MEDICAL INSTRUMENT WITH AN INTEGRATED OPTICAL FIBER
First Claim
1. An illuminated microsurgical instrument system comprising:
- a microsurgical instrument having a distally projecting tubular member arranged to perform a medical procedure at an interventional site, the tubular member having a distal tip and an outer surface;
a sheath member surrounding a portion of the tubular member and extending toward the distal tip of the tubular member; and
an optical fiber extending along a length of the outer surface of the tubular member between the tubular member and the sheath member, wherein a tip of the optical fiber is directed toward the distal tip of the tubular member;
wherein the sheath member further comprises an opening in a sidewall of the sheath member, the opening being located adjacent to an air gap between the tubular member and the sheath member, proximal to a distal edge of the sheath member, and circumferentially away from the tip of the optical fiber, wherein the opening is adapted to direct air exiting the air gap away from the optical fiber.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In some embodiments, an illuminated microsurgical instrument system includes a microsurgical instrument having a distally projecting tubular member arranged to perform a medical procedure. The tubular member has a distal tip and an outer surface, the outer surface having a flat surface formed therein. The instrument includes a sheath member surrounding a portion of the tubular member and extending toward the distal tip of the tubular member and an optical fiber extending along a length of the flat surface between the tubular member and the sheath member. The instrument may include an opening such as a slot in the distal end of the sheath member to direct exiting air away from the tip of the optical fiber. The instrument may further include a slack chamber, collar structure, and fiber guard member to support and guide the optical fiber to the distal tip.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An illuminated microsurgical instrument system comprising:
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a microsurgical instrument having a distally projecting tubular member arranged to perform a medical procedure at an interventional site, the tubular member having a distal tip and an outer surface; a sheath member surrounding a portion of the tubular member and extending toward the distal tip of the tubular member; and an optical fiber extending along a length of the outer surface of the tubular member between the tubular member and the sheath member, wherein a tip of the optical fiber is directed toward the distal tip of the tubular member; wherein the sheath member further comprises an opening in a sidewall of the sheath member, the opening being located adjacent to an air gap between the tubular member and the sheath member, proximal to a distal edge of the sheath member, and circumferentially away from the tip of the optical fiber, wherein the opening is adapted to direct air exiting the air gap away from the optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An illuminated medical probe comprising:
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a handpiece housing configured to be held in a human hand, the handpiece housing including; a proximal end arranged to receive an optical fiber coupled to an illumination source, a distal end coupled by a collar structure to an elongate tubular member, and an optical fiber slack chamber disposed between the proximal end and the distal end; and an optical fiber extending within the optical fiber slack chamber and extending through the collar structure and along a portion of the elongate tubular member, wherein a distal region of the optical fiber is secured at a distal end thereof to the elongate tubular member, the optical fiber being arranged to axially displace along the elongate tubular member and slideably transition through the collar structure between the elongate tubular member and a slack portion including one or more bends disposed within the optical fiber slack chamber; wherein the sheath member further comprises an opening in a sidewall of the sheath member, the opening being located adjacent to an air gap between the tubular member and the sheath member, proximal to a distal edge of the sheath member, and circumferentially away from the tip of the optical fiber, wherein the opening is adapted to direct air exiting the air gap away from the optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of performing a medical procedure using an illuminated microsurgical instrument system, the method comprising:
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using a microsurgical instrument comprising a tubular member, the tubular member having a distal tip and an outer surface, a sheath member surrounding a portion of the tubular member and extending toward the distal tip of the tubular member, and an optical fiber extending along a length of the outer surface of the tubular member between the tubular member and the sheath member, wherein a tip of the optical fiber is directed toward the distal tip of the tubular member, wherein the sheath member further comprises an opening in a sidewall of the sheath member, the opening being located adjacent to an air gap between the tubular member and the sheath member, proximal to a distal edge of the sheath member, and circumferentially away from the tip of the optical fiber, directing air exiting the air gap away from the optical fiber, wherein the opening in the sidewall of the sheath member is configured to direct air away from the optical fiber; illuminating an area to be viewed during the medical procedure by directing light from the tip of the optical fiber; and using the tubular member to perform a surgical operation in the area being illuminated by light from the optical fiber.
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Specification