Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
A small-gauge, wide-angle illuminator, comprising: a handpiece (10), optically coupled to receive a light beam from a light source
(12); an optical fiber (22) or fiber optic cable (14), operably coupled to the
handpiece, wherein the fiber receives the light beam from the light source; an optical element (20), optically coupled to a distal end of the fiber, for
receiving the light beam and scattering the light beam to illuminate a surgical field,
wherein the optical element comprises a hemispherically shaped sapphire; and a cannula (16), operably coupled to the handpiece, for housing and directing
the optical fiber and the optical element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
40 words
The small-gauge, wide-angle illuminator of Claim 1, wherein the optical
element (20) is a small-gauge optical element having a circular surface (25) co-incident
with an open aperture of the cannula (16), and a hemispherical surface (26)
facing the optical fiber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The small-gauge, wide-angle illuminator of Claim 1, wherein the optical
element (20) is a 19, 20 or 25 gauge optical element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The small-gauge, wide-angle illuminator of Claim 1, wherein the cannula (16)
and the handpiece are fabricated from biocompatible materials.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
84 words
The small-gauge, wide-angle illuminator of Claim 1, wherein the optical fiber
(22) is optically coupled at the distal end to the optical element (20) and at another
end to an optical cable (14), wherein the optical cable is operably coupled to the light
source (12) to transmit the light beam to the optical fiber, and wherein the optical
cable comprises a first optical connector (32) operably coupled to the light source (12)
and a second optical connector (32) operably coupled to the handpiece (10).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The small-gauge, wide-angle illuminator of Claim 5, wherein the optical cable
(14) gauge and the optical fiber (22) gauge are equal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The small-gauge, wide-angle illuminator of Claim 5, wherein the optical cable
(14) comprises a plurality of optical fibers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The small-gauge, wide-angle illuminator of Claim 5, wherein the first and
second optical connectors (32) are SMA optical fiber connectors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The small-gauge, wide-angle illuminator of Claim 1, wherein the optical fiber
(22) gauge and the optical element (20) gauge are equal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The small-gauge, wide-angle illuminator of Claim 1, wherein the optical fiber
(22) is operably coupled to the handpiece (10) to enable linear displacement of the
optical fiber within the cannula (16).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The small-gauge, wide-angle illuminator of Claim 10, further comprising a
means (40) for adjusting the linear displacement of the optical fiber (22).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The small-gauge, wide-angle illuminator of Claim 11, wherein the means (40)
for adjusting comprises a push/pull mechanism.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The small-gauge, wide-angle illuminator of Claim 12, wherein adjusting the
linear displacement causes the optical fiber (22) to move away from or towards the
optical element (20) by an amount corresponding to the change in linear
displacement.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The small-gauge, wide-angle illuminator of Claim 13, wherein the amount of
linear displacement of the optical fiber (22) determines an angle of illumination and
an amount of illumination (33) provided by the optical element (20) to illuminate the
surgical field.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The small-gauge, wide-angle illuminator of Claim 14, wherein the angle of
illumination is between 20 and about 160 degrees.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The small-gauge, wide-angle illuminator of Claim 1, wherein the light beam
comprises a beam (30) of relatively incoherent light.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The small-gauge, wide-angle illuminator of Claim 1, wherein the light source
(12) is a xenon light source.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The small-gauge, wide-angle illuminator of Claim 1, wherein the optical
element (20) is about 2 millimeters long.