MALLEABLE WAVEGUIDE

1 . A method for illuminating a treatment target, said method comprising:

providing a medical device and a malleable waveguide;

positioning the medical device and the malleable waveguide into the treatment target;

deforming the medical device to conform with a native anatomy in the treatment target;

deforming the malleable waveguide to conform with the native anatomy in the treatment target, wherein the deformation of the malleable waveguide cooperates with the deformation of the medical device;

performing a medical procedure with the medical device; and

illuminating the treatment target with light from the malleable waveguide.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the medical device comprises a surgical retractor, a suction tube, a suction coagulator, a laparoscopic instrument, an electrosurgical instrument, or a catheter.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the malleable waveguide is formed primarily of silicone.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the malleable waveguide comprises an index of refraction of 1.40 or higher.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the malleable waveguide comprises an optical transmission efficiency of 90% or greater.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the malleable waveguide has an operating range of between about −45 degrees Celsius and about 200 degrees Celsius.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising coupling a fiber optic cable to the malleable waveguide.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising inputting light from a light source into the malleable waveguide.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising imaging the treatment target with an imaging element.

10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising steering the medical device, and wherein the malleable waveguide steers with the medical device, thereby cooperating with the steering.

11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising coupling the malleable waveguide with the medical device such that the malleable waveguide conforms to a contour of the medical device.

12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising radially expanding the medical device and radially expanding the malleable waveguide with the medical device.

13 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising performing an electrosurgical procedure with the medical device.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the malleable waveguide comprises optical microstructures for extracting light therefrom, and wherein the optical microstructures direct the extracted light toward the treatment target.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the microstructures shape the extracted light and direct the extracted light toward the treatment target.

16 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising illuminating the treatment target with light emitted from an optical fiber disposed within or adjacent the malleable waveguide.

17 . A system for illuminating a treatment target, said system comprising:

a deformable medical device; and

a malleable waveguide coupled to the medical device, wherein the malleable waveguide conforms to the deformable waveguide upon deformation of the deformable medical device to conform with native anatomy in the treatment target, and wherein the malleable waveguide illuminates the treatment target with light emitted therefrom.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the medical device comprises a surgical retractor, a suction tube, a suction coagulator, a laparoscopic instrument, an electrosurgical instrument, or a catheter.

19 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the malleable waveguide is formed primarily of silicone.

20 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the malleable waveguide comprises an index of refraction of 1.40 or higher.

21 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the malleable waveguide comprises an optical transmission efficiency of 90% or greater.

22 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the malleable waveguide has an operating range of between about −45 degrees Celsius and about 200 degrees Celsius.

23 . The system of claim 17 , further comprising a fiber optic cable coupled to the malleable waveguide.

24 . The system of claim 17 , further comprising an external light source optically coupled with the malleable waveguide.

25 . The system of claim 17 , further comprising an imaging element coupled with the medical device or the optical waveguide.

26 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the medical device comprises a steering mechanism for controlling a shape of the medical device, and wherein the malleable waveguide steers with the medical device, thereby cooperating with the steering mechanism.

27 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the malleable waveguide is coupled with the medical device such that the malleable waveguide conforms to a contour of the medical device.

28 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the medical device has an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration, and wherein expansion of medical device from the collapsed configuration to the expanded configuration expands the malleable waveguide.

29 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the medical device is an electrosurgical instrument.

30 . The system of claim 17 , the wherein the malleable waveguide comprises optical microstructures for extracting light therefrom, and wherein the optical microstructures direct the extracted light toward the treatment target.

31 . The system of claim 30 , wherein the microstructures shape the extracted light and direct the extracted light toward the treatment target.

32 . The system of claim 17 , further comprising an optical fiber disposed within or adjacent the malleable waveguide, the optical fiber configured to illuminate the treatment target with light emitted therefrom.

33 . A malleable surgical illumination element, said element comprising:

an optical waveguide formed from a malleable polymeric material, wherein the waveguide is bendable in any direction into a desired configuration.