Methods and Apparatus for Controlling Optical Properties of Light
AssigneeInvuity, Inc.
InventorsAlex Vayser, Fernando Erismann, Douglas Rimer, Gaston Tudury
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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.
Claims25
1-13. (canceled)
A shapeable illuminated surgical instrument, comprising:
- an optical connector configured to couple to a light source;
- a fiber optic bundle having a proximal region and a distal region, wherein the fiber optic bundle is configured to receive light from the optical connector at the proximal region and transmit the light from the proximal region to the distal region, wherein the fiber optic bundle is cylindrically shaped in the proximal region, and wherein the fiber optical bundle is flat and planar in the distal region;
- and
- a malleable backing element extending along the distal region of the fiber optic bundle, wherein the malleable backing element is configured to be manipulated into a plurality of shapes to thereby shape the distal region of the fiber optic bundle.
A surgical system, comprising:
- a surgical retractor;
- and
- a shapeable illuminated surgical instrument coupled to the surgical retractor, wherein the shapeable illuminated surgical instrument comprises:
- an optical connector configured to couple to a light source,
- a fiber optic bundle having a proximal region and a distal region, wherein the fiber optic bundle is configured to receive light from the optical connector at the proximal region and transmit the light from the proximal region to the distal region, wherein the fiber optic bundle is cylindrically shaped in the proximal region, and wherein the fiber optical bundle is flat and planar in the distal region, and
- a malleable backing element extending along the distal region of the fiber optic bundle, wherein the malleable backing element is configured to be manipulated into a plurality of shapes to thereby shape the distal region of the fiber optic bundle,
- wherein the malleable backing element is shpeable to conform to a surface of the surgical retractor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.