Thermally controlled illumination devices

Abstract

An illumination element such as an optical waveguide for illuminating a surgical field in a patient has a light input section, a light transmitting section, and a light output section. The light input section is optically coupled to a proximal section of the light transmitting section and inputs light into the illumination element. The light transmitting section transmits the light preferably by total internal reflection or by other transmission means. The light output section is adjacent a distal section of the light transmitting section which has a light extraction area from which the light exits with an energy density. The light extraction area comprises a bore extending at least partially inward into a distal end of the light output section. A plurality of optical structures is disposed on an inner wall of the bore. The optical structures are configured to extract light from the light output section and direct the extracted light toward the surgical field.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An illumination element for illuminating a surgical field in a patient, said illumination element comprising:
 a light input section for inputting light into the illumination element;   a light transmitting section, wherein the inputted light is transmitted through the light transmitting section, and wherein the light input section is optically coupled to a proximal section of the light transmitting section; and   a light output section, wherein the light output section is adjacent a distal section of the light transmitting section, and wherein the light output section comprises a bore extending at least partially inward into a distal end of the light output section, and wherein a plurality of optical structures are disposed on an inner wall of the bore, the optical structures configured to extract light from the light output section and direct the extracted light toward the surgical field.   
     
     
         2 . The illumination element of  claim 1 , wherein the bore extends only partially inward into the light output section. 
     
     
         3 . The illumination element of  claim 1 , wherein the bore is a conically shaped bore. 
     
     
         4 . The illumination element of  claim 1 , further comprising a window disposed over the bore, the window configured to prevent tissue or blood from entering the bore. 
     
     
         5 . The illumination element of  claim 1 , wherein some of the plurality of optical structures extend completely around a circumference of the bore. 
     
     
         6 . The illumination element of  claim 1 , wherein some of the plurality of optical structures extend only partially around a circumference of the bore. 
     
     
         7 . The illumination element of  claim 1 , wherein the light extracted from the light output section has an energy density, and wherein the light output section has an extraction area large enough to maintain the energy density at a level that prevents melting of the illumination element or burning of the patient. 
     
     
         8 . The illumination element of  claim 7 , wherein the light input section has a cross-sectional area, and wherein the extraction area is greater than the light input section cross-sectional area. 
     
     
         9 . The illumination element of  claim 8 , wherein the extraction area is at least twice as large as the input section cross-sectional area. 
     
     
         10 . The illumination element of  claim 1 , further comprising a layer of cladding disposed over the illumination element and configured to minimize light loss therefrom. 
     
     
         11 . The illumination element of  claim 10 , wherein the cladding has an index of refraction in the range from about 1 to about 1.5. 
     
     
         12 . The illumination element of  claim 1 , further comprising an instrument, wherein the illumination element is disposed over the instrument. 
     
     
         13 . The illumination element of  claim 12 , wherein the instrument comprises a suction tube. 
     
     
         14 . The illumination element of  claim 13 , further comprising a suction control mechanism fluidly coupled to the suction tube. 
     
     
         15 . The illumination element of  claim 12 , wherein the instrument comprises a camera or a sensor. 
     
     
         16 . The illumination element of  claim 1 , wherein the illumination element comprises a non-fiber optic optical waveguide. 
     
     
         17 . The illumination element of  claim 1 , wherein the light is transmitted through the light transmitting section by total internal refection (TIR). 
     
     
         18 . The illumination element of  claim 1 , further comprising a handle coupled to a proximal portion of the light input section. 
     
     
         19 . A method for illuminating a surgical field in a patient, said method comprising:
 providing an illumination element having a light input section, a light transmitting section, and a light output section;   inputting light from a light source into the illumination source via the light input section;   transmitting the light through the transmitting section;   extracting the light from the light output section, wherein extracting the light comprises extracting the light from a plurality of optical structures disposed on an inner surface of a conical bore in a distal portion of the illumination element; and   illuminating the surgical field with the extracted light.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein extracting the light comprises maintaining energy density of the extracted light at a level that prevents melting of the illumination element or burning of the patient. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein maintaining the energy density comprises providing the input section with a cross-sectional area, and providing the light output section with a light extraction area, wherein the light extraction area is greater than the input section cross-sectional area. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising providing a suction tube or a surgical instrument coupled to the illumination element. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising removing fluid, tissue or debris from the surgical field with suction delivered by the suction tube. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein transmitting the light comprises transmitting the light through the light transmitting section via total internal reflection.