Medical instrument with an integrated optical fiber

An illuminated medical probe comprising:

• a handpiece housing configured to be held in a human hand, the handpiece housing including:
• a proximal end arranged to receive an optical fiber coupled to an illumination source,
• a distal end coupled by a collar structure to an elongate tubular member, and
• an optical fiber slack chamber disposed between the proximal end and the distal end;
• and
• an optical fiber extending within the optical fiber slack chamber and extending through the collar structure and along a portion of the elongate tubular member, wherein a distal region of the optical fiber is secured at a distal end thereof to the elongate tubular member, the optical fiber being arranged to axially displace along the elongate tubular member and slideably transition through the collar structure between the elongate tubular member and a slack portion including one or more bends disposed within the optical fiber slack chamber;
• wherein at least a portion of an outer surface of the tubular member and at least a portion of an inner surface of the sheath member are sealed together such that the tubular member and sheath member are fixed relative to each other;
• wherein the sheath member further comprises an opening in a sidewall of the sheath member, the opening being located adjacent to an air gap between the tubular member and the sheath member, proximal to a distal edge of the sheath member, and circumferentially away from the tip of the optical fiber, wherein the opening is adapted to direct air exiting the air gap away from the optical fiber.

A method of performing a medical procedure using an illuminated microsurgical instrument system, the method comprising:

• using a microsurgical instrument comprising a tubular member, the tubular member having a distal tip and an outer surface, a sheath member surrounding a portion of the tubular member and extending toward the distal tip of the tubular member, and an optical fiber extending along a length of the outer surface of the tubular member between the tubular member and the sheath member, wherein a tip of the optical fiber is directed toward the distal tip of the tubular member, wherein the sheath member further comprises an opening in a sidewall of the sheath member, the opening being located adjacent to an air gap between the tubular member and the sheath member, proximal to a distal edge of the sheath member, and circumferentially away from the tip of the optical fiber, wherein at least a portion of the outer surface of the tubular member and at least a portion of an inner surface of the sheath member are sealed together such that the tubular member and sheath member are fixed relative to each other;
• directing air exiting the air gap away from the optical fiber, wherein the opening in the sidewall of the sheath member is configured to direct air away from the optical fiber;
• illuminating an area to be viewed during the medical procedure by directing light from the tip of the optical fiber;
• and
• using the tubular member to perform a surgical operation in the area being illuminated by light from the optical fiber.