Abstract:
An illuminated surgical device includes a shaft and an optical fiber. The shaft includes a body having a central bore defined therein, and a passage extending through the shaft body to the central bore of the shaft. The shaft is configured for at least partial insertion into a human body. The optical fiber extends at least partially through the bore of the shaft such that light emitted from the optical fiber passes through the passage and is directed radially outward from the shaft.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/713,137, filed Oct. 12, 2012. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    This disclosure generally relates to ophthalmic surgical devices and, more specifically, to a system for illuminating and irrigating the anterior chamber of an eye, and to related methods. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Some known surgical instruments are inserted through the cornea of the eye during certain eye procedures such as anterior segment surgery. During such procedures, pressure within the anterior chamber must be maintained. Typically, an anterior chamber maintainer including an infusion cannula is inserted through a corneal side port to provide irrigation to the anterior chamber and thereby maintain pressure in the chamber. 
         [0004]    An illumination system may also be utilized during some procedures. However, conventional illumination systems may require a surgeon to hold the system in place. Also, the illumination systems may inadvertently direct light into the surgeon&#39;s eyes, thus hindering the surgical procedure. Accordingly, an improved anterior chamber maintainer system is needed. 
         [0005]    This Background section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0006]    In one embodiment, an illuminated surgical device is described. The device includes a shaft and an optical fiber. The shaft includes a body having a central bore defined therein, and a passage extending through the shaft body to the central bore of the shaft. The shaft is configured for at least partial insertion into a human body. The optical fiber extends at least partially through the bore of the shaft such that light emitted from the optical fiber passes through the passage and is directed radially outward from the shaft. 
         [0007]    In another embodiment, an illuminated surgical system is described. The system includes a connector, a shaft, and an optical fiber. The shaft is coupled to the connector, and includes a body having a central bore defined therein and a passage extending through the shaft body to the bore of the shaft. The shaft is configured for at least partial insertion into a human body. The optical fiber is coupled to the connector, and extends at least partially through the bore of the shaft along the passage. The shaft is configured to direct light from the optical fiber radially outward through the passage. 
         [0008]    In yet another embodiment, a method of fabricating an illuminated surgical system is described. The method includes fabricating a hollow shaft having a central bore defined therein, forming a passage through a wall of the shaft, the passage extending through the wall to the central bore, and inserting an optical fiber at least partially through the bore of the shaft such that light emitted from the optical fiber passes through the passage and is directed radially outward from the shaft. 
         [0009]    Various refinements exist of the features noted in relation to the above-mentioned aspects. Further features may also be incorporated in the above-mentioned aspects as well. These refinements and additional features may exist individually or in any combination. For instance, various features discussed below in relation to any of the illustrated embodiments may be incorporated into any of the above-described aspects, alone or in any combination. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of an embodiment of a surgical system; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of the system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the system and taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the system; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view of the system positioned within an eye of the body during surgery. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    This disclosure generally relates to surgical systems that provide radially directed light and irrigation fluid to the surgical site through a common passage. The system generally includes structure to bridge the anterior chamber of the eye, to maintain the shaft in the proper or selected orientation, and to deliver illumination and irrigation fluid to a selected location. As further described below, a surgeon can select an orientation for the system, and the system automatically maintains the selected orientation until the system is moved or removed. In the described embodiment, the system also enables maintenance of the anterior chamber such that it is not damaged during surgery. The system maintains the correct or selected orientation in the body, without requiring the surgeon to hold the system in place. Systems consistent with this disclosure may be used in various surgical procedures such as pediatric ophthalmic procedures, and in particular, intraocular manipulations or treatment during anterior segment surgery. While the system described herein is configured for ophthalmic procedures, systems consistent with this disclosure may also be adapted for and used in other surgical procedures. 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an illuminated surgical system of one embodiment is generally indicated by reference numeral  10 . System  10  includes a shaft  12 , a connector  14 , a fiber optic cable  16  and an infusion line  18 . System  10  of this embodiment is configured for use in anterior segment surgery, and more specifically for providing irrigation (maintaining the anterior chamber) and for illumination in the anterior chamber. In this embodiment, the system provides radial illumination to facilitate the procedure and to reduce the risk of light being directed toward the surgeon. Alternatively, the system  10  may be used for other surgical procedures. 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIGS. 2-4 , shaft  12  includes a base  20  ( FIGS. 3-4 ), a tubular body  22 , and a head  24 . Base  20  is coupled to connector  14  and a first end  26  of body  22  is coupled to base  20 . Head  24  is coupled to a second end  28  of body  22 . Shaft  12  is insertable into a body such as an eye  30  of a human body ( FIG. 5 ). Head  24  includes a conical tip  32  to facilitate insertion into the body and a recessed portion  33  to facilitate maintaining shaft  12  in a selected orientation within the human body. In the illustrated embodiment, head  24  is shown as a separate, distinct element, although it is contemplated that head  24  may be integrally formed with body  22 . A stop  34  is slidably coupled to first end  26  for positioning against the body (e.g., an eye) to facilitate maintaining shaft  12  in a selected orientation relative to the body. 
         [0018]    As described above, shaft  12  has a tubular body  22 . As such, shaft  12  has a central bore extending longitudinally through shaft  12 . Shaft  12  further includes a first passage  36  and a second passage  38  formed through the wall of body  22 . Although shaft  12  is illustrated as having two passages, shaft  12  may have any number of passages (e.g., one, three, etc.). In this embodiment, passages  36  and  38  are sized and spaced to maintain a rigid shaft  12  for insertion while maximizing irrigation flow output. In embodiments having more or less than two passages, the passages can be suitably sized and spaced to maintain the rigidity of shaft  12  for insertion while maximizing irrigation flow output. For example, one suitable embodiment includes three axially aligned passages each having a size smaller than passages  36  and  38  to maintain the rigidity of shaft  12 . Further, the depth of passages  36  and  38  (i.e., the distance passages  36  and  38  extend into body  22  of shaft  12 ) is suitably less than 50 percent of the diameter of shaft  12  to maintain the rigidity of shaft  12 . 
         [0019]    Passages  36  and  38  are axially aligned on shaft body  22  so that the passages are centrally located above the pupil of the eye after insertion. However, passages  36  and  38  may have different orientations relative to one another, but should generally be centrally located above the pupil of the eye after insertion. Passages  36  and  38  facilitate directing fluid and/or light into the body during a surgical procedure, as is described herein. 
         [0020]    Fiber optic cable  16  is coupled to connector  14  and includes an optical fiber  40  connected to a light-source connector  42  (e.g., a multiport adapter) ( FIG. 1 ), which is connected to a light source (not shown). Optical fiber  40  extends from cable  16  through connector  14  and into shaft  12 . Optical fiber  40  includes a first end  44  positioned within shaft body  22  and may be positioned along first passage  36  and/or second passage  38  such that light transmitted through optical fiber  40  is directed radially outward through passage  36  and/or  38  from shaft body  22 . Shaft body  22  includes a solid inner wall  46  positioned opposite passages  36  and  38  to act as a light reflector to facilitate directing light outward from passage  36  and/or  38  and to act as a shield such that light is not permitted to exit radially from shaft body  22  along some portion of its circumference. Additionally, head  24  may prevent light from exiting axially from shaft body  22 . As such, light is directed radially from only a portion of the circumference of shaft body  22  (e.g., through passages  36  and/or  38 ) and can be directed in a selected direction. 
         [0021]    In the example embodiment, infusion line  18  is coupled to connector  14 . Infusion line  18  is coupled to a fluid source (not shown) to deliver irrigation fluid into shaft  12  and out through first passage  36  and/or second passage  38 . The space between shaft body  22  and optical fiber  44  is sufficiently wide to allow adequate flow of irrigation fluid to the body (e.g., an eye) for the selected surgical procedure. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , illuminated surgical system  10  may be used to perform intraocular manipulations during surgery involving the cornea  48  of an eye  30 . In use, shaft head  24  is inserted through a first corneal side port  50 , through an anterior chamber  52 , and through a second corneal side port  54 . The cornea of second corneal side port  54  is retained within recess portion  33  ( FIGS. 2-4 ), which facilitates preventing axial movement of shaft  12 . Stop  34  is moved along shaft body  22  towards first corneal side port  50  until it rests against the cornea wall to further facilitate preventing axial movement of shaft  12 . As such, shaft  12  is maintained across anterior chamber  52 . Irrigation fluid is delivered through infusion line  18  and through first passage  36  and/or second passage  38  to prevent inadvertent collapse of anterior chamber  52  during intraocular manipulation. Light travels from a light source through optical fiber  40  to fiber first end  44  located within shaft body  22 . Light emanating from optical fiber  40  passes through first passage  36  and/or second passage  38  to illuminate anterior chamber  52  and the surrounding area. The surrounding area may include the posterior segment of the eye which may be illuminated through the pupil. Since light is directed radially from only a portion (e.g. through passage  36  and/or  38 ) of shaft body  22 , a surgeon may rotate shaft  12  to direct light in a different direction. In this way, inner wall  46  may be faced away from the surgeon so light from optical fiber  40  does not shine into the surgeon&#39;s eyes and disrupt the surgical procedure. 
         [0023]    When introducing elements of the present invention or the embodiments thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. The use of terms indicating a particular orientation (e.g., “top”, “bottom”, “side”, etc.) is for convenience of description and does not require any particular orientation of the item described. 
         [0024]    As various changes could be made in the above constructions and methods without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying figures shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.