FIBER OPTIC IMAGE GUIDE RODS IN ULTRATHIN ENDOSCOPY - MATERIAL PROBLEMS

The results of scientific and technological experiments performed in t he Glass Department of the Institute of Electronic Materials Technolog y in Warsaw are presented. Research on fiber optic elements are carrie d out in areas of light and image guides made of multicomponent glasse s and light guides made from pure silica glasses. The laboratory metho ds of manufacturing the glass elements, which are the starting preform s for optical fibers are elaborated. These methods include selection o f the proper chemical composition of glasses, preparation of optimum m aterial batches, melting the glasses in platinum or ceramic crucibles, mechanical working (grinding and polishing) of glass blocks to obtain rods for rod-in-tube preforms. Methods of pulling glass fibers of dif ferent cross sections for several medical, technical and environmental applications are improved. A high level of techniques and technologic al skills in the manufacture of optical fibers make it possible to obt ain a higher generation of optical fiber elements and possibly to tran smit an image. (C) 1997 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engin eers.