Light delivery systems and applications thereof

• US 6,591,049 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2001
• Issued: 07/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lumitex Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Lumitex Incorporated
• Inventors: Parker, Jeffery R., Williams, Jeffrey B., Caywood, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia
• Assistant Examiner(s): Abutayeh, Mohammad
• Application Number:
  US09/908,968
• Publication Number:
  US 20020009275A1
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• Field of Search: 385/123, 385/129-131, 385/147, 385/900, 385/901, 362/32.1
• US Class Current: 385/123
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0615 for radial illumination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/07 using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/02 for holding wounds open; Tractors specula A61B1/32 ; drainage appliances for wounds A61M27/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0206 with antagonistic arms as supports for retractor elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2812 with a single pivotal connection A61B17/29 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/282 Jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0243 for immobilizing local areas of the heart, e.g. while it beats trocars attached to inner organs or inner body tissue A61B2017/3488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/306 using optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/309 using white LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/36 Image-producing devices or illumination devices not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/028 Sampling from a surface, swabbing, vaporising
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0008 the light being emitted at the end of the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/001 the light being emitted along at least a portion of the lateral surface of the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0036 2-D arrangement of prisms, protrusions, indentations or roughened surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0038 Linear indentations or grooves, e.g. arc-shaped grooves or meandering grooves, extending over the full length or width of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0061 to provide homogeneous light output intensity

Abstract

Light delivery systems/lighting devices include a light distributor and a flexible light emitter. A malleable member adjacent said light emitter is bendable to hold the shape of the light emitter once arranged in a desired position. A protective cover protects the light emitter and/or light distributor from direct contact with contaminants or components which may interfere with proper operation thereof. A handle connected to the light distributor contains a light pipe or rod that provides an interface between the light distributor and a light source conduit which may be inserted into a socket in the handle or connected to a male adaptor mounted in the socket.

Claims

1. A lighting device comprising a light distributor for receiving light from an associated light source and propagating light therethrough via internal reflection, a flexible light emitter for emitting light propagated by said light distributor, and a malleable member extending along a portion of the length of said light emitter, said malleable member being bendable to hold the shape of said light emitter once arranged in a desired position, said malleable member having sufficient strength to provide retraction on its own.

4. The lighting device of claim 1 further comprising a protective cover surrounding said light emitter, said malleable member being disposed within said protective cover adjacent said light emitter.

2. A lighting device comprising a light distributor for receiving light from an associated light source and propagating light therethrough via internal reflection, a flexible light emitter for emitting light propagated by said light distributor, and a malleable member extending along a portion of the length of said light emitter, said malleable member being bendable to hold the shape of said light emitter once arranged in a desired position, said malleable member having a handle at one end.

3. A lighting device comprising a light distributor for receiving light from an associated light source and propagating light therethrough via internal reflection, a flexible light emitter for emitting light propagated by said light distributor, and a malleable member extending along a portion of the length of said light emitter, said malleable member being bendable to hold the shape of said light emitter once arranged in a desired position, said malleable member having a mounting rod at one end.

5. A lighting device comprising a light distributor for receiving light from an associated light source and propagating light therethrough via internal reflection, a flexible light emitter for emitting light propagated by said light distributor, a malleable member extending along a portion of the length of said light emitter, said malleable member being bendable to hold the shape of said light emitter once arranged in a desired position, and a protective cover surrounding said light emitter, said malleable member being disposed within said protective cover adjacent said light emitter, said malleable member having one of a handle or mounting rod at one end extending outwardly of said protective cover.

6. The lighting device of clam 4 wherein said instrument or hand tool has a handle extending outwardly of said pocket.

7. A lighting device comprising a light distributor for receiving light from an associated light source and propagating light therethrough via internal reflection, a flexible light emitter for emitting light propagated by said light distributor, and a malleable member extending along a portion of the length of said light emitter, said malleable member being bendable to hold the shape of said light emitter once arranged in a desired position, said light emitter having a greater width than thickness and opposite ends and sides and top and bottom surfaces, and said malleable member comprising a flat sheet of malleable material disposed adjacent said light emitter.

8. The lighting device of claim 7 further comprising a protective cover surrounding said light emitter, said malleable member being disposed within said protective cover adjacent said light emitter.

9. The lighting device of claim 8 wherein said malleable member is loosely disposed within said protective cover adjacent said light emitter.

10. The lighting device of claim 9 further comprising a back reflector disposed within said protective cover between said light emitter and said malleable member.

11. The lighting device of claim 7 further comprising a protective cover surrounding said light emitter, with an air interface between said protective cover and said light emitter.

12. A lighting device comprising a light distributor for receiving light from an associated light source and propagating light therethrough via internal reflection, a flexible light emitter for emitting light propagated by said light distributor, a malleable member extending along a portion of the length of said light emitter, said malleable member being bendable to hold the shape of said light emitter once arranged in a desired position, and a protective cover surrounding said light emitter, with an air interface between said protective cover and said light emitter, said air interface being maintained by at least one of:

ribs on an inside surface of said protective cover, and a matte finish on said inside surface.

13. A lighting device comprising a light distributor for receiving light from an associated light source and propagating light therethrough via internal reflection, a flexible light emitter for emitting light propagated by said light distributor, a malleable member extending along a portion of the length of said light emitter, said malleable member being bendable to hold the shape of said light emitter once arranged in a desired position, and a protective cover surrounding said light emitter, with an air interface between said protective cover and said light emitter, said protective cover having a closed end that covers a distal end of said light emitter and extends the full length of said light emitter and said light distributor.

14. The lighting device of claim 13 further comprising a connecting member attached to an end of said light distributor remote from said light emitter, said protective cover being sealed against said connecting member.

15. The lighting device of claim 14 wherein a cable clamp clamps said protective cover in sealed engagement with said connecting member.

16. The lighting device of claim 14 further comprising at least one vent opening in said protective cover forwardly of said connecting member.

17. The lighting device of claim 16 further comprising a handle connected to said end of said light distributor, said handle having a sleeve portion covering said vent opening.

18. The lighting device of claim 17 wherein a cable clamp clamps said protective cover in sealed engagement with said connecting member, and said handle includes an internal recess in which said cable clamp is received for locating said connecting member within said handle.

19. The lighting device of claim 14 further comprising a handle connected to said end of said light distributor, said handle having a socket outwardly of said end of said light distributor.

20. The lighting device of claim 19 further comprising a light pipe mounted within said handle providing an interface between said end of said light distributor and a light source conduit insertable into said socket outwardly of said light pipe.

21. The lighting device of claim 20 wherein said light pipe is made of a material that filters out certain frequencies of light.

22. The lighting device of claim 20 wherein said light pipe comprises a light mixing rod.

23. The lighting device of claim 19 further comprising a male adaptor mountable within said socket with an outer end portion of said male adaptor extending outwardly beyond said handle, and a light pipe within said handle for providing an interface between said end of said light distributor and said outer end portion of said male adaptor.

24. The lighting device of claim 13 wherein said light emitter has a greater width than thickness and said light distributor is substantially round, and said protective cover includes a pouch-like portion covering said light emitter and a tubular sleeve-like portion covering said light distributor.

25. The lighting device of claim 24 wherein said pouch-like portion of said protective cover extends over a portion of said tubular sleeve-like portion and is heat sealed to said tubular sleeve-like portion.

26. The lighting device of claim 24 wherein said pouch-like portion is made of a flexible translucent or transparent material and said tubular sleeve-like portion is made of an opaque material.

27. A lighting device comprising a light distributor for receiving light from an associated light source and propagating light therethrough via internal reflection, a flexible light emitter for emitting light propagated by said light distributor, a malleable member extending along a portion of the length of said light emitter, said malleable member being bendable to hold the shape of said light emitter once arranged in a desired position, and an attachment device for attaching said light emitter to an associated device.

28. The lighting device of claim 27 wherein said attachment device comprises at least one of the following:

an adhesive member, Velcro fasteners, clips, hooks, tabs, clamps and snaps.

29. The lighting device of claim 27 wherein said associated device comprises a surgical instrument.

30. The lighting device of claim 29 wherein said surgical instrument comprises at least one of:

a suction device, a vacuum tube, a blower device, an electro-surgical pencil device, a cauterizing device, a retractor, a stabilizer, a tongue depressor, a swab and a forceps.

31. A lighting device comprising a light distributor for receiving light from an associated light source and propagating light therethrough via internal reflection, a light emitter for emitting light propagated by said light distributor, a protective cover surrounding said light distributor and said light emitter, an air interface between said protective cover and said light distributor and said light emitter, said protective cover being closed adjacent an end of said light emitter remote from said light distributor and open adjacent an end of said light distributor remote from said light emitter, said open end of said protective cover being sealed against said end of said light distributor, at least one vent opening in said protective cover inwardly of said sealed open end, and a handle attached to said end of said light distributor, said handle including a sleeve portion overlying said vent opening.

32. The lighting device of claim 31 wherein said handle has a socket outwardly of said end of said light distributor.

33. The lighting device of claim 32 wherein a cable clamp clamps said open end of said protective cover in sealed engagement with said end of said light distributor, and said handle includes an internal recess in which said cable clamp is received for locating said end of said light distributor within said handle.

34. The lighting device of claim 32 further comprising a light pipe within said handle for providing an interface between said end of said light distributor and a light source conduit insertable into said socket.

35. The lighting device of claim 34 wherein said light pipe is made of a material that filters out certain frequencies of light.

36. The lighting device of claim 32 further comprising a male adaptor mountable within said socket with an outer end portion of said adaptor extending outwardly beyond said socket, and a light pipe within said handle and extending through said adaptor for providing an interface between said end of said light distributor and said outer end portion of said adaptor.

37. The lighting device of claim 31 further comprising a hole extending through said protective cover and said light emitter, said protective cover being completely sealed around said hole.

38. The lighting device of claim 31 further comprising an attachment device for attaching an associated device to said lighting device.

39. The lighting device of claim 38 wherein said attachment device comprises at least one of:

an adhesive member, Velcro fasteners, clips, hooks, tabs, clamps and snaps.

40. The lighting device of claim 38 wherein said associated device comprises a surgical instrument.

41. The lighting device of claim 31 wherein said protective cover is formed of a material having at least one of the characteristics of:

opaque, translucent, transparent, and reflective.

42. The lighting device of claim 41 wherein said protective cover surrounding said light emitter is translucent or transparent.

43. The lighting device of claim 31 wherein said light emitter and said protective cover surrounding said light emitter are flexible.

44. The lighting device of claim 31 wherein said protective cover surrounding said light emitter includes first and second cover portions having side edges bonded together.

45. A lighting device comprising a light distributor having a connector at one end for receiving light from a light source and propagating light therethrough via internal reflection, and a handle attached to said one end of said light distributor, said handle having a socket outwardly of said connector, and a light pipe within said handle for providing an optical interface between said connector and a light source conduit insertable into said socket outwardly of said light pipe.

46. The lighting device of claim 45 wherein said light pipe is made of a material that filters out certain frequencies of light.

47. The lighting device of claim 45 wherein said light pipe comprises a light mixing rod.

48. The lighting device of claim 45 further comprising a male adaptor mountable within said socket outwardly of said connector with an outer end portion of said adaptor extending outwardly beyond an outer end of said socket, said light pipe extending from said connector to said outer end portion of said adaptor to provide an optical interface between said connector and said outer end portion of said adaptor.

49. A lighting device comprising a light distributor for receiving light from an associated light source and propagating light therethrough via internal reflection, a flexible light emitter for emitting light propagated by said light distributor, a malleable member extending along a portion of the length of said light emitter, said malleable member being bendable to hold the shape of said light emitter once arranged in a desired position, a protective cover surrounding said light emitter, said malleable member being disposed within said protective cover adjacent said light emitter, and a separate pocket on one side of said protective cover exteriorly of said protective cover for receiving one of an instrument or hand tool in said pocket.

50. A lighting device comprising a light distributor for receiving light from an associated light source and propagating light therethrough via internal reflection, a flexible light emitter for emitting light propagated by said light distributor, a malleable member extending along a portion of the length of said light emitter, said malleable member being bendable to hold the shape of said light emitter once arranged in a desired position, and a protective cover surrounding said light emitter, said malleable member being disposed within said protective cover, and a hole extending through opposite sides of said protective cover, said light emitter and said malleable member to allow for passage of an instrument through said light emitter, said opposite sides of said protective cover being completely sealed around said hole.