also possible to implement the present invention by combining a part of each of the embodiments and each modification.

3, 3A to 3D...Light guiding structure 4...Optical fiber 41...Core 41a...End face 42...Clad 43...Coating 5...Reflecting member 51...Conical part 51a...Conical surface 52...Cylindrical part 6...Accommodating member 6a... Outer peripheral surface 7...filler

Claims (6)

an optical fiber having a core and a cladding; a reflecting member that reflects emitted light emitted from an end surface of the core in a direction crossing the axial direction of the optical fiber; and at least each of the optical fiber and the reflecting member. and a light-transmissive housing member that houses a portion of the
A light-transmitting filler is filled between the end surface of the core and the reflective member inside the housing member,
The positions of the core and the reflective member relative to the housing member are fixed by the filler;
Light guiding structure. The reflecting member has a conical portion formed in a conical shape and a cylindrical portion formed in a cylindrical shape,
At least a portion of the cylindrical portion is accommodated in the housing member together with the conical portion,
an outer circumferential surface of the conical portion is a reflective surface that reflects the emitted light;
The light guide structure according to claim 1. The inner diameter of the housing member is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the optical fiber inside the housing member and the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion of the reflective member,
the filler is interposed between the inner surface of the housing member and the optical fiber and the cylindrical portion;
The light guide structure according to claim 2. the optical fiber and the cylindrical portion of the reflective member are press-fitted into the housing member;
The light guide structure according to claim 2. A portion of the cylindrical portion of the reflective member protrudes from the housing member;
The light guide structure according to any one of claims 2 to 4. A method for manufacturing a light guide structure according to claim 1, comprising:
A first step of inserting the optical fiber into the housing member and protruding a part of the optical fiber from the housing member;
a second step of attaching the liquid filler around the part of the optical fiber;
a third step of pushing the part of the optical fiber and the liquid filler together with the reflecting member into the housing member;
a fourth step of solidifying the filler inside the housing member;
A method for manufacturing a light guide structure having the following.

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