US Patent 7510017 Sealing and communicating in wells

A device includes a main body adapted to couple between a first element of a working string and a second element of the working string. A seal is provided about the main body and is adapted to substantially sealingly engage a wall of the wellbore. An conductor is carried by the main body. The conductor is adapted to communicate at least one of electrical current or a light signal between an interior of the first element and the second element while the seal is substantially sealingly engaging the wall of the wellbore, while the device is released from sealingly engaging the wall of the wellbore, and/or both.