Illumination device for surgery

The illumination device as set forth in claim wherein the tip is composed of unclad optical fiber.

In an illumination device for use in surgery on the human body, said illumination device including a handpiece adapted to allow manipulation thereof by a user, a light source connector adapted for connection to a light source, a hollow probe extending from a distal end of the handpiece and fixedly connected thereto, said probe being sized to fit within one or more cavities in the human body, and at least one optical fiber extending from the light source connector to the probe for transmitting light from the light source through the probe, the improvement comprising:

• an exposed tip optically connected to the optical fiber, said tip being disposed at the distal end of the optical fiber, said tip being substantially bullet shaped and having a cross-sectional area which decreases substantially continuously distally from the distal end of the optical fiber.

In an illumination device for use in surgery on the human body, said illumination device including a handpiece adapted to allow manipulation thereof by a user, a light source connector adapted for connection to a light source, a hollow probe extending from a distal end of the handpiece and fixedly connected thereto, said probe being sized to fit within one or more cavities in the human body, and at least one optical fiber extending from the light source connector to the probe for transmitting illuminating light from the light source through the probe, and improvement comprising:

• a tip optically connected to the optical fiber, said tip being disposed at the distal end of the optical fiber, said tip having a shape such that light exits from the tip over a predetermined angle measured with respect to a predetermined location along the longitudinal axis of the tip, the light exiting from the tip being substantially homogeneous over at least 120 degrees, measured with respect to said predetermined location, in water.