Illuminated vitrectomy cutter with adjustable illumination aperture

Abstract

A vitrector that includes an adjustable illumination aperture is described. The vitrector may include a probe and a light sleeve assembly extending along and substantially surrounding the probe. The light sleeve assembly may include a plurality of optical fibers. At least a portion of the optical fibers are operable to provide illumination so as to define an illumination aperture about the vitrectomy probe. A portion of the optical fibers may be encapsulated. The light sleeve assembly may be adjustable along a length of the probe, providing adjustment of the illumination aperture to increase or decrease an area of illumination provided thereby.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An illuminated vitrectomy instrument comprising:
 a probe; and   a light sleeve assembly extending along and substantially surrounding the probe and having a position adjustable along a length of the probe, the light sleeve assembly comprising:
 a plurality of optical fibers, at least a portion of the optical fibers operable to provide illumination, each of the optical fibers comprising an end face; and 
 an illumination aperture circumjacent at least a portion of the probe, the illumination aperture defined by the end faces of the optical fibers and operable to provide an area of illumination, the area of illumination variable in response to the position of the light sleeve assembly relative to the probe. 
   
     
     
         2 . The illuminated vitrectomy instrument of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a nose piece at least partially housing the probe,   wherein a proximal end of the light sleeve assembly is received within the nose piece and a distal end of the light sleeve assembly terminates proximally to a distal end of the probe, and   wherein a distance between the distal end of the light sleeve assembly and the distal end of the probe is altered in response to a change in the position of the light sleeve assembly relative to the probe.   
     
     
         3 . The illuminated vitrectomy instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the position of the light sleeve assembly is manually adjustable. 
     
     
         4 . The illuminated vitrectomy instrument of  claim 1  further comprising an actuator coupled to the light sleeve assembly, wherein the position of the light sleeve assembly with respect to the probe is adjusted by manipulation of the actuator. 
     
     
         5 . The illuminated vitrectomy instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the light sleeve assembly further comprises:
 a sleeve, wherein the plurality of optical fibers is arranged in an array along an inner surface of the sleeve; and   an encapsulant encapsulating the plurality of optical fibers.   
     
     
         6 . The illuminated vitrectomy instrument of  claim 5 , wherein the sleeve is adapted to be connected to a first pole of a generator,
 wherein the probe is adapted to be connected to a second pole of the generator,   wherein the encapsulant defines an insulating layer disposed between the sleeve and the probe, and   wherein an alternating current applied to the sleeve and the probe is operable to generate an electric field therebetween to produce a diathermy function when the distal end of the light sleeve assembly is positioned substantially flush with the end surface of the probe.   
     
     
         7 . The illuminated vitrectomy instrument of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of plurality of optical fibers comprises a fiber operable to propagate laser light. 
     
     
         8 . An illuminated vitrectomy cutter assembly, comprising
 a housing;   a probe having a proximal end received within the housing and freely extending a distal end; and   a light sleeve assembly movable along the probe between the proximal end and distal end of the probe, the light sleeve assembly comprising:
 a first end adjacent the housing 
 a second end opposite the first end; 
 a plurality of optical fibers arranged in an array about the probe, at least a portion of the plurality of optical fibers operable to provide illumination, each of the optical fibers comprising an end face; and 
 an illumination aperture formed at the second end of the light sleeve assembly, the illumination aperture defined by the end faces of the optical fibers, the illumination aperture operable to provide collective illumination comprising the individual illumination from each of the plurality of optical fibers. 
   
     
     
         9 . The illuminated vitrectomy cutter assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the collective illumination of the plurality of optical fibers defines an area of illumination, and wherein the area of illumination is adjusted in response to movement of the light sleeve assembly along the probe. 
     
     
         10 . The illuminated vitrectomy cutter assembly of  claim 8  further comprising a nose piece coupled to the housing, the nose piece adapted to receive a proximal end of the light sleeve assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The illuminated vitrectomy cutter assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the light sleeve assembly further comprises:
 a sleeve, wherein the plurality of optical fibers is arranged in a array along an inner surface of the sleeve; and   an encapsulant substantially encapsulating the plurality of optical fibers along at least a portion of the sleeve.   
     
     
         12 . The illuminated vitrectomy cutter assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the sleeve is adapted to be connected to a first pole of a generator,
 wherein the probe is adapted to be connected to a second pole of a generator,   wherein the encapsulant defines an insulating layer disposed between the sleeve and the probe, and   wherein, upon application of an alternating current to the sleeve and the probe, an electric field is generated between the sleeve and the probe to produce a diathermy function when the second end of the light sleeve assembly is positioned substantially flush with an end surface of the probe.   
     
     
         13 . The illuminated vitrectomy cutter assembly of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the plurality of optical fibers comprises a fiber capable operable to propagate laser light.