1. An antimicrobial fluid conduit, comprising:
a wall defining a fluid pathway, the wall including a surface upon which is disposed a plastic polymer layer having dispersed therein antimicrobial particles, the plastic polymer layer having a thickness between about 1.73 to 2.5 times the nominal size of the antimicrobial particles so as to substantially constrain the antimicrobial particles to a region at a surface of the plastic polymer layer.
2. The antimicrobial fluid conduit of claim 1, wherein the surface is the inner surface of the wall.
3. The antimicrobial fluid conduit of claim 1, wherein the surface is the outer surface of the wall.
4. The antimicrobial fluid conduit of claim 1, wherein:
the wall is composed of a plastic polymer; and
the wall and the plastic polymer layer having been adhered through co-extrusion.
5. The antimicrobial fluid conduit of claim 1, wherein the wall is composed of one or more polymers selected from the group consisting of thermoformable polymers and thermosetting polymers.
6. The antimicrobial fluid conduit of claim 1, wherein the plastic polymer layer is composed of one or more polymers selected from the group consisting of thermoformable polymers and thermosetting polymers.
7. The antimicrobial fluid conduit of claim 1, wherein the antimicrobial particles include one or more inorganic antimicrobial additives.
8. The antimicrobial fluid conduit of claim 7, wherein the antimicrobial particles comprise a combination of copper and silver particles.
9. The antimicrobial fluid conduit of claim 1, wherein the antimicrobial particles are carried in a carrier selected from the group consisting of zeolites, zirconium phosphate and dissolvable glass.
10. The antimicrobial fluid conduit of claim 1, wherein the wall defines a substantially circular cross-sectional area having a diameter ranging from about 0.1 inches to 18 feet.
11. The antimicrobial fluid conduit of claim 1, wherein in the wall defines a hollow tube.
12. The antimicrobial fluid conduit of claim 1, wherein the wall comprises a pipe.
13. The antimicrobial fluid conduit of claim 1, wherein:
the wall comprises a metallic pipe; and
the plastic layer comprises a subsequently applied film.
14. The antimicrobial fluid conduit of claim 1, wherein the plastic polymer layer further includes additives embedded therein selected from the group consisting of hydrophilic materials, hydrophobic materials, flame retarders, anti-odor additives, and anti-stain materials.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An optical assembly for connection to a fiber termination, the optical assembly comprising:
a body,
a blind socket in the body to receive a fiber termination, said blind socket having an end face, and
an optical device supported by the body in a fixed position in relation to the socket,
the body including a vent for excess fiber-bonding epoxy during insertion of a fiber into the blind socket, said vent extending from the end face of the blind socket for at least some of a length of the blind socket to form a reservoir for holding the excess epoxy.
2. The optical assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the socket is shaped for a friction fit of a fiber termination.
3. The optical assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vent extends at right angles to an axial direction of the blind socket.
4. The optical assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vent is in a shape of an elongate slot extending for at least part of the length of the blind socket.
5. The optical assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the socket is of circular cross-section having a diameter matching that of a fiber termination for a friction fit, and the cross-sectional shape is uniform along the length of the blind socket.
6. The optical assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical device is mounted on an electrical lead frame.
7. The optical assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical device is mounted on an electrical lead frame, and part of the lead frame is encapsulated in the body, and electrical terminals of the lead frame protrude from the body.
8. The optical assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical device is mounted on an electrical lead frame, and part of the lead frame is encapsulated in the body, and electrical terminals of the lead frame protrude from the body, and the lead frame extends substantially parallel to the end face of the blind socket.
9. The optical assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical device is mounted on an electrical lead frame, and the lead frame supports an insulation plate, and the optical device is mounted on the insulation plate.
10. The optical assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical device is mounted on an electrical lead frame, and the lead frame supports at least one decoupling capacitor embedded within the body.
11. The optical assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical device is mounted on an electrical lead frame, and the lead frame is of generally rectangular overall shape, and there is a decoupling capacitor at two corners of the lead frame.
12. The optical assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is a gap of body material between the optical device and the socket end face.
13. The optical assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the socket end face is planar.
14. The optical assembly as claimed in claim 1, comprising a mirror for direction of light between the optical device and the fiber.
15. An optical fiber product comprising the assembly as claimed in claim 1 and an optical fiber having a termination inserted in the blind socket and secured in place by a bonding agent.
16. The optical fiber product as claimed in claim 15, wherein said body forms part of an optical path between the fiber and the optical device.
17. A method of connecting a fiber termination to the optical assembly as claimed in claim 1, comprising the steps of:
applying a bonding composition to one of the fiber termination and the blind socket,
pushing the fiber termination into the blind socket until an optimum position is reached at which optical coupling between the fiber and the optical device in the assembly is satisfactory, and
curing the bonding composition while retaining the fiber termination at an optimum position.
18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the optical device is an opto-electronic receiver device, a test optical signal is directed through the fiber, and an electronic signal output of said device is monitored to determine the optimum fiber termination position.
19. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the optical device is a transmitter, and light output at a far end of the fiber is monitored to determine the optimum fiber termination position.