US Patent 7570854 Flat wide water swellable binder for optical fiber tubes

A multi-tube optical fiber cable includes a plurality of optical fiber tubes, each having one or more optical fibers loosely arranged therein. The optical fiber tubes are arranged within an outer jacket, where the tubes are constructed of a polymer having a low Young's constant modulus. A binder is arranged around the plurality of optical fiber tubes, where the binder is substantially flat in shape such that there is no deformation of the tube, when the binder is applied.