Fiberoptic cable safety devices

An assembly for use in medical procedures, the assembly comprising:

• a fiber optic cable;
• and
• a safety device comprising:
• an annular adaptor;
• and
• an end cover coupled to the annular adaptor, the end cover comprising a resiliently deformable material, wherein the end cover is moveable between a relaxed state and an elastically deformed state and comprises a free edge;
• wherein the annular adaptor is configured to receive a connector disposed at a distal end of a fiberoptic cable such that the end cover of the safety device extends distally relative to a distal end of the connector;
• wherein, in the relaxed state, a plane of a distal face of the end cover is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the safety device, and wherein, in the elastically deformed state, a free edge of the end cover is deformed radially outwardly relative to the longitudinal axis and is axially displaced along a longitudinal axis of the safety device;
• and
• wherein the safety device is sized and shaped such that, when the connector of the fiberoptic cable is coupled to an engagement portion of an optical medical instrument, the engagement portion of the optical medical instrument extends past the end cover and maintains the end cover in the elastically deformed state, and when the connector of the fiberoptic cable is uncoupled from the engagement portion of the optical medical instrument, the end cover moves from the elastically deformed state to the relaxed state such that light emitted from the fiberoptic cable is at least partially blocked by the end cover.

A method of using a safety device for a fiberoptic cable, the method comprising:

• inserting a connector at a distal end of the fiberoptic cable into an annular adaptor of the safety device such that an end cover of the safety device extends distally relative to the distal end of the connector, wherein the safety device comprises:
• the annular adaptor;
• and
• the end cover coupled to the annular adaptor, wherein the end cover comprises a resiliently deformable material and includes a flap that is moveable between a relaxed state and an elastically deformed state, wherein the flap comprises a free edge;
• wherein the annular adaptor comprises an elastomeric sleeve so dimensioned as to receive the connector disposed at the distal end of the fiberoptic cable;
• wherein, relative to the flap in the relaxed state, the flap is deformed radially outwardly from a longitudinal axis of the safety device in the elastically deformed state, and wherein, relative to the flap in the relaxed state, at least a portion of the free edge of the flap is displaced along the longitudinal axis of the safety device in the elastically deformed state;
• deforming the safety device such that the flap transitions from the relaxed state to the elastically deformed state;
• engaging the connector of the fiberoptic cable with an engagement portion of an optical medical instrument to couple the fiberoptic cable to the optical medical instrument and transmit light thereto, the coupling between the connector and the engagement portion maintaining the flap in the elastically deformed state;
• and
• disengaging the connector of the fiberoptic cable from the engagement portion of the optical medical instrument, the disengaging of the connector and the engagement portion resulting in the flap resiliently transitioning from the elastically deformed state to the relaxed state such that at least a portion of the light emitted from the distal end of the fiberoptic cable is blocked by the end cover.