METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ILLUMINATION DURING PHLEBECTOMY PROCEDURES
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- illuminating a blood vessel in a relatively low-light surgical field by inserting a subcutaneous light source into tissue near the blood vessel and to a first location in the tissue underlying the blood vessel, and causing emission of light from the subcutaneous light source while the subcutaneous light source is at the first location, so that light from the subcutaneous light source passes through the tissue near the blood vessel, toward an observer;
drawing a portion of the tissue near the blood vessel through an incision in the skin; and
illuminating the drawn portion of tissue by activating an external light source in a hands-free manner, thereby facilitating determining whether the drawn tissue is the blood vessel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method comprising (a) illuminating a blood vessel in a relatively low-light surgical field by inserting a subcutaneous light source into tissue near the blood vessel and to a first location in the tissue underlying the blood vessel, and causing emission of light from the subcutaneous light source while the subcutaneous light source is at the first location, so that light from the subcutaneous light source passes through the tissue near the blood vessel, toward an observer; (b) drawing a portion of the tissue near the blood vessel through an incision in the skin; and (c) illuminating the drawn portion of tissue by activating an external light source in a hands-free manner, thereby facilitating determining whether the drawn tissue is the blood vessel.
101 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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illuminating a blood vessel in a relatively low-light surgical field by inserting a subcutaneous light source into tissue near the blood vessel and to a first location in the tissue underlying the blood vessel, and causing emission of light from the subcutaneous light source while the subcutaneous light source is at the first location, so that light from the subcutaneous light source passes through the tissue near the blood vessel, toward an observer; drawing a portion of the tissue near the blood vessel through an incision in the skin; and illuminating the drawn portion of tissue by activating an external light source in a hands-free manner, thereby facilitating determining whether the drawn tissue is the blood vessel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A surgical illumination system, comprising:
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a subcutaneous illuminator having an elongate member configured for insertion into subcutaneous tissue, the elongate member having a light emitter near its distal end, the light emitter being configured to emit light primarily in a generally radial direction, outward and away from a longitudinal axis of the elongate member; and an external illuminator configured to illuminate a surgical field in a floodlight fashion, the external illuminator being configured for activation without use of the hands. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification