Methods and apparatus for controlling optical properties of light
AssigneeInvuity, Inc.
InventorsAlex Vayser, Fernando Erismann, Douglas Rimer, Gaston Tudury
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A surgical instrument for illuminating a surgical field has an optical waveguide for transmitting light by total internal reflection. One or more control elements are disposed on the optical waveguide. The control elements extract light from the optical waveguide and control first and second optical properties of the extracted light Another surgical instrument includes a first and second optical waveguide for transmitting light by total internal reflection. A coupling element is attached to both optical waveguides such that the optical waveguides are movable and pivotable relative to one another.
Claims19
A surgical illumination system for illuminating a surgical field, said system comprising:
- an optical waveguide for illuminating the surgical field with light, wherein the optical waveguide comprises a light input end, and wherein the light is transmitted through the optical waveguide by total internal reflection;
- and
- a plurality of optical fibers formed into a fiber bundle, the fiber bundle optically coupled to the light input end,
- wherein the plurality of optical fibers are in an arrangement consisting of two linear rows of optical fibers,
- wherein the plurality of optical fibers are arranged in the fiber bundle such that adjacent fibers engage one another with an interstitial space disposed therebetween,
- wherein the interstitial space between every three adjacent fibers forms a triangle,
- wherein the fiber bundle comprises a cylindrically shaped portion, a flat-planar portion, and a flaring portion between the cylindrically shaped portion and the flat-planar portion, and
- wherein, along the flat-planar portion, the plurality of optical fibers are in the arrangement consisting of the two linear rows of optical fibers.
A surgical illumination system for illuminating a surgical field, said system comprising:
- a surgical retractor comprising a retractor blade;
- an optical waveguide coupled to the surgical retractor, wherein the optical waveguide is configured to illuminate a surgical field with light, wherein the optical waveguide comprises a light input end, and wherein the light is transmitted through the optical waveguide by total internal reflection;
- and
- a plurality of optical fibers formed into a fiber bundle, the fiber bundle optically coupled to the light input end,
- wherein the plurality of optical fibers are in an arrangement consisting of two linear rows of optical fibers,
- wherein the plurality of optical fibers are arranged in the fiber bundle such that adjacent fibers engage one another with an interstitial space disposed therebetween,
- wherein the interstitial space between every three adjacent fibers forms a triangle,
- wherein the fiber bundle comprises a cylindrically shaped portion, a flat-planar portion, and a flaring portion between the cylindrically shaped portion and the flat-planar portion, and
- wherein, along the flat-planar portion, the plurality of optical fibers are in the arrangement consisting of the two linear rows of optical fibers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.