Illuminated suction apparatus

Abstract

An illuminated suction apparatus including a hand-held surgical device combining a high-performance non-fiber optic optical waveguide with suction. This device is useful in a wide array of surgical procedures including open and minimally invasive orthopedics.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hand-held illuminated suction device, said device comprising:
 a suction tube having an upper surface, a lower surface, a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a central axis extending between the proximal and distal portions thereof, wherein the suction tube is configured to be coupled to a vacuum source; and   an optical waveguide having an upper surface, a lower surface, a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a central axis extending between the proximal and distal portions thereof, wherein the optical waveguide is configured to be coupled to a source of light, and wherein the optical waveguide delivers light from the source of the light to a surgical field,   wherein the suction tube has a curved region adjacent the proximal portion thereof, and the optical waveguide has curved region adjacent the proximal portion thereof, and   wherein the curved region of the suction tube nests in the curved region of the optical waveguide so that the central axis of the suction tube is substantially parallel to the central axis of the optical waveguide.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the curved region of the optical waveguide lies in a plane formed by the central axis of the optical waveguide and the central axis of the suction tube. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the curved region of the suction tube lies in a plane formed by the central axis of the optical waveguide and the central axis of the suction tube. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising an inner layer of optical cladding disposed around the optical waveguide and disposed between the optical waveguide and the suction tube, the inner layer of optical cladding having an index of refraction that facilitates total internal reflection of the light passing through the optical waveguide. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , further comprising an outer layer of optical cladding disposed around the optical waveguide and the suction tube, the outer layer of optical cladding having an index of refraction that facilitates total internal reflection of the light passing through the optical waveguide. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the suction tube comprises electrodes configured to deliver electric current to tissue in the surgical field. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the suction tube is electrically conductive and configured to deliver electric current to tissue in the surgical field. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a suction control device fluidly coupled to the suction tube, the suction control device configured to control strength of suction delivered by the suction tube. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising an array of lenses integrally formed in a distal end of the optical waveguide. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein an air gap is disposed between the suction tube and the optical waveguide. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a handle coupled to the suction tube and the optical waveguide. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , further comprising a pistol grip handle, the handle removably disposed in the pistol grip handle.