Eye Surgical Lighting Unit

Abstract

The invention relates to an eye surgical lighting unit for lighting internal ocular tissue. The lighting unit comprises a fiber having a proximal end and a distal end, for guiding a light beam to the distal end. The lighting unit also comprises a manual unit, provided with a cannula and a handle having an internal passage positioned in line with the cannula. The fiber is adjustable between an intraocular operational position in which the fiber extends through the internal passage of the handle and through the cannula, and a chandelier operational position in which the fiber is uncoupled from the manual unit.

what is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An eye surgical lighting unit for lighting internal ocular tissue comprising: a fiber having a proximal end and a distal end for guiding a light beam to the distal end, a manual unit provided with a cannula and a handle having an internal passage positioned in line with the cannula, wherein the fiber is adjustable between an intraocular operational position in which the fiber extends through the internal passage of the handle and through the cannula so that a desired position and/or orientation of the distal fiber end can be accurately taken up through operation of the handle, wherein, when the fiber is in the intraocular position, the lighting unit provides intraocular lighting for ophthalmic surgery, and a chandelier operational position in which the fiber is disassembled from the manual unit so that the distal end of the fiber can be introduced via a cannula of a trocar, arranged in the ocular wall, wherein, when the fiber is in the chandelier operational position, the lighting unit provides chandelier lighting for bimanual ophthalmic surgery. 
     
     
         2 . The eye surgical lighting unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the handle is designed, through manual operation thereof, to bring the distal end of the fiber in at least one of a desired position or orientation. 
     
     
         3 . The eye surgical lighting unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the proximal end is provided with a connector for connection to a light source. 
     
     
         4 . The eye surgical lighting unit according to  claim 1 , furthermore comprising a stop which is displaceable along an outer surface of the fiber near the distal end. 
     
     
         5 . The eye surgical lighting unit according to  claim 1 , furthermore comprising a fixation screw to fix the fiber in the intraocular operational position in a direction along the cannula. 
     
     
         6 . The eye surgical lighting unit according to  claim 1 , comprising a single fiber only. 
     
     
         7 . The eye surgical lighting unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the fiber is substantially rectilinear. 
     
     
         8 . A kit of parts comprising:
 a manual unit provided with a cannula and a handle having an internal passage positioned in line with the cannula; and   an eye surgical lighting unit for lighting internal ocular tissue comprising: a fiber having a proximal end and a distal end for guiding a light beam to the distal end;   wherein the fiber of the eye surgical unit can be inserted through the internal passage of the handle of the manual unit and though the cannula of the manual unit, such that   if the fiber is disassembled from the manual unit, the fiber is in a chandelier operational position, the lighting unit provides chandelier lighting for bimanual ophthalmic surgery; and   if the fiber extends through the internal passage of the handle of the manual unit and through the cannula of the manual unit, the fiber is in an intraocular position, the lighting unit provides intraocular lighting for ophthalmic surgery.