System for illumination during a corridor based procedure

1. An optical port system for a corridor based procedure comprising: one or more light sources; and, an optical probe comprising: a tube having a distal end, a proximal end and one or more sidewalls there between, the optical probe and the one or more light sources arranged so that light from the one or more light sources is received by the one or more sidewalls, the one or more sidewalls configured to convey the light to the distal end, the distal end configured to receive the light and illuminate a sample adjacent thereto, further comprising light collection apparatus configured to collect the light reflected from the sample, and a one or more of optical visualization apparatus and imaging apparatus, configured to communicate with the light collection apparatus to image the sample from the light reflected from the sample, using one or more of visible light, non-visible light, infrared light and ultraviolet light.

2. The optical port system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sidewalls are substantially cylindrical.

3. The optical port system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sidewalls are further configured to one or more of: mix the light when received therein; homogenize the light when received therein; and integrate the light when received therein.

4. The optical port system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sidewalls comprise an integrated light guide.

5. The optical port system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sidewalls are generally transparent between the distal end and the proximal end.

6. The optical port system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more light sources is in optical communication with the proximal end, the proximal end configured to receive the light from the one or more light sources.

7. The optical port system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more optical fibers configured to convey the light from the one or more light sources to one or more of the proximal end and the one or more sidewalls.

8. The optical port system of claim 1 , wherein the distal end comprises one or more of: a lens, a microlens, a mirror, a light focusing device, and a light diffusing device.

9. The optical port system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sidewalls comprise glass.

10. The optical port system of claim 1 , wherein an external side of the one or more sidewalls is generally transparent and the one or more light sources is located at the external side of the one or more sidewalls.

11. The optical port system of claim 1 , wherein an internal side of the one or more sidewalls is generally transparent and the one or more light sources is located at the internal side of the one or more sidewalls.

12. The optical port system of claim 1 , wherein one or more of an external side and an internal side of the one or more sidewalls is generally transparent and the one or more light sources is located at one or more of the external side and the internal side of the one or more sidewalls, the one or more light sources comprising one or more of an electroluminescent material, an electroluminescent sheet, a organic light emitting diode (OLED) matrix, and an OLED sheet.

13. The optical port system of claim 1 , further comprising a control system, and wherein one or more of an external side and an internal side of the one or more sidewalls is generally transparent and the one or more light sources is located at one or more of the external side and the internal side of the one or more sidewalls, the one or more light sources comprising an addressable matrix of pixels in communication with the control system.

14. The optical port system of claim 1 , wherein the control system is in communication with a navigation system configured to track one or more of a position and a pose of at least one surgical instrument used with the optical probe, the control system configured to control the addressable matrix of pixels in response to one or more of the position and the pose of the at least one surgical instrument.

15. The optical port system of claim 1 , wherein one or more of an external side and an internal side of the one or more sidewalls is generally transparent and the one or more light sources comprises a flexible light emitting material located at one or more of the external side and the internal side of the one or more sidewalls.

16. The optical port system of claim 1 , wherein an external side of the one or more sidewalls is generally transparent and the one or more light sources is proximal the external side of the one or more sidewalls, the external side comprising one or more optical coatings configured to convey light from the one or more light sources into the one or more sidewalls, and an interior side of the one or more sidewalls configured to reflect the light back into the one or more sidewalls.

17. The optical port system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more optical coatings on the one or more sidewalls, the optical coatings configured to assist in conveying the light to the distal end.

18. The optical port system of claim 1 , further comprising: a power source; and an electrical connection between the power source and light source.

19. The optical port system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more light sources is configured to emit one or more of: visible light, non-visible light, infrared light and ultraviolet light.

20. The optical port system of claim 1 , wherein the tube comprises a port configured to receive at least one surgical instrument at the proximal end through to the distal end, and the distal end is further configured to illuminate an area of the sample with which the surgical instrument is interacting.