Illuminated telescoping cannula

Abstract

The illumination system described below comprises an arthroscope, endoscope or other suitable surgical tool and an attachable cannula comprising a transparent or semi-transparent material capable of carrying light from the proximal end of the cannula to the distal end of the cannula, thereby illuminating the surgical field. The surgical field is thus illuminated through components that do not occupy space that may otherwise be used for the optics of the arthroscope. The arthroscopic illumination system further comprises one or more illumination sources disposed at the proximal end of the cannula. The illumination source may be optically coupled with the cannula at the hub or other appropriate location. The cannula comprises a sterilizable polymer which functions as a waveguide. A waveguide is a material medium that confines and guides light. When in use, the light source connected to the hub provides light which may be guided to the distal end of the cannula or any other suitable location. Thus, the sheath provides structure-guided illumination resulting in the illumination of the surgical site.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A surgical illumination system, comprising:
 a surgical instrument having an outer wall;   an optical waveguide formed of a single generally uniform element without optical fibers, wherein the optical waveguide is configured to transmit light using total internal reflection, wherein the optical waveguide comprises an inner surface and outer surface, wherein the surgical instrument and the optical waveguide are arranged such that the inner surface of the optical waveguide faces the outer wall of the surgical instrument; and   a plurality of optical structures at a distal end of the optical waveguide, wherein the plurality of optical structures comprise at least one optical structure selected from a group consisting of: one or more facets, one or more microstructures, and one or more prisms.   
     
     
         19 . The surgical illumination system of  claim 18 , wherein the surgical instrument and the optical waveguide are arranged such that an air gap is defined between the inner surface of the optical waveguide and the outer wall of the surgical instrument. 
     
     
         20 . The surgical illumination system of  claim 19 , wherein the optical waveguide comprises a structural element that extends between the surgical instrument and the optical waveguide. 
     
     
         21 . The surgical illumination system of  claim 20 , wherein the structural element comprises at least on element selected from a group consisting of: one or more gussets and one or more ribs. 
     
     
         22 . The surgical illumination system of  claim 18 , wherein the optical waveguide comprises a film on the outer surface of the optical waveguide, and wherein the film is configured to enhance the total internal reflection. 
     
     
         23 . The surgical illumination system of  claim 18 , further comprising a plurality of optical fibers configured to transmit light from a light source to a proximal end of the optical waveguide. 
     
     
         24 . The surgical illumination system of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of optical structures comprise the one or more facets. 
     
     
         25 . The surgical illumination system of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of optical structures comprise the one or more microstructures. 
     
     
         26 . The surgical illumination system of  claim 18 , further comprising an illumination source configured to generate the light that is transmitted by the optical waveguide. 
     
     
         27 . The surgical illumination system of  claim 26 , wherein the illumination source is separate from the surgical instrument. 
     
     
         28 . The surgical illumination system of  claim 18 , wherein the surgical instrument is at least one instrument selected from among a group of instruments consisting of: a drill, a burr, and an endoscope. 
     
     
         29 . A method of illuminating a surgical field, comprising:
 providing a surgical illumination system comprising:
 a surgical instrument having an outer wall; 
 an optical waveguide formed of a single generally uniform element without optical fibers, wherein the optical waveguide is configured to transmit light using total internal reflection, wherein the optical waveguide comprises an inner surface and outer surface, wherein the surgical instrument and the optical waveguide are arranged such that the inner surface of the optical waveguide faces the outer wall of the surgical instrument; and 
 a plurality of optical structures at a distal end of the optical waveguide, wherein the plurality of optical structures comprise at least one optical structure selected from a group consisting of: one or more facets, one or more microstructures, and one or more prisms 
   coupling the optical waveguide of the surgical illumination system to an illumination source;   generating light using the illumination source;   transmitting the light from a proximal end of the optical waveguide to the distal end of the optical waveguide; and   transmitting, using the plurality of optical structures, the light from the distal end of the optical waveguide to a surgical field.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the surgical instrument and the optical waveguide are arranged such that an air gap is defined between the inner surface of the optical waveguide and the outer wall of the surgical instrument. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the optical waveguide comprises a structural element that extends between the surgical instrument and the optical waveguide. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the structural element comprises at least on element selected from a group consisting of: one or more gussets and one or more ribs. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the optical waveguide comprises a film on the outer surface of the optical waveguide, and wherein the film is configured to enhance the total internal reflection. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein coupling the optical waveguide of the surgical illumination system to the illumination source comprises coupling the proximal end of the optical waveguide to the illumination source via a plurality of optical fibers. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the plurality of optical structures comprise the one or more facets. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the plurality of optical structures comprise the one or more microstructures. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the surgical instrument is at least one instrument selected from among a group of instruments consisting of: a drill, a burr, and an endoscope.