Variable intensity endoilluminator

• US 7,837,372 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2008
• Issued: 11/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Inventors: Hickingbotham, Dyson
• Primary Examiner(s): Alavi; Ali
• Application Number:
  US12/144,410
• Publication Number:
  US 20090030406A1
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: 362/572, 362/574, 362/575, 362/577, 362/582, 362/551, 362/552, 362/553, 362/558, 606/4, 606/15
• US Class Current: 362/572
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/306 using optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/30 Devices for illuminating a surgical field, the devices having an interrelation with other surgical devices or with a surgical procedure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00863 Retina
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00874 Vitreous
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0079 using non-laser electromagnetic radiation, e.g. non-coherent light or microwaves

Abstract

A variable intensity endoilluminator system is disclosed, one embodiment comprising: a light source for providing a light beam; an optical cable, optically coupled to the light source for receiving and transmitting the light beam; a handpiece, operably coupled to the optical cable to receive the light beam; an optical fiber, operably coupled to the handpiece, wherein the optical fiber is optically coupled to the optical cable to receive and transmit the light beam to illuminate a surgical field; and a translucent cannula, operably coupled to the handpiece, for housing and directing the optical fiber, wherein the cannula is operable to diffuse and transmit the light from the light beam when the optical fiber is retracted into the cannula. The cannula and the handpiece can be fabricated from biocompatible materials.

Claims

1. A variable intensity illuminator, comprising:

an optical fiber, optically coupled to a light source and operable to receive a light beam from the light source and transmit the light beam to illuminate a surgical field;

a handpiece, operably coupled to the optical fiber;

a translucent cannula, operably coupled to the handpiece, for housing and directing the optical fiber, wherein the cannula is operable to diffuse and transmit the light beam to provide general illumination of the surgical field when a distal end of the optical fiber is retracted into the cannula; and

wherein the distal end of the optical fiber is operable to transmit the light beam to provide spot lighting of the surgical field when the distal end of the optical fiber is co-incident with a distal end of the cannula.

3. The illuminator or claim 1, wherein the surgical field is a selected portion of the interior of an eye.

4. The illuminator of claim 1, wherein the handpiece comprises an adjusting mechanism coupled to the optical fiber to control the linear displacement of the optical fiber within the cannula.

5. The illuminator of claim 4, wherein the adjusting mechanism comprises a locking mechanism to hold the optical fiber at a selected position relative to the cannula.

6. The illuminator of claim 1, wherein the cannula is made of a flexible translucent material.

7. The illuminator of claim 1, wherein the cannula is translucent along only a portion of its length.

8. The illuminator of claim 1, wherein the cannula is a 20 gauge cannula.

9. The illuminator of claim 1, wherein the cannula is a 23 gauge cannula.

10. The illuminator of claim 1, wherein the cannula is a 25 gauge cannula.

2. A variable intensity illumination surgical system comprising:

a light source for providing a light beam;

an optical cable, optically coupled to the light source for receiving and transmitting the light beam;

a handpiece, operably coupled to the optical cable;

an optical fiber, operably coupled to the handpiece, wherein the optical fiber is optically coupled to the optical cable to receive and transmit the light beam to illuminate a surgical field; and

a translucent cannula, operably coupled to the handpiece, for housing and directing the optical fiber, wherein the cannula is operable to diffuse and transmit the light beam to provide general illumination of the surgical field when a distal end of the optical fiber is retracted into the cannula; and

wherein the distal end of the optical fiber is operable to transmit the light beam to provide spot lighting of the surgical field when the distal end of the optical fiber is co-incident with a distal end of the cannula.