# US 10,307,290 B2 · Vitreous cutter with integrated illumination system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,307,290 B2 - Document ID: US10307290B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/202,896 - Filed: 2016-07-06 - Published: 2017-01-19 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2015-07-13 - Assignees: Novartis AG - Applicants: Novartis AG - Inventors: Thomas Kern; Alireza Mirsepassi; Michael J. Papac; Ronald T. Smith; Barry L. Wheatley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10307290B2 ## CPC - A61F 9/00736: {Instruments for removal of intra-ocular material or intra-ocular injection, e.g. cataract instruments (A61F9/008 takes precedence)} - A61B 90/30: Devices for illuminating a surgical field, the devices having an interrelation with other surgical devices or with a surgical procedure - A61B 2017/00973: {pedal-operated} - A61B 2090/306: {using optical fibres} - A61B 2217/005: with suction drainage system - A61B 2217/007: with irrigation system - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract An illuminated microsurgical instrument is provided herein that includes a microsurgical instrument having a tubular member arranged to treat patient tissue at a surgical site, the tubular member having a distal tip, an inner surface, and an outer surface. The inner surface defines a lumen. The outer surface has a notch formed therein. The illuminated microsurgical instrument further includes an optical fiber arranged to deliver light to the surgical site. The optical fiber includes a proximal end arranged to receive a light beam from a light source and also includes a curved distal end arranged to emit light adjacent to the distal tip. A portion of the curved distal end is positioned within the notch and curves away from the tubular member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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 optical fiber is seated in the notch. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The illuminated microsurgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the optical fiber is attached to the tubular member through an adhesive. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The illuminated microsurgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the fiber distal tip is not curved away from the tubular member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The illuminated microsurgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the fiber distal tip is curved away from the tubular member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The illuminated microsurgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising a sleeve around the tubular member and the optical fiber. ### Claim 6 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. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The illuminated microsurgical instrument of claim 6, wherein the curved distal end of the optical fiber comprises a tapered fiber tip portion, wherein the tapered fiber tip portion of the curved distal end of the optical fiber comprises an opaque coating thereon. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The illuminated microsurgical instrument of claim 6, wherein the curved distal end of the optical fiber comprises: a first portion that curves into the notch; and a second portion that curves out of the notch. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The illuminated microsurgical instrument of claim 6, wherein the curved distal end is affixed within the notch by an opaque adhesive material that surrounds a portion of the curved distal end. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The illuminated microsurgical instrument of claim 6, wherein a central axis of a lumen extending within the tubular member is offset from a central axis of the outer surface of the tubular member such that a thickness of the tubular member is greater on a side comprising the optical fiber than a thickness of the tubular member on an opposite side. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The illuminated microsurgical instrument of claim 6, wherein the tip of the curved distal end comprises a lens that focuses the light beam in a near field of the light beam and diverges the light beam in a far field of the light beam. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The illuminated microsurgical instrument of claim 6, wherein the microsurgical instrument is a vitrectomy probe. ### Claim 13 (depends on 6) The illuminated microsurgical instrument of claim 6, wherein the outer surface of the tubular member comprises an angled section that provides a cutting edge disposed distal of a port on the tubular member outer surface, wherein at least the angled section comprises an anti-glare surface. ### Claim 14 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. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The surgical system of claim 14, wherein the distal end of the optical fiber comprises: a less distal portion that curves into the notch; and a more distal portion that curves away from the lumen. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The surgical system of claim 14, wherein the distal end is affixed within the notch by an opaque adhesive material that surrounds a portion of the distal end. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The surgical system of claim 14, further comprising a sleeve around the tubular member and the optical fiber. ### Claim 18 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. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The vitrectomy cutter of claim 18, wherein the distal end of the optical fiber comprises: a first portion that curves into the notch; and a second portion that curves out of the notch, the second portion being tapered, wherein a cross-sectional shape of at least part of the second portion of the distal end is oval. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The vitrectomy cutter of claim 18, wherein a distal side of the port comprises an angled section that provides a cutting edge and wherein the angled section is treated to be one of a specular surface or an absorptive surface. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The vitrectomy cutter of claim 18, wherein a tip of the distal end of the optical fiber comprises a ball lens or a gradient-index (GRIN) lens that focuses the light beam in a near field of the light beam and diverges the light beam in a far field of the light beam.