Vitreous cutter with integrated illumination system

An illuminated microsurgical instrument comprising:

• a microsurgical instrument having a tubular member arranged to treat patient tissue at a surgical site, the tubular member having a distal tip and an outer surface;
• and
• an optical fiber arranged to deliver light to the surgical site, the optical fiber including a proximal end arranged to receive a light beam from a light source and also including a distal end with a fiber distal tip that includes a beveled end arranged to refract light away from the tubular member outer surface;
• wherein the outer surface of the tubular member has a notch formed therein;
• wherein the outer surface includes a longitudinal groove formed therein, the optical fiber extending along the tubular member within the longitudinal groove, the notch having a depth greater than a depth of the longitudinal groove;
• wherein the distal end of the optical fiber is a curved distal end arranged to emit light adjacent to the distal tip, a portion of the curved distal end being positioned within the notch, the curved distal end curving away from the tubular member.

A surgical system, the surgical system comprising:

• a light source coupleable to an optical fiber to provide illumination at a distal end of the optical fiber;
• and
• a vitrectomy subsystem having a vitrectomy cutter, the vitrectomy cutter including:
• a tubular member with a distal tip and a lumen extending therein, the lumen being defined by an inner surface of a wall of the tubular member, the distal tip including a port extending through the wall of the tubular member;
• and
• the optical fiber arranged to deliver light to a surgical site, the optical fiber including a proximal end for receiving a light beam from the light source and a distal end arranged to emit light adjacent to the port, a portion of the distal end being positioned within a notch extending from an outer surface of the tubular member into the wall, wherein a tip of the distal end is directed away from the tubular member;
• wherein the outer surface includes a longitudinal groove formed in the wall, the optical fiber extending along the tubular member within the longitudinal groove, wherein the notch has a depth greater than a depth of the longitudinal groove.

A vitrectomy cutter comprising:

• a tubular member arranged to remove vitreous from within an eye of a patient, the tubular member having a distal tip and a lumen extending therein, the lumen being defined by an inner surface of a wall of the tubular member, the distal tip comprising a port extending through the wall of the tubular member to receive vitreous into the lumen;
• and
• an optical fiber arranged to deliver light into the eye, the optical fiber including a proximal end to receive a light beam from a light source and also including a distal end arranged to emit light adjacent to the port, a portion of the distal end being positioned within a notch formed in an outer surface of the tubular member, a portion of the distal end directed away from the tubular member;
• wherein the outer surface of the tubular member includes a longitudinal groove formed therein, the optical fiber extending along the tubular member within the longitudinal groove, the notch having a depth greater than a depth of the longitudinal groove.