Methods and apparatus for controlling optical properties of light

Abstract

A surgical instrument for illuminating a surgical field has an optical waveguide for transmitting light by total internal reflection. One or more control elements are disposed on the optical waveguide. The control elements extract light from the optical waveguide and control first and second optical properties of the extracted light. Another surgical instrument includes a first and second optical waveguide for transmitting light by total internal reflection. A coupling element is attached to both optical waveguides such that the optical waveguides are movable and pivotable relative to one another.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surgical instrument for illuminating a surgical field, said instrument comprising:
 an optical waveguide for transmitting light from a proximal end of the optical waveguide to a distal end of the optical waveguide by total internal reflection, wherein the optical waveguide has a front surface and a rear surface; and   one or more control elements disposed on the front surface and/or the rear surface, wherein the one or more control elements extract light from the optical waveguide and independently control two or more optical properties of the extracted light.   
     
     
         2 . The surgical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the optical waveguide is a non-fiber optic waveguide. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the optical waveguide is formed from a single homogeneous material. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more control features comprise a first surface feature disposed on the front surface and a second surface feature disposed on the rear surface. 
     
     
         5 . The surgical instrument of  claim 4 , wherein the two or more optical properties comprise a first and second optical property, the first optical property comprises a first direction or a first divergence angle, and the second optical property comprises a second direction or a second divergence angle, and wherein the first surface feature controls the extracted light in the first direction or the first divergence angle, and wherein the second surface feature controls the extracted light in the second direction or the second divergence angle. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more control elements comprise one or more front control elements disposed on the front surface and one or more rear control elements disposed on the rear surface, and wherein the front control elements control the first optical property independently of the one or more rear control elements which control the second optical property. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the one or more control elements control both the first and the second optical property. 
     
     
         8 . The surgical instrument of  claim 5 , wherein the first surface feature is different than the second surface feature. 
     
     
         9 . The surgical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more control elements comprise a prismatic pattern disposed on the front surface or the rear surface. 
     
     
         10 . The surgical instrument of  claim 9 , wherein the optical waveguide has a thickness, and wherein the prismatic pattern comprises a riser and an exit face, and a groove having a depth extending from a top of the riser to a bottom of the exit face, the groove depth being less than ⅓ of the thickness of the optical waveguide. 
     
     
         11 . The surgical instrument of  claim 10 , wherein the groove depth is constant along the prismatic pattern. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical instrument of  claim 10 , wherein the optical waveguide comprises a plurality of the grooves, and wherein the plurality of grooves fit an aspheric equation. 
     
     
         13 . The surgical instrument of  claim 9 , wherein the prismatic pattern has a pitch less than 1 mm. 
     
     
         14 . The surgical instrument of  claim 10 , wherein the riser has a riser angle of 0 degrees to 25 degrees. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical instrument of  claim 10 , wherein the exit face has an exit face angle of 0 degrees to 25 degrees. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical instrument of  claim 9 , wherein the optical waveguide comprises a longitudinal axis and wherein the prismatic pattern is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the optical waveguide. 
     
     
         17 . The surgical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more control elements comprise a plurality of facets disposed on the front surface or the rear surface. 
     
     
         18 . The surgical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more control elements comprise a lenticular lens. 
     
     
         19 . The surgical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the optical waveguide comprises a longitudinal axis, and wherein the one or more control elements comprise a lenticular lens, and wherein the lenticular lens is parallel to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         20 . The surgical instrument of  claim 19 , wherein the front surface of the optical waveguide is substantially planar and the rear surface comprises a concave lenticular lens. 
     
     
         21 . The surgical instrument of  claim 19 , wherein the front surface of the optical waveguide is substantially planar and the rear surface comprises a convex lenticular lens. 
     
     
         22 . The surgical instrument of  claim 19 , wherein the lenticular lens has a pitch and a radius, and wherein the pitch and radius control lateral divergence of light extracted therethrough relative to the longitudinal axis of the optical waveguide. 
     
     
         23 . The surgical instrument of  claim 5 , wherein the optical waveguide comprises a longitudinal axis, and wherein the first optical property comprises a first direction or a first divergence angle and wherein the first direction or the first divergence angle is transverse to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         24 . The surgical instrument of  claim 23 , wherein the first direction or first divergence angle forms an angle relative to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         25 . The surgical instrument of  claim 23 , wherein the second optical property comprises a second direction or a second divergence angle, and wherein the second direction or the second divergence angle is transverse to the first direction. 
     
     
         26 . The surgical instrument of  claim 25 , wherein the second direction or the second divergence angle forms a divergence angle relative to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         27 . The surgical instrument of  claim 5 , wherein the optical waveguide comprises longitudinal axis, and wherein the one or more control elements comprise a first group of surface features oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis for controlling light extraction in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis, and a second group of surface features oriented transverse to the longitudinal axis for controlling light extraction in a direction that forms an angle relative to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         28 . The surgical instrument of  claim 27 , wherein the first group and the second group of surface features are disposed on the same surface of the optical waveguide as one another. 
     
     
         29 . The surgical instrument of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more control elements comprise surface features formed from a combination of features oriented in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction, the surface features forming one or more protuberances disposed on the front surface or the rear surface, the one or more protuberances controlling extracted light in the two directions or in the two divergence angles. 
     
     
         30 . The surgical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein one of the front or the rear surface of the optical waveguide comprises a convex or concave region for controlling divergence angle of the light extracted therefrom, and wherein the other of the front or rear surface of the optical waveguide is substantially planar. 
     
     
         31 . The surgical instrument of  claim 1 , wherein the optical waveguide comprises an angled distal tip for capturing remaining light that has not been extracted by the one or more control elements. 
     
     
         32 . The surgical instrument of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more control elements comprise surface features disposed on the front surface and surface features disposed on the rear surface, and wherein the surface features on the front control the first optical property and wherein the surface features on the rear control the second optical property. 
     
     
         33 . The surgical instrument of  claim 1 , further comprising a coating or cladding disposed over the front or rear surfaces. 
     
     
         34 . The surgical instrument of  claim 33 , wherein the coating or cladding comprises an index of refraction lower than the index of refraction of the waveguide. 
     
     
         35 . A method for illuminating a surgical field, said method comprising:
 providing an optical waveguide having a front surface and a rear surface;   inputting light into the optical waveguide;   transmitting the light through the optical waveguide by total internal reflection;   extracting light from the optical waveguide via one or more control elements disposed on the front or rear surface of the optical waveguide; and   controlling at least two optical properties of the extracted light from the optical waveguide with the one or more control elements so that the light illuminates the surgical field.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein inputting light comprises optically coupling the optical waveguide with a source of light. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein optically coupling comprises coupling the optical waveguide with a fiber optic. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the one or more control elements are disposed on only the front surface or only on the rear surface. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein controlling the extracted light comprises controlling horizontal and vertical divergence of the extracted light relative to a longitudinal axis of the optical waveguide. 
     
     
         40 . A surgical instrument for illuminating a surgical field, said instrument comprising:
 a first optical waveguide for transmitting light from a light source to the surgical field by total internal reflection, wherein the optical waveguide has a front surface facing the surgical field, and a rear surface opposite thereto;   a second optical waveguide for transmitting light from a light source to the surgical field by total internal reflection, wherein the second optical waveguide has a front surface facing the surgical field, and a rear surface opposite thereto; and   a coupling element attached to both the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide, wherein the coupling element has a longitudinal axis, and wherein the first and second optical waveguides are movable relative to one another and pivotable about the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         41 . The surgical instrument of  claim 40 , wherein the coupling element allows positioning of the first optical waveguide relative to the second optical waveguide so that an angle or radius of curvature between the two optical waveguides is adjustable. 
     
     
         42 . The surgical instrument of  claim 40 , wherein the first optical waveguide or the second optical waveguide comprises one or more control elements disposed on either the front surface or the rear surface, wherein the one or more control elements extract light from the optical waveguide and control a first optical property of the extracted light. 
     
     
         43 . The surgical instrument of  claim 42 , wherein the one or more surface features extract light from the optical waveguide and control a second optical property of the extracted light. 
     
     
         44 . The surgical instrument of  claim 40 , further comprising a retractor blade having an outer surface, the retractor blade coupled to the first optical waveguide or the second optical waveguide, and wherein the first and the second optical waveguides conform to the outer surface. 
     
     
         45 . The surgical instrument of  claim 44 , further comprising an air gap disposed between the retractor blade and the first or second optical waveguide. 
     
     
         46 . The surgical instrument of  claim 44 , wherein the retractor blade comprises a tubular cannula. 
     
     
         47 . The surgical instrument of  claim 40 , wherein the first or the second optical waveguide comprises a planar and rectangular shaped waveguide. 
     
     
         48 . The surgical instrument of  claim 40 , wherein the first or the second optical waveguide comprises a trapezoidal cross-section. 
     
     
         49 . The surgical instrument of  claim 40 , wherein the coupling element comprises a hinge. 
     
     
         50 . The surgical instrument of  claim 40 , wherein the coupling element comprises a film. 
     
     
         51 . The surgical instrument of  claim 40 , wherein the coupling element comprises a flexible joint. 
     
     
         52 . The surgical instrument of  claim 40 , wherein the front or rear surface of the first or the second optical waveguide is convex or concave. 
     
     
         53 . The surgical instrument of  claim 40 , further comprising a substrate layer of material, and wherein the first and second optical waveguides are attached thereto. 
     
     
         54 . The surgical instrument of  claim 53 , wherein an air gap is disposed between the substrate layer and the first or second optical waveguide. 
     
     
         55 . The surgical instrument of  claim 40 , wherein the first and the second optical waveguides are disposed in a layer of material. 
     
     
         56 . The surgical instrument of  claim 40 , wherein each of the first and the second optical waveguides are independently coupled with a light source. 
     
     
         57 . The surgical instrument of  claim 56 , wherein each of the first and the second optical waveguides is coupled to a separate optical fiber. 
     
     
         58 . The surgical instrument of  claim 40 , further comprising an optical coating or cladding disposed over the first or the second optical waveguide. 
     
     
         59 . The surgical instrument of  claim 58 , wherein the coating or cladding has an index of refraction lower than that of the respective optical waveguide thereby enhancing total internal reflection therein. 
     
     
         60 . The surgical instrument of  claim 40 , further comprising a film disposed over the first or the second optical waveguide. 
     
     
         61 . The surgical instrument of  claim 60 , wherein the film comprises surface features for extracting and controlling light the extracted light. 
     
     
         62 . The surgical instrument of  claim 60 , wherein the film polarizes light extracted from the first or the second optical waveguides. 
     
     
         63 . The surgical instrument of  claim 40 , wherein the first optical waveguide comprises control elements which extract and control optical properties of the light, and wherein the second optical waveguide comprises control elements which extract and control optical properties of the light. 
     
     
         64 . The surgical instrument of  claim 40 , further comprising a stabilizing element coupled to the optical waveguides and adapted to hold the optical waveguides in a desired shape. 
     
     
         65 . The surgical instrument of  claim 40 , wherein the first optical waveguide is substantially planar and the second optical waveguide is convex or concave. 
     
     
         66 . The surgical instrument of  claim 40 , wherein the first optical waveguide has a size or shape different than the second optical waveguide. 
     
     
         67 . The surgical instrument of  claim 40 , further comprising one or more optical fibers optically coupled with each optical waveguide for inputting light thereinto. 
     
     
         68 . The surgical instrument of  claim 40 , further comprising a single integrally formed input stem optically coupled with each optical waveguide for inputting light thereinto. 
     
     
         69 . A method for illuminating a surgical field, said method comprising:
 providing a first optical waveguide having a front surface facing the surgical field, and a rear surface opposite thereto;   providing a second optical waveguide having a front surface facing the surgical field, and a rear surface opposite thereto,   wherein the first and second optical waveguides are coupled together with a coupling element;   actuating the first and second optical waveguides about the coupling element to adjust angle or radius of curvature between the optical waveguides; and   illuminating the surgical field with light extracted from the optical waveguides.   
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 69 , further comprising fixing the position of the first and second optical waveguides thereby fixing the angle or radius of curvature therebetween. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 69 , further comprising coupling the optical waveguide with a surgical retractor blade. 
     
     
         72 . A flexible illuminated surgical instrument, said instrument comprising:
 a fiber optic bundle having a proximal region and a distal region, wherein the fiber optic bundle is cylindrically shaped in the proximal region, and wherein the fiber optical bundle is flat and planar in the distal region; and   a non-fiber optical waveguide optically coupled with the fiber optic bundle.   
     
     
         73 . The instrument of  claim 72 , further comprising a strain relief disposed over the proximal region of the fiber optic bundle, the strain relief adapted to reduce kinking thereof. 
     
     
         74 . The instrument of  claim 72 , further comprising a malleable backing element having a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the backing element is coupled to the waveguide and may be manipulated into a plurality of shapes. 
     
     
         75 . The instrument of  claim 74 , wherein a distal portion of the malleable backing element comprises a hinged region such that the distal portion is more flexible than a proximal portion thereof. 
     
     
         76 . The instrument of  claim 75 , wherein the hinged region comprises a plurality of serrations disposed along the malleable backing element. 
     
     
         77 . The instrument of  claim 72 , further comprising an optical connector optically coupled with the proximal region of the fiber optic bundle. 
     
     
         78 . The instrument of  claim 74 , further comprising a crimping element crimped around the fiber optic bundle thereby coupling the fiber optic bundle to the malleable backing element. 
     
     
         79 . The instrument of  claim 72 , further comprising a sleeve disposed over the distal region of the fiber optic bundle and also disposed over a proximal portion of the optical waveguide, the sleeve coupling the optical waveguide with the fiber optic bundle. 
     
     
         80 . The instrument of  claim 74 , further comprising a frame coupled to a distal portion of the malleable backing element, and wherein the optical waveguide is disposed in the frame. 
     
     
         81 . The instrument of  claim 74 , wherein the malleable backing element comprises a window disposed along the distal portion thereof, the window configured to receive a portion of the optical waveguide. 
     
     
         82 . The instrument of  claim 74 , wherein a proximal portion of the optical waveguide comprises a flanged region for engaging a portion of the malleable backing. 
     
     
         83 . The instrument of  claim 74 , further comprising standoffs disposed between the malleable backing and the optical waveguide, the standoffs forming an air gap therebetween for enhancing total internal reflection of light traveling through the optical waveguide. 
     
     
         84 . The instrument of  claim 72 , wherein the optical waveguide comprises surface features for extracting light therefrom and controlling direction of the extracted light. 
     
     
         85 . The instrument of  claim 72 , wherein the optical waveguide comprises a coating or cladding for controlling optical properties of the waveguide. 
     
     
         86 . The instrument of  claim 85 , wherein the index of refraction of the coating or cladding is less than the index of refraction of the waveguide. 
     
     
         87 . A method for illuminating a work space, said method comprising:
 providing an optical waveguide coupled to a malleable backing element;   forming the backing element into a desired shape;   coupling the optical waveguide to a source of light;   extracting light from the optical waveguide; and   illuminating the work space.   
     
     
         88 . The method of  claim 87 , wherein forming the backing element comprises bending the backing element. 
     
     
         89 . A surgical illumination system for illuminating a surgical field, said system comprising:
 an optical waveguide for illuminating the surgical field with light, wherein the optical waveguide comprises a light input end, and wherein the light is transmitted through the waveguide by total internal reflection; and   a plurality of optical fibers formed into a fiber bundle, the bundle optically coupled to the light input end, and   wherein the plurality of optical fibers are arranged in the bundle such that adjacent fibers engage one another with an interstitial space disposed therebetween.   
     
     
         90 . The system of  claim 89 , wherein the plurality of fibers arranged into a bundle having an outer perimeter that is hexagonally shaped. 
     
     
         91 . The system of  claim 89 , wherein at least some of the plurality of optical fibers are formed from a polymer. 
     
     
         92 . The system of  claim 89 , wherein at least some of the plurality of optical fibers have a diameter of about 750 μm. 
     
     
         93 . The system of  claim 89 , wherein the plurality of fibers consist of 19 fibers. 
     
     
         94 . The system of  claim 89 , wherein every three adjacent fibers form a triangle. 
     
     
         95 . The system of  claim 89 , wherein plurality of fibers are arranged in three concentric layers of fibers. 
     
     
         96 . The system of  claim 89 , wherein the plurality of fibers are arranged into a plurality of linear rows of fibers. 
     
     
         97 . The system of  claim 89 , wherein an optical element is disposed between the bundle and the light input end of the waveguide. 
     
     
         98 . The system of  claim 97 , wherein the optical element comprises a lens, optical coupling gel, a relay rod or hollow coated cones. 
     
     
         99 . The system of  claim 97 , wherein the optical element comprises a body having a circular shape on one end, and a hexagonal shape on an opposite end. 
     
     
         100 . The system of  claim 89 , wherein the bundle is butt coupled to the light input end of the waveguide. 
     
     
         101 . The system of  claim 89 , wherein at least one optical fiber is disposed in at least one of the interstitial spaces.