Internally illuminated surgical probe

Abstract

A surgical probe (e.g., for treating an eye of a patient) includes a body, a cutting element extending distally from the body including a sleeve member comprising a port at an end, and an inner member disposed within the sleeve member, the inner member being movable (e.g., axially) with respect to the sleeve member to open and close the port. The probe further includes an illumination element disposed within the sleeve member, the illumination element configured to project light out of the port.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A surgical probe, the probe comprising:
 a body;   a cutting element extending distally from the body including:
 a sleeve member comprising a port at an end; 
 an inner member disposed within the sleeve member, the inner member being movable with respect to the sleeve member to open and close the port; and 
 an illumination element disposed within the sleeve member, the illumination element configured to project light out of the port when the port is open; 
   wherein the illumination element is secured to the sleeve member.   
     
     
         22 . The surgical probe of  claim 21 , wherein the illumination element is positioned such that light being emitted from the illumination element is directed out of the port. 
     
     
         23 . The surgical probe of  claim 21 , wherein an illumination profile from the illumination element is directed out of the port and towards a distal end of the cutting element. 
     
     
         24 . The surgical probe of  claim 21 , wherein the illumination element comprises a fiber optic cable. 
     
     
         25 . The surgical probe of  claim 21 , wherein a light source for the illumination element is on a console connected to the body. 
     
     
         26 . The surgical probe of  claim 21 , wherein the inner member is hollow and configured to aspirate vitreous fibrils from an eye of a patient. 
     
     
         27 . The surgical probe of  claim 21 , wherein the sleeve member includes a channel and wherein the illumination element is placed in the channel. 
     
     
         28 . The surgical probe of  claim 21 , wherein the illumination element is bonded to an inner surface of the sleeve member. 
     
     
         29 . The surgical probe of  claim 21 , further comprising at least one additional illumination element secured to the sleeve member. 
     
     
         30 . The surgical probe of  claim 21 , wherein a portion of cladding is removed from a distal end of the illumination element to project light from the illumination element out the port. 
     
     
         31 . A surgical system comprising:
 a probe comprising:
 a body; 
   a cutting element extending distally from the body including:
 a sleeve member comprising a port at an end; 
 an inner member disposed within the sleeve member; 
 an actuating element configured to move the inner member with respect to the sleeve member to open and close the port; and 
 an illumination element disposed within the sleeve member, the illumination element configured to project light out of the port when the port is open; and 
   a console comprising a light source in optical communication with the illumination element of the probe;   wherein the illumination element is secured to the sleeve member.   
     
     
         32 . The surgical system of  claim 31 , wherein the illumination element is positioned so as to direct light out of the port. 
     
     
         33 . The surgical system of  claim 31 , wherein the console comprises a control system to cause the probe to:
 actuate the inner member with respect to the sleeve member; and   project light from the illumination element during actuation.   
     
     
         34 . The surgical system of  claim 31 , wherein the illumination element is such that it creates an oblique illumination profile with respect to an operator of the probe. 
     
     
         35 . The surgical system of  claim 31 , wherein the sleeve member includes a channel and wherein the illumination element is placed in the channel. 
     
     
         36 . The surgical system of  claim 31 , wherein the illumination element is bonded to an inner surface of the sleeve member. 
     
     
         37 . The surgical system of  claim 31 , further comprising at least one additional illumination element secured to the sleeve member. 
     
     
         38 . The surgical system of  claim 31 , wherein a portion of cladding is removed from a distal end of the illumination element to project light from the illumination element out the port.