Sterile video microscope holder for operating room

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 22, further including:

• a window means at said distal end of said tubular holder for providing a transparent surface enabling light to be received by said non-illuminating video device;
• a plurality of spring detents positioned around said tubular holder in a common transverse plane and extending radially inward from said inner sleeve for releasable engagement with a mating surface of the non-illuminating video device so that the non-illuminating video device can be rotated within said inner sleeve for the desired orientation of an image to be observed on a visual monitor;
• and
• a locking device mounted on said tubular holder for locking said video device in the desired orientation.

A sterilizable illuminated holding device for illuminating a desired surgical area and for positioning a distal end of a non-illuminating video camera for viewing the illuminated surgical area, said device comprising:

• a tubular holder having concentric inner and outer sleeves forming an annular space therebetween and mounted about a longitudinal axis of said holder, said holder having a distal end through which the video camera can view the surgical area and a proximal end for insertion of the video camera into said holder along said longitudinal axis;
• adjustable means mounted to said inner sleeve for selectively positioning the distal end of the video camera adjacent said distal end of said tubular holder;
• adjustable support means attached to said tubular holder for supporting said holder in a suitable adjusted position for the holder to illuminate the surgical area and for the video camera to view the illuminated surgical area;
• and
• a plurality of optical fibers positioned within and around said annular space, said plurality of optical fibers each having a first distal tip positioned at said distal end of said tubular holder for projecting light to the surgical area, and having a second proximal end connectable to a source of illumination.

A sterilizable illuminated holding device for illuminating a desired surgical area and for positioning a distal end of a non-illuminating video camera for viewing the illuminated surgical area, said device comprising:

• a tubular holder having concentric inner and outer sleeves forming an annular space therebetween and mounted about a longitudinal axis of said holder, said holder having a first distal end through which the video camera can view the surgical area and a second proximal end for insertion of the video camera into said holder along said longitudinal axis;
• adjustable means mounted to said inner sleeve for selectively positioning the distal end of the video camera adjacent said distal end of said tubular holder;
• a flexible, tubular arm attached to said holder for supporting said holder in a suitable adjusted position for the holder to illuminate the surgical area and for the video camera to view the illuminated surgical area, said arm having a first end connected to said outer sleeve and having a second end;
• means attached to said second end of said tubular arm for supporting said arm and said holder in the sterile operating field of an operating room;
• and
• a plurality of optical fibers extending through said tubular arm and into said annular space, said plurality of optical fibers each having a first distal tip positioned at said distal end of said holder for projecting light to the surgical area, said first distal tip of each of said plurality of optical fibers being arranged in groups as spaced segments around said annular space at said distal end of said holder, and said plurality of optical fibers each having a second end connectable to a source of illumination.