Blade insert illuminator
A blade insert illumination system includes one or more illumination elements composed of a transparent or semi-transparent polymer that is preferably biocompatible and sterilizable. The illumination elements operate as a waveguide and may incorporate optical components such as, for example, facets, lenses, gratings, prisms and or diffusers to operate as precision optics for customized delivery of the light energy. The illumination elements may be modular, allowing components to be mixed and matched for different sizes of blade retractors, or may be a single integrated unit.
1. A modular retractor illumination system comprising: a blade retractor having two generally parallel channels for engaging a blade insert illuminator system; and a blade insert illuminator system adjustably engaging the channels of the blade retractor, the blade insert illuminator system including an input element with a light input coupling, a plurality of light conduit sections, and an output element with one or more light output structure, wherein the plurality of light conduit sections are disposed in the parallel channels and also disposed between the light input element and the output element, and wherein the plurality of light conduit sections are arranged such that light is directed from a first light conduit section to an adjacent second light conduit section, wherein adjacent light conduit sections are engaged together with an engagement arm thereby maintaining a secure optical connection between the adjacent light conduit sections, and each light conduit section acts as a wavequide and may employ optical structures to polarize and or filter the light energy entering or exiting the wavequide.
2. The modular retractor illumination system of claim 1 wherein the blade insert illuminator system further comprises:
a light directing structure in each of the one or more conduit elements.
3. The modular retractor illumination system of claim 2 wherein the blade insert illuminator system further comprises:
a light directing structure in the input element.
4. The modular retractor illumination system of claim 2 wherein the blade insert illuminator system further comprises:
a light directing structure in the output element.
5. The modular retractor illumination system of claim 1 wherein the blade insert illuminator system further comprises:
a light directing structure in each of the one or more conduit elements and the input element.
6. The modular retractor illumination system of claim 1 wherein the blade insert illuminator system further comprises:
a light directing structure in each of the one or more conduit elements and the output element.
7. The modular retractor illumination system of claim 1 wherein the blade insert illuminator system further comprises:
a light directing structure in each of the one or more conduit elements, the input element and the output element.
8. The modular retractor illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the light input comprises a bifurcated fiber optical cable.