Illuminated suction apparatus

A hand held illuminated suction device, said device comprising:

• a suction tube having an inner surface, and outer surface, a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the proximal portion is configured to be fluidly coupled to a vacuum source, and wherein the distal portion is configured to remove fluid or debris from a surgical field;
• a non-fiber optic optical waveguide having a proximal region and a distal region, wherein the optical waveguide is disposed over the outer surface of the suction tube, and
• wherein light is transmitted from the proximal region of the optical waveguide toward the distal region thereof by total internal reflection, and
• wherein the light is emitted from the distal region of the optical waveguide and directed distally to illuminate the surgical field;
• and
• optical cladding disposed at least partially around the optical waveguide, wherein the optical cladding comprises a molded polymer element, and wherein the optical cladding facilitates total internal reflection of the light through the optical waveguide, and
• wherein the optical cladding is disposed between the suction tube and the optical waveguide.

A method of illuminating tissue in a surgical field of a patient, said method comprising:

• providing an illuminated suction apparatus having a suction tube and a non-fiber optic optical waveguide, wherein the suction tube and optical waveguide are coupled together to form a single handheld instrument;
• maintaining an air gap between the suction tube and the optical waveguide or providing optical cladding therebetween, the air gap or the optical cladding facilitating total internal reflection of light being transmitted through the optical waveguide;
• positioning a distal portion of the illuminated suction apparatus in the surgical field;
• illuminating the surgical field by extracting light from the optical waveguide with light extraction features disposed on a distal region or an outer surface of the optical waveguide, the extracted light directed by the extraction features to form a pre-selected illumination pattern in the surgical field;
• and
• while illuminating the surgical field, suctioning fluid or other debris from the surgical field with the suction tube.