Body cavity illumination system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017224206-A1
Application number	US-201715497132-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 25, 2017
Priority date	May 13, 2005
Publication date	Aug 10, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A cavity illumination system according to the present disclosure may include one or more illumination elements composed of a transparent or semi-transparent, biocompatible sterilizable polymer and one or more illumination sources. The sterilizable polymer operates as a waveguide. An illumination element may incorporate micro structured optical components such as for example gratings, prisms and or diffusers to operate as precision optics for customized delivery of the light energy. The micro structured optical components may also be used to polarize and/or filter the light energy entering or exiting the illumination element.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A body cavity illumination system, said system comprising:
a tubular retractor having a proximal end and a distal end, the tubular configured to be disposed in the body cavity, and wherein the tubular retractor is a waveguide formed from an optical material; a light input coupled to the tubular retractor, the light input configured to conduct light into the waveguide; and output optical structures disposed on the tubular retractor, the output optical structures configured to direct the light from the waveguide toward the body cavity.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the tubular retractor forms a cylinder.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the optical material comprises polycarbonate or acrylic.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the output optical structures are disposed adjacent the distal end of the tubular retractor.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the output optical structures are disposed on an inside wall of the tubular retractor.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the output optical structures are disposed along all or a portion of a circumference of the tubular retractor.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the output optical structures are disposed on an outer wall of the tubular retractor.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the output optical structures are disposed on an end face of the tubular retractor.

9 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a coating disposed on the output optical structures.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the output optical structures are configured to illuminate the entire body cavity evenly.

11 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a reflective or prismatic surface adjacent the proximal end of the tubular retractor, the reflective or prismatic surface configured to direct mis-reflected light back toward the output optical structures.

12 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a light directing structure adjacent the light input, the light directing structure configured to distribute the light around a circumference of the tubular retractor.

13 . A method of illuminating a body cavity, said method comprising:
inserting a tubular retractor into the body cavity; inputting light into the tubular retractor; directing the light from the tubular retractor to the body cavity with output optical structures disposed on the tubular retractor; and illuminating the body cavity with the light.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein illuminating the body cavity comprises illuminating the body cavity evenly.

15 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising directing mis-reflected light from a proximal end of the tubular retractor back toward the output optical structures.

16 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising distributing the light around a circumference of the tubular retractor with a light directing structure.

17 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising retracting tissue in the body cavity with the tubular retractor.

18 . A method for fabricating a body cavity illumination device, said method comprising:
molding an optical polymer to form the body cavity illumination device, wherein the body cavity illumination device is a waveguide and comprises: a tubular retractor having a proximal end and a distal end; a light input coupled to the tubular retractor, the light input configured to conduct light into the waveguide; and output optical structures disposed on the tubular retractor, the output optical structures configured to direct light from the waveguide toward the body cavity.

Assignees

• Invuity Inc

Inventors

• Vayser Alex

Classifications

• A61B1/32

  Devices for opening or enlarging the visual field, e.g. of a tube of the body · CPC title

• A61B1/267

  for the respiratory tract, e.g. laryngoscopes, bronchoscopes · CPC title

• A61B1/247

  with means for viewing areas outside the direct line of sight, e.g. dentists' mirrors · CPC title

• A61B1/07 Primary

  using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres · CPC title

• A61B1/0684

  using light emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title