Film illumination system

• US 9,220,401 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2013
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Invuity, Inc. (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Invuity, Inc. (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Vayser, Alex, Trauner, Kenneth B., Grey, Thomas L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Truong, Bao Q
• Application Number:
  US14/068,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20140057223A1
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0623 for off-axis illumination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/07 using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/24 for the mouth, i.e. stomatoscopes, e.g. with tongue depressors tongue depressors per se A61B13/00; Instruments for opening or keeping open the mouth combined with saliva removers A61C17/00; mouth openers for animals A61D15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/32 Devices for opening or enlarging the visual field, e.g. of a tube of the body dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/02 for holding wounds open; Tractors specula A61B1/32 ; drainage appliances for wounds A61M27/00
• 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: A61C 1/088 Illuminating devices or attachments for examination of the mouth A61B1/24 and A61B1/06

Abstract

An illuminator film system may include one or more pre-cut sections of optical film applied to a waveguide to allow light to exit the waveguide through the film in a predetermined manner. The one or more pre-cut sections may be removed and reapplied during a procedure to redirect the light. A laminated illuminator film may be provided that uses a laminated optical film structure to direct light from a fiber optic input. Such a laminated illuminator film may be very low profile, low cost and easy to apply to a retractor for providing illumination during a surgical procedure.

Claims

1. A method for illuminating a surgical field, said method comprising:

providing an optical waveguide;

positioning the optical waveguide into the surgical field;

inputting light into the optical waveguide;

applying a first optical film to the optical waveguide while the optical waveguide is positioned within the surgical field;

extracting light from the optical waveguide through the first optical film; and

illuminating the surgical field with the extracted light.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein inputting the light comprises optically coupling the optical waveguide with an external light source.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the first optical film comprises applying a pre-cut section of the first optical film to the optical waveguide.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the first optical film comprises applying a plurality of optical films to the optical waveguide.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the optical waveguide has a surface area, and wherein the first optical film has an area smaller than the surface area of the optical waveguide.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first optical film comprises a tab, and wherein applying the first optical film comprises handling the tab.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the first optical film comprises adhering the first optical film to the optical waveguide with an adhesive layer.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein illuminating the surgical field comprises illuminating a body cavity during a medical, dental, or veterinary procedure.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising removing the first optical film from the optical waveguide and reapplying the first optical film thereto.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising changing orientation of the first optical film relative to the optical waveguide to redirect the extracted light.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the optical waveguide is coupled to a surgical instrument.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

applying a second optical film to the optical waveguide;

forming a chamber between the first and second optical films;

disposing the optical waveguide in the chamber; and

engaging the optical waveguide with the first and second optical films.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

removing the optical film from the optical waveguide;

discarding the optical film;

re-sterilizing the optical waveguide; and

re-using the optical waveguide.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising moving or rotating the first optical film while the optical waveguide is positioned in the surgical field.

22. The method of claim 9, wherein removing the first optical film from the optical waveguide and reapplying the first optical film thereto is performed during a surgical procedure.

23. The method of claim 9, wherein removing the first optical film from the optical waveguide and reapplying the first optical film thereto is conducted while the optical waveguide is positioned in the surgical field.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the first optical film comprises at least one diffuse light directing portion and at least one focused light directing portion, and wherein extracting light from the optical waveguide comprises extracting light through the at least one diffuse light directing portion and the at least one focused light directing portion on the first optical film.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the first optical film comprises a tab, and wherein extracting light from the optical waveguide comprises outputting light in a direction opposite of the tab.

14. A medical illuminator for illuminating a surgical field, said illuminator comprising:

an optical waveguide having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the optical waveguide is configured to convey light therethrough by total internal reflection;

a first layer of optical film coupled to the optical waveguide; and

a second layer of optical film coupled to the optical waveguide,

wherein at least a portion of the first layer is coupled to the second layer without the optical waveguide disposed therebetween.

15. The illuminator of claim 14, wherein the first layer serves a reflective function to send the light toward the second layer of optical film.

16. The illuminator of claim 14, wherein the second layer is a transmissive layer for directing the light to the surgical field.

17. The illuminator of claim 14, wherein the first layer is adhesively coupled to the optical waveguide.

18. The illuminator of claim 14, wherein the second layer of optical film is disposed over the first layer.

19. The illuminator of claim 14, wherein the first and second layers of optical film form a chamber therebetween for receiving and engaging the optical waveguide.

20. The illuminator of claim 19, wherein the optical waveguide comprises a bundle of optical fibers.

26. The illuminator of claim 14, wherein the first layer is coupled to the second layer without the optical waveguide therebetween at a location distal to the distal end of the optical waveguide.

27. The illuminator of claim 26, wherein light is output along the location distal to the distal end of the optical waveguide.

28. The illuminator of claim 14, wherein the first and second layers of optical film form an air chamber at a location distal to the distal end of the optical waveguide.