Patent Application
20210033810
This invention relates generally to minimally invasive surgical procedures and, in particular, to a light shield configured for use with optical cables used in laparoscopic procedures.
Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive surgical diagnostic procedure used to examine the organs inside the abdomen. At least one small incision is made into the abdominal space, which is inflated with CO2 to better visualize internal organs. One incision holds a trocar through which a laparoscope is inserted. The laparoscope typically transmits images to a monitor for viewing. Other incisions may be made for other instruments to remove tissue, perform biopsies, and so forth.
Modern laparoscopes are long, thin tubes with integrated high-resolution cameras. High-intensity light from an optical fiber cable is coupled to the side of the instrument near the proximal end outside the body. The light is carried to the tube to the distal end where it illuminated the field of view.
The fiber-optic cable typically connects to the laparoscope through a threaded connection, allowing the cable to be exchanged or removed for maintenance or cleaning. On occasion, due to frequent manipulation of the instrument by the surgeon, this threaded connection can become detached, allowing the tip of the fiber cable to fall freely onto the patient, drapery, or other surrounding surfaces. This exposed tip is very hot, and can result in burning, even fires, if left unchecked.
There are a couple of existing devices designed to address this problem. One solution is described in published international WO2017152266A1, entitled “The Light Cable Safety Sleeve.” The device described in this reference is a single use, silicone sleeve with perforations on the shaft for heat release/dissipation, “and shaped collars at each end for placement stability and suspension of the light cable and connection assembly (within the sleeve).” One issue with this device is that it is essentially open at both ends, such that considerable light escapes through the distal end and does not adequately solve issues with overheating.
A commercially available device is the Jackson Medical Light/Heat Shield called the GloShield™. However, this device comes in different sizes, requiring a user to purchase and use a model that fits a particular light cable. This device is also awkward to use in the field, requiring exact positioning on the cable, which can be slide when attaching it to the scope leaving it out of position.
There is an outstanding need, therefore, for an optical cable light shield that fits different products while effectively blocking the light and heat should the cable become disconnected from the side of the viewing instrument.
This invention resides in an improved shield for a light cable. The device may be used on a light cable that attaches to a surgical viewing instrument such as a laparoscope, such that when the cable becomes detached, the shield closes off the distal end of the cable, substantially preventing light from the cable to escape, where the heat may start a fire or burn a patient.
The improved light shield comprises a hollow, tubular body composed of a flexible, resilient, temperature-resistant material such as a high-temperature silicone. The hollow, tubular body has proximal and distal ends defining a length. The proximal end includes a central aperture and a plurality of slits extending radially outwardly from the central aperture forming a plurality of flexible leaves or flaps. However, in contrast to existing devices, the distal end includes no apertures, but instead includes only a plurality of slits extending radially outwardly from a center point.
When a fiber optic cable is threaded through the improved light shield, the material between the slits form flexible flaps that the cable extends through. If the cable becomes detached, however, the flaps close, leaving only the slits, which define fine gaps that do not allow light from the cable to escape.
In the preferred embodiment, the hollow, tubular body is an integrally molded component that may be light-translucent. The length of the body may be in the range of 60 to 100 mm with a cylindrical or frustoconical shape, wherein the proximal end of the device has a diameter that is larger than the diameter at the distal end. The shield may further include a plurality of perforations along the length of the body, but only in the proximal half of the body to further ensure that light does not escaped if and when the fiber-optic light cable becomes detached.
Now making reference to the accompanying drawings,
The device has an overall length in the range of 60 to 100 mm, more preferably in the range of 80 to 90 mm, and most preferably about 84 mm. As can be seen, the device tapers somewhat from the proximal end 106 to the distal end 104. The diameter of the proximal end, D2, may be in the range of 20 to 35 mm, more preferably 20 to 25 mm, and most preferably about 25 mm, while the diameter D1 of the distal end may be in the range of 15 to 35 mm, more preferably in the range of 15 to 25 mm, and most preferably about 20 mm.
The preferred embodiment includes a plurality of perforations 108, which may be of any shape including circular with diameters in the range of 2 to 10 mm, more or less. For example, circular perforations with diameters of about 4.5 mm may be used. While these perforations are provided for enhance air circulation, they may be eliminated. In all embodiments, however, there are no perforations of any kind on the distal half of the device, that is, from L/2 to the distal tip, including the tip itself as discussed below.
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