Fiberoptic cable safety devices

1 . A safety device for a fiberoptic cable for use in medical procedures, the safety device comprising:

an annular adaptor; and

an end cover coupled to the annular adaptor, wherein the end cover comprises a resiliently deformable material and includes a flap that is moveable between a relaxed state and an elastically deformed state, wherein the flap comprises an attachment edge and a free, unattached boundary portion, wherein a portion of a perimeter of the flap is attached to the annular adaptor along the attachment edge, wherein a remaining portion of the perimeter of the flap forms the free, unattached boundary portion, wherein the unattached boundary portion comprises a distal edge along a distal face of the flap, a proximal edge along a proximal face of the flap, and a thickness extending between the proximal edge and the distal edge;

wherein the annular adaptor comprises an elastomeric sleeve so dimensioned as to receive a connector disposed at a distal end of a fiberoptic cable such that the end cover of the safety device is distal of a distal end of the connector;

wherein, relative to the flap in the relaxed state, the flap is deformed radially outwardly from a longitudinal axis of the safety device in the elastically deformed state, and wherein, relative to the flap in the relaxed state, at least a portion of the free, unattached boundary portion of the flap is displaced along the longitudinal axis of the safety device in the elastically deformed state;

wherein the safety device is sized and shaped such that, when the connector of the fiberoptic cable is coupled to an engagement portion of an optical medical instrument, the flap is configured to be maintained in the elastically deformed state, and wherein the safety device is sized and shaped such that, when the connector of the fiberoptic cable is uncoupled from the engagement portion of the optical medical instrument, the flap is configured to move from the elastically deformed state to the relaxed state such that light emitted from the fiberoptic cable is at least partially blocked by the end cover.

2 . The safety device of claim 1 , wherein the end cover comprises a partially light transmissive material, the partially light transmissive material configured to transmit a portion of light incident on an inner surface of the end cover and thereby provide a visual indicator that the fiberoptic cable is conducting light.

3 . The safety device of claim 1 , wherein the resiliently deformable material is silicone.

4 . The safety device of claim 1 , wherein the end cover and the annular adaptor are integrally formed.

5 . The safety device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one flexible finger extending between the annular adaptor and the end cover.

6 . The safety device of claim 1 , wherein the annular adaptor comprises a proximal opening and a distal opening.

7 . An assembly comprising:

the safety device of claim 1 ;

the fiberoptic cable with the connector; and

an optical medical instrument comprising an engagement portion;

wherein, when the distal connector of the fiberoptic cable is coupled to the engagement portion of the optical medical instrument, the fiberoptic cable is configured to transmit light to the optical medical instrument for use in a medical procedure.

8 . The safety device of claim 1 , wherein the end cover comprises a distal end wall and a circumferential side wall extending proximally from a perimeter of the distal end wall.

9 . The safety device of claim 8 , wherein, when the flap is in the relaxed state, a distal end of the safety device is a flat surface formed by an exterior side of the distal end wall.

10 . The safety device of claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric sleeve of the annular adapter includes an inner distal face that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the safety device, wherein, when the flap is in the relaxed state, the flap of the end cover is axially offset from the inner distal face along the longitudinal axis of the safety device.

11 . The safety device of claim 10 , wherein, when the flap is in the relaxed state, the distal face of the flap of the end cover is distal of the inner distal face of the elastomeric sleeve.

12 . The safety device of claim 10 , wherein the end cover comprises a flexible portion that extends between the inner distal face of the annular adapter and the attachment edge of the flap of the end cover for axially offsetting the flap from the inner distal face.

13 . An assembly for use in medical procedures, the assembly comprising:

a fiber optic cable; and

a safety device comprising:

an annular adaptor; and

an end cover coupled to the annular adaptor, the end cover comprising a resiliently deformable material, wherein the end cover is moveable between a relaxed state and an elastically deformed state and comprises a free edge;

wherein the annular adaptor is configured to receive a connector disposed at a distal end of a fiberoptic cable such that the end cover of the safety device extends distally relative to a distal end of the connector;

wherein, in the relaxed state, a plane of a distal face of the end cover is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the safety device, and wherein, in the elastically deformed state, a free edge of the end cover is deformed radially outwardly relative to the longitudinal axis and is axially displaced along a longitudinal axis of the safety device; and

wherein the safety device is sized and shaped such that, when the connector of the fiberoptic cable is coupled to an engagement portion of an optical medical instrument, the engagement portion of the optical medical instrument extends past the end cover and maintains the end cover in the elastically deformed state, and when the connector of the fiberoptic cable is uncoupled from the engagement portion of the optical medical instrument, the end cover moves from the elastically deformed state to the relaxed state such that light emitted from the fiberoptic cable is at least partially blocked by the end cover.

14 . The assembly of claim 13 , wherein the annular adaptor comprises an elastomeric sleeve configured to be friction fit around the connector of the fiberoptic cable.

15 . The assembly of claim 13 , wherein the end cover comprises a partially light transmissive material, the partially light transmissive material configured to transmit a portion of light incident on an inner surface of the end cover and thereby provide a visual indicator when the fiberoptic cable is conducting light.

16 . A method of using a safety device for a fiberoptic cable, the method comprising:

inserting a connector at a distal end of the fiberoptic cable into an annular adaptor of the safety device such that an end cover of the safety device extends distally relative to the distal end of the connector, wherein the safety device comprises:

the annular adaptor; and

the end cover coupled to the annular adaptor, wherein the end cover comprises a resiliently deformable material and includes a flap that is moveable between a relaxed state and an elastically deformed state, wherein the flap comprises a free edge;

wherein the annular adaptor comprises an elastomeric sleeve so dimensioned as to receive the connector disposed at the distal end of the fiberoptic cable;

wherein, relative to the flap in the relaxed state, the flap is deformed radially outwardly from a longitudinal axis of the safety device in the elastically deformed state, and wherein, relative to the flap in the relaxed state, at least a portion of the free edge of the flap is displaced along the longitudinal axis of the safety device in the elastically deformed state;

deforming the safety device such that the flap transitions from the relaxed state to the elastically deformed state;

engaging the connector of the fiberoptic cable with an engagement portion of an optical medical instrument to couple the fiberoptic cable to the optical medical instrument and transmit light thereto, the coupling between the connector and the engagement portion maintaining the flap in the elastically deformed state; and

disengaging the connector of the fiberoptic cable from the engagement portion of the optical medical instrument, the disengaging of the connector and the engagement portion resulting in the flap resiliently transitioning from the elastically deformed state to the relaxed state such that at least a portion of the light emitted from the distal end of the fiberoptic cable is blocked by the end cover.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the deforming the safety device such that the flap transitions from the relaxed state to the elastically deformed state results in displacement of at least a portion of the free edge of the flap along the longitudinal axis of the safety device.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the end cover comprises a partially light transmissive material, and the method further comprises utilizing the end cover as a visual indicator to determine whether the fiberoptic cable is conducting light.

19 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising, after the uncoupling of the connector of the fiberoptic cable from the engagement portion of the optical medical instrument, placing the fiberoptic cable onto a surface, wherein the surface is protected from the light emitted from the distal end of the fiberoptic cable via the end cover including the flap in the relaxed state.

20 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising, after the uncoupling of the connector of the fiberoptic cable from the engagement portion of the optical medical instrument, placing the fiberoptic cable onto a surface, wherein the distal end of the fiberoptic cable is offset from the surface via the safety device.