Surgical instruments incorporating light energy tissue treatment functionality

Abstract

A tissue-treating portion of a surgical instrument includes a body defining a cavity and a light-energy transmissible sphere captured within the cavity such that a portion of the light-energy transmissible sphere protrudes from the body. The light-energy transmissible sphere is capable of unlimited rotation in all directions relative to the body. The light-energy transmission cable extends through the body to a position spaced-apart from the light-energy transmissible sphere. The light-energy transmission cable is configured to transmit light energy to the light-energy transmissible sphere. The light-energy transmissible sphere, in turn, is configured focus the light energy towards tissue to treat tissue.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tissue-treating portion of a surgical instrument, comprising:
 a body defining a cavity;   a light-energy transmissible sphere captured within the cavity such that a portion of the light-energy transmissible sphere protrudes from the body, the light-energy transmissible sphere capable of unlimited rotation in all directions relative to the body; and   a light-energy transmission cable extending through the body to a position spaced-apart from the light-energy transmissible sphere, the light-energy transmission cable configured to transmit light energy to the light-energy transmissible sphere and the light-energy transmissible sphere configured to focus the light energy towards tissue to treat tissue.   
     
     
         2 . The tissue-treating portion according to  claim 1 , wherein the cavity of the body includes a pocket and a distal mouth in communication with the pocket, the light-energy transmissible sphere defining a diameter greater than a diameter of the distal mouth and less than a diameter of the pocket. 
     
     
         3 . The tissue-treating portion according to  claim 2 , wherein the light-energy transmission cable extends to a position proximally spaced-apart from the light-energy transmissible sphere. 
     
     
         4 . The tissue-treating portion according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second light-energy transmission cable configured to transmit light energy to the light-energy transmissible sphere to treat tissue. 
     
     
         5 . The tissue-treating portion according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one second light-energy transmission cable configured to detect at least one property of tissue. 
     
     
         6 . The tissue-treating portion according to  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid delivery lumen disposed in communication with the cavity and configured to deliver fluid to the cavity. 
     
     
         7 . The tissue-treating portion according to  claim 6 , further comprising a suction lumen operably associated with the body, the suction lumen configured to permit withdrawal of the fluid from the surgical site. 
     
     
         8 . The tissue-treating portion according to  claim 1 , further comprising a pressure sensor disposed within the cavity, the pressure sensor configured to sense a pressure of the sphere against an interior surface of the body that defines the cavity. 
     
     
         9 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
 a shaft including a distal end portion having a cavity defined therein, the cavity including a pocket and a distal mouth in communication with the pocket;   a light-energy transmissible sphere disposed within the cavity, the light-energy transmissible sphere defining a diameter greater than a diameter of the distal mouth and less than a diameter of the pocket such that the light-energy transmissible sphere is captured within the pocket with a portion of the light-energy transmissible sphere extending through the distal mouth to protrude from the distal end portion of the shaft, the light-energy transmissible sphere capable of unlimited rotation in all directions relative to the distal end portion of the shaft; and   a light-energy transmission cable extending through the shaft to a position proximally spaced-apart from the light-energy transmissible sphere, the light-energy transmission cable configured to transmit light energy to the light-energy transmissible sphere, the light-energy transmissible sphere configured to focus the light energy towards tissue to treat tissue.   
     
     
         10 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 9 , further comprising at least one second light-energy transmission cable configured to detect at least one property of tissue. 
     
     
         11 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 9 , further comprising a fluid-delivery lumen extending through the shaft and disposed in communication with the cavity, wherein the fluid-delivery lumen is configured to deliver fluid to the cavity. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 11 , further comprising a suction lumen operably associated with the shaft, the suction lumen configured to permit withdrawal of the fluid from the surgical site. 
     
     
         13 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 9 , further comprising a pressure sensor disposed within the cavity, the pressure sensor configured to sense a pressure of the sphere against an interior surface of the distal end portion of the shaft that defines the cavity. 
     
     
         14 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 9 , further comprising a handle, wherein the shaft is coupled to and extends distally from the handle, the handle including an activation switch selectively activatable to supply light energy to the light-energy transmissible sphere. 
     
     
         15 . A surgical instrument, comprising:
 a shaft;   an end effector assembly extending distally from the shaft, the end effector assembly including:
 first and second jaw members, at least one of the first or second jaw members movable relative to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position, at least one of the first or second jaw members adapted to connect to a source of energy for treating tissue grasped between the jaw members; 
 a body operably associated with one of the first or second jaw members, the body defining a cavity including a pocket and a distal mouth in communication with the pocket; 
 a light-energy transmissible sphere disposed within the cavity, the light-energy transmissible sphere defining a diameter greater than a diameter of the distal mouth and less than a diameter of the pocket such that the light-energy transmissible sphere is captured within the pocket with a portion of the light-energy transmissible sphere extending through the distal mouth to protrude distally from the body, the light-energy transmissible sphere capable of unlimited rotation in all directions relative to the body; and 
 a light-energy transmission cable extending through the shaft and the one of the first or second jaw members to a position proximally spaced-apart from the light-energy transmissible sphere, the light-energy transmission cable configured to transmit light energy to the light-energy transmissible sphere, the light-energy transmissible sphere configured to focus the light energy towards tissue to treat tissue. 
   
     
     
         16 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 15 , wherein the light-energy transmissible sphere is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the end effector assembly at least when the first and second jaw members are disposed in the approximated position. 
     
     
         17 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 15 , further comprising at least a second light-energy transmission cable configured to transmit light energy to the light-energy transmissible sphere to treat tissue or detect at least one property of tissue. 
     
     
         18 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 15 , further comprising a fluid-delivery lumen disposed in communication with the cavity, wherein the fluid-delivery lumen is configured to deliver fluid to the cavity. 
     
     
         19 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 18 , further comprising a suction lumen operably associated with the end effector assembly, the suction lumen configured to permit withdrawal of the fluid from the surgical site. 
     
     
         20 . The surgical instrument according to  claim 15 , further comprising a pressure sensor disposed within the cavity, the one pressure sensor configured to sense a pressure of the sphere against an interior surface of the body that defines the cavity.