Fiber optic illuminator for use in surgery

Claim 1

A fiber optic illuminator for use in surgery and adapted for use with a light source having an adjacent socket comprising a reusable adapter having a body having a conical bore therein, a barrel extending from said body adapted to be received in the light source socket and having an axial bore therethrough communicating with said conical bore in axial alignment therewith, and a light conducting rod mounted in said barrel axial bore adapted to collect light from the light source; a disposable interconnector having a first end with a conical configuration received with a force fit, in said conical bore in said adapter body to be removable a second end and an axial bore through said interconnector; a disposable support hub having a proximal end and a distal end; a disposable cannula having a proximal and mounted in said distal end of said support hub and a distal end; a disposable length of flexible tubing connected with said second end of said interconnector and with said proximal end of said support hub; and a disposable fiber optic element formed of a single strand of fiber optic plastic material having a proximal end supported at said first end of said interconnector and positioned adjacent said light conducting rod in said adapter and a distal end positioned at said distal end of said cannula, said fiber optic element passing through said interconnector axial bore, said flexible tubing, said support hub and said cannula whereby light from the light source is conducted to said distal end of said cannula via said light conducting rod and said fiber optic element.