Body cavity illumination system
A cavity illumination system according to the present disclosure may include one or more illumination elements composed of a transparent or semi-transparent, biocompatible sterilizable polymer and one or more illumination sources. The sterilizable polymer operates as a waveguide. An illumination element may incorporate micro structured optical components such as for example gratings, prisms and or diffusers to operate as precision optics for customized delivery of the light energy. The micro structured optical components may also be used to polarize and/or filter the light energy entering or exiting the illumination element.
1. A method of illuminating a body cavity, said method comprising:
inserting a tubular retractor into the body cavity;
inputting light into the tubular retractor;
directing the light from the tubular retractor to the body cavity with output optical structures disposed on the tubular retractor, wherein the output optical structures comprise a plurality of stair stepped facets; and
illuminating the body cavity with the light,
wherein the plurality of stair stepped facets comprise at least three stairs on a tubular wall of the tubular retractor,
wherein the at least three stairs are arranged in a sequence along a longitudinal axis of the tubular wall, and
wherein each stair has a distal surface which is formed at a non-parallel angle relative to the longitudinal axis.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tubular retractor has a proximal end and a distal end, the tubular retractor configured to be disposed in the body cavity, and wherein the tubular retractor is a waveguide configured to transmit light from the proximal end to the distal end,
wherein a light input is coupled to the tubular retractor, the light input configured to conduct light into the waveguide, and
wherein output optical structures are disposed on the tubular retractor, the output optical structures configured to direct the light from the waveguide toward the body cavity.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the tubular retractor forms a cylinder.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the waveguide is formed from at least one optical material selected from a group consisting of: polycarbonate or acrylic.
5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the output optical structures are disposed adjacent the distal end of the tubular retractor.
6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the output optical structures are disposed on an inside wall of the tubular wall of the tubular retractor.
7. The method of claim 2 , wherein the output optical structures are disposed along a portion of a circumference of the tubular retractor.
8. The method of claim 2 , wherein the output optical structures are disposed on an outer wall of the tubular wall of the tubular retractor.
9. The method of claim 2 , wherein the output optical structures are disposed on an end face of the tubular retractor.
10. The method of claim 2 , wherein a coating is disposed on the output optical structures, wherein the coating is at least one of a group consisting of: a reflective coating and a dampening coating.
11. The method of claim 2 , wherein directing the light from the tubular retractor to the body cavity with a plurality of output optical structures disposed on the tubular retractor comprises using the output optical structures to illuminate an entire cavity wall of the body cavity evenly.
12. The method of claim 2 , wherein a light directing structure is adjacent the light input, the light directing structure configured to distribute the light around a circumference of the tubular retractor.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein illuminating the body cavity comprises illuminating the body cavity evenly.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the light is reflected by the tubular retractor in a direction from a distal end of the tubular retractor towards a proximal end of the tubular retractor as mis-reflected light, and
wherein the method further comprises directing the mis-reflected light from the proximal end of the tubular retractor back toward the output optical structures.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein a reflective or prismatic surface is adjacent the proximal end of the tubular retractor, the reflective or prismatic surface configured to direct the mis-reflected light back toward the output optical structures.
16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising distributing the light around a circumference of the tubular retractor with a light directing structure.
17. The method of claim 1 , further comprising retracting tissue in the body cavity with the tubular retractor.
18. The method of claim 2 , wherein the output optical structures are disposed along an entirety of a circumference of the tubular retractor.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tubular retractor is a tubular waveguide, wherein the tubular wall is defined by an inner wall and an outer wall, wherein the inner wall and the outer wall extend from a proximal end of the tubular waveguide to the output optical structures, and wherein the method further comprises, after inputting the light into the tubular retractor, directing the light to the output optical structures by reflecting the light off of the inner wall and the outer wall of the tubular waveguide.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the output optical structures are on the inner wall at a position that is proximal of a distal end of the tubular waveguide.