Illuminating eye depressor
An eye depressor with a light for directing through a sclera. The depressor may removably accommodate a light instrument that might be used to illuminate an area in an eye during an eye surgery. The coupling of the light instrument to the depressor during the procedure may reduce the number of hands required in carrying out the surgery. This may be of particular benefit for eye surgery where limited surgical space is available.
1 . A depressor for physically interfacing with an outer surface of an eye in support of a surgical procedure, the depressor comprising:
a housing for manipulating by a surgeon, the housing including a channel; and
a head coupled to the housing with a transparent or semi-transparent portion, the head to support the interfacing, the housing to accommodate a light device at the channel to direct light to the transparent or semi-transparent portion;
wherein:
the channel is defined by alternating tabs of the housing that are configured to secure a fiber optic line, attached to the light device, along the housing from a proximal end opposite the head, through the housing, and to the head, and
a distal face of the head configured to contact the eye is of a concave arcuate shape and the interfacing occupies at least a portion of the eye circumferentially.
2 . The depressor of claim 1 , wherein the transparent or semi-transparent portion is comprised of an amorphous thermoplastic molding material.
3 . The depressor of claim 1 , further comprising a transition segment of the housing to accommodate the head, the transition segment being angled away from an axis of a remainder of the housing.
4 . The depressor of claim 3 , wherein the transition segment is comprised of a malleable material.
5 . The depressor of claim 1 , wherein the light device plugs into the head through an adaptor.
6 . The depressor of claim 1 , wherein the light device comprises a chandelier that plugs directly into the head.
7 . The depressor of claim 1 , wherein the alternating tabs of the housing are configured to contact the fiber optic line.
8 . The depressor of claim 1 , wherein the channel extends through a sidewall of the housing.
9 . A surgical instrument set for used in eye surgery, the surgical instrument set comprising: a scleral depressor with a head for interfacing with an outer surface of a sclera of an eye in support of the eye surgery and a housing to accommodate a light device to supply light to the head and for manipulating by a surgeon, the housing including a channel defined by alternating tabs of the housing that are configured to secure a fiber optic line, attached to the light device, and the head coupled to the housing with a transparent or semi-transparent portion, the head further coupled to the light device; and an invasive surgical eye instrument to perform the eye surgery, the eye surgery visibly aided by the light emerging from a face of the head at the interface with the sclera; wherein: a distal face of the head configured to contact the eye is of a concave arcuate shape and the interfacing occupies at least a portion of the eye circumferentially.
10 . The surgical instrument set of claim 9 , wherein the head is of a kidney bean profile with tapered ends for wedging between the sclera and a fornix of the eye during the interfacing.
11 . The surgical instrument set of claim 9 , wherein the light device is one of the fiber optic line terminating at the head and a chandelier, incorporating the fiber optic line, removably coupled to the housing.
12 . The surgical instrument of claim 11 , wherein the head is of unitary construction and substantially transparent for the terminating of the fiber optic line thereat.
13 . The surgical instrument of claim 9 , wherein the light device plugs into the head through an adaptor.
14 . The surgical instrument of claim 9 , wherein the light device comprises a chandelier that plugs directly into the head.