Operative communication of light

Abstract

A surgical access assembly comprises a trocar and a surgical instrument. The trocar comprises a housing and an access tube extending distally from the housing. The housing comprises a hollow light emitter. The housing and the access tube define a lumen extending through the housing and the access tube. The hollow light emitter is configured to project light in the lumen. The surgical instrument comprises an end effector and a shaft extending proximally from the end effector. The shaft comprises an optical receiver positioned within reach of the light from the hollow light emitter. The shaft further comprises a light guide extending from the optical receiver along at least a portion of the shaft toward the end effector.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A visualization system for use with a trocar defining an access port sized to accommodate insertion of a surgical instrument therethrough, the visualization system comprising:
 a digital optics adaptor positionable against the trocar;   a connector coupled to the digital optics adaptor, wherein the connector is extendable at least partially through the access port, and wherein the connector is configured to transmit light received from the digital optics adaptor to the optical module; and   an optical module, comprising:
 a hollow housing, comprising:
 a proximal end portion; and 
 a distal end portion; 
 
 a light emitter secured by the hollow housing of the optical module, wherein the light emitter is configured to illuminate a surgical site distal to the hollow housing; 
 a camera secured by the hollow housing, wherein the camera is positioned to capture images of the surgical site illuminated by the light emitters; and 
 an attachment feature to removably couple the hollow housing of the optical module to the trocar. 
   
     
     
         21 . The visualization system of  claim 20 , wherein the hollow housing of the optical module is decouplable from the trocar by a shaft of the surgical instrument. 
     
     
         22 . The visualization system of  claim 21 , wherein the hollow housing of the optical module comprises an inner wall configured to catch the shaft during the insertion of the surgical instrument. 
     
     
         23 . The visualization system of  claim 22 , wherein the inner wall comprises at least one projection configured to catch the shaft. 
     
     
         24 . The visualization system of  claim 20 , wherein the attachment feature comprises a magnet. 
     
     
         25 . The visualization system of  claim 20 , wherein the hollow housing of the optical module comprises an alignment feature configured to guide the optical module into a predetermined coupling with the trocar. 
     
     
         26 . The visualization system of  claim 20 , wherein the connector comprises a fiber optic cable. 
     
     
         27 . The visualization system of  claim 20 , wherein the connector comprises a biasing member. 
     
     
         28 . The visualization system of  claim 20 , wherein the hollow housing comprises a catch mechanism configured to interrupt advancement of the surgical instrument through the hollow housing. 
     
     
         29 . A visualization system for use with a trocar defining an access port sized to accommodate insertion of a surgical instrument therethrough, the visualization system comprising:
 a digital optics adaptor positionable against the trocar;   a connecting member coupled to the digital optics adaptor, wherein the connecting member is extendable at least partially through the access port, and wherein the connecting member is configured to transmit light received from the digital optics adaptor to the optical module; and   an optical module, comprising:
 a hollow housing, comprising:
 a proximal end portion; and 
 a distal end portion; 
 
 a light emitter secured by the hollow housing of the optical module at the distal end portion, wherein the light emitter is configured to illuminate a surgical site distal to the hollow housing; and 
 an attachment feature to detachably couple the hollow housing of the optical module to the trocar, wherein the hollow housing is attachable to the trocar at the proximal end portion, and wherein the connecting member is configured to bias the hollow housing toward the trocar. 
   
     
     
         30 . The visualization system of  claim 29 , wherein the hollow housing of the optical module is decouplable from the trocar by a shaft of the surgical instrument. 
     
     
         31 . The visualization system of  claim 30 , wherein the hollow housing of the optical module comprises an inner wall configured to catch the shaft during the insertion of the surgical instrument. 
     
     
         32 . The visualization system of  claim 31 , wherein the inner wall comprises at least one projection configured to catch the shaft. 
     
     
         33 . The visualization system of  claim 29 , wherein the attachment feature comprises a magnet. 
     
     
         34 . The visualization system of  claim 29 , wherein the hollow housing of the optical module comprises an alignment feature configured to guide the optical module into a predetermined coupling with the trocar. 
     
     
         35 . The visualization system of  claim 29 , wherein the connecting member comprises a fiber optic cable. 
     
     
         36 . The visualization system of  claim 29 , wherein the hollow housing comprises a catch mechanism configured to interrupt advancement of the surgical instrument through the hollow housing. 
     
     
         37 . A visualization system for use with a trocar defining an access port sized to accommodate insertion of a surgical instrument therethrough, the visualization system comprising:
 a digital optics adaptor positionable against the trocar;   a connector coupled to the digital optics adaptor, wherein the connector is extendable at least partially through the access port, and wherein the connector is configured to transmit light received from the digital optics adaptor to the optical module; and   an optical module comprising:
 a light emitter secured by the optical module, wherein the light emitter is configured to illuminate a surgical site distal to the optical module; 
 an attachment feature to removably couple the optical module to the trocar; and 
 a catch mechanism configured to catch a shaft of the surgical instrument during the insertion of the surgical instrument, wherein the insertion of the surgical instrument causes the shaft of the surgical instrument to decouple the optical module from the trocar, and wherein the connector is configured to bias the optical module toward the trocar. 
   
     
     
         38 . The visualization system of  claim 37 , wherein the optical module comprises an alignment feature configured to guide the optical module into a predetermined coupling with the trocar. 
     
     
         39 . The visualization system of  claim 37 , wherein the attachment feature comprises a magnet.