Beveled tip illuminator for microsurgery

• US 5,785,645 A
• Filed: 04/16/1996
• Issued: 07/28/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Synergetics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Synergetics Incorporated
• Inventors: Scheller, Gregg D.
• Primary Examiner(s): FLANAGAN, BEVERLY MEINDL
• Application Number:
  US08/633,031
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 600/101, 600/160, 600/171, 600/176, 600/177, 600/182, 600/183, 600/249, 606/1, 606/2, 606/4, 606/5, 606/6, 606/15, 606/16, 606/107, 606/161
• US Class Current: 600/171
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/306 using optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/36 Image-producing devices or illumination devices not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00 Methods or devices for treatment of the eyes; Devices for putting-in contact lenses; Devices to correct squinting; Apparatus to guide the blind; Protective devices for the eyes, carried on the body or in the hand caps with means for protecting the eyes A42B1/018; visors for helmets A42B3/22; retractors A61B17/02; manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery A61B34/70; appliances to aid invalids to move about A61H3/00; exercisers for the eyes A61H5/00; eye baths A61H35/02; sunglasses or goggles having the same features as spectacles G02C

Abstract

A manually manipulated illuminator used in microsurgery comprises an optic fiber that transmits light through the instrument and emits the light through a beveled end surface of the fiber, the beveled end surface having a leading edge that facilitates insertion of the end surface through an incision.

Claims

1. In a microsurgical illuminator dimensioned to be inserted through an incision in an eye to provide illumination to the eye interior, the illuminator comprising a handle having opposite proximal and distal ends and a bore with a center axis extending through the handle between its ends, an optic fiber passing through the handle bore, the optic fiber having a portion that projects from the handle distal end and terminates at an end surface, an improvement comprising the portion of the optic fiber having a center axis that is parallel to the bore center axis and that intersects the end surface obliquely.

2. The microsurgical illuminator of claim 1, wherein:

the end surface is a substantially planar surface.

3. The microsurgical illuminator of claim 1, wherein:

the handle bore has a center axis that is coaxial with the optic fiber portion center axis.

4. The microsurgical illuminator of claim 1, wherein:

a tubular sleeve projects from the handle distal end and the optic fiber portion extends through the tubular sleeve.

5. The microsurgical illuminator of claim 4, wherein:

the tubular sleeve has a distal end that is coplanar with the optic fiber end surface.

6. The microsurgical illuminator of claim 1, wherein:

the optic fiber end surface is oriented at an angle of 15°

to a normal plane of the optic fiber center axis.

7. The microsurgical illuminator of claim 1, wherein:

the optic fiber end surface is oriented at an angle between 5° and

20°

to a normal plane of the optic fiber center axis.

8. The microsurgical illuminator of claim 1, wherein:

the optic fiber end surface is oriented at an angle greater than 5° and

less then 30°

to a normal plane of the optic fiber center axis.

9. The microsurgical illuminator of claim 1, wherein:

the optic fiber has a proximal end opposite its end surface and a connector at its proximal end configured to connect to a light source.

10. In a microsurgical illuminator comprising

a handle having opposite proximal and distal ends and having a bore with a center axis extending through the handle between the handle ends and,

an improvement comprising passing through the handle bore and having a portion that projects from the handle distal end and terminates at a beveled end surface.

11. The microsurgical illuminator of claim 10, wherein:

a tubular sleeve projects from the distal end of the handle and the portion of the optic fiber passes through the sleeve, the sleeve has a distal end that is beveled.

12. The microsurgical illuminator of claim 11, wherein:

the beveled end surface of the optic fiber is planar and the beveled distal end of the sleeve is coplanar with the optic fiber end surface.

13. The microsurgical illuminator of claim 10, wherein:

the optic fiber has a center axis adjacent its beveled end surface and the beveled end surface is oriented at an angle greater than 5° and

less than 30°

to a plane normal to the optic fiber center axis.

14. The microsurgical illuminator of claim 10, wherein:

the optic fiber has a center axis adjacent its beveled end surface and the beveled end surface is oriented at an angle between 5° and

20°

to a plane normal to the optic fiber center axis.

15. The microsurgical illuminator of claim 10, wherein:

the optic fiber has a center axis adjacent its beveled end surface and the beveled end surface is oriented at an angle of 15°

to a plane normal to the optic fiber center axis.

16. The microsurgical illuminator of claim 10, wherein:

the optic fiber has a proximal end opposite its end surface and a connector at its proximal end configured to connect to a light source.

17. The microsurgical illuminator of claim 10, wherein:

the optic fiber has a center axis that is parallel to the handle bore center axis.

18. The microsurgical illuminator of claim 10, wherein:

the optic fiber has a center axis that is coaxial with the handle bore center axis.