ILLUMINATION APPARATUS

Abstract

An illumination apparatus (1) for illuminating the operating field during open surgery with radiation to cause fluorescence, the apparatus including a main body (2) including an opening (3) configured to release the radiation (18), is characterized by an attachment unit or assembly (4) for removably attaching the main body (2) sideways to an endoscope (5).

Claims

1. Illumination apparatus (1) for illuminating the operating field during open surgery with radiation to cause fluorescence, the apparatus (1) comprising a main body (2) comprising an opening (3) configured to release the radiation (18), wherein the apparatus (1) comprises attachment means (4) for attaching the main body (2) sideways to an endoscope imager (5).

2. Illumination apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the attachment means (4) are selected from the group consisting of snap-on means, clip-on-means, strapping-on-means, positive-locking means, screw-means, silicone rubber or other non-permanent adhesive means.

3. Illumination apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the main body (2) comprises a radiation source which provides the radiation.

4. Illumination apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the main body (2) is connected to a radiation source which provides the radiation.

5. Illumination apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the main body (2) comprises finger accommodation means (6).

6. Illumination apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the main body comprises means (15) allowing it to be connected to a stand or a robotic arm or a semi-automatic arm.

7. Illumination apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein a filter is inserted in the opening (3) which allows only the radiation used to cause fluorescence to pass.

8. Illumination apparatus (1) according to claim 1, further comprising means for varying the inclination of the radiation exiting the illumination apparatus (1) when it is attached to the endoscope imager (5).

9. System comprising an illumination apparatus (1) according to claim 1 and an endoscope imager (5).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0052] Advantages, features and details become more evident from the figures, which show in

[0053] FIGS. 1A and 1B are a schematic views of an endoscope imager 5 and an endoscope 21 according to the state of the art;

[0054] FIGS. 2 to 5 an illumination apparatus 1 according to the present invention attached to an endoscope imager 5;

[0055] FIG. 6 a schematic view of an illumination apparatus 1 according to the present invention connected to an endoscope imager 5 and a sterile cover 16;

[0056] FIG. 7 a standard sterile cover 16 and

[0057] FIG. 8 an illumination apparatus 1 according to the present invention connected to an endoscope imager 5 and a sterile cover 16.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0058] FIGS. 1A and 1B show an endoscope 21 according to the state of the art with an eyepiece 9, a light guide inlet 22 and a shaft 10. Moreover, an endoscope imager 5 is shown comprising an opening 17 and a coupler 8.

[0059] In FIG. 1B, the eyepiece 9 of the endoscope 21 is mounted at the coupler 8.

[0060] FIG. 1A differs from FIG. 1B only in that the eyepiece 9—and thus the whole endoscope 21—is detached from the coupler 8.

[0061] The arrangement shown in FIG. 1B is utilized in endoscopic surgery. Via a connecting piece 12 an imager cable (not shown) can be connected to the endoscope imager 5 so that the image from within the body is transferred to a screen (not shown).

[0062] The standard endoscope 21 best shown in FIG. 1A may also be used in endoscopic surgery without the endoscope imager 5. The surgeon then looks into eyepiece 9 and light is introduced into the body via light guide inlet 22.

[0063] The apparatuses and arrangements shown in FIG. 1A/1B are known from the state of the art.

[0064] FIGS. 2 to 5 show different perspectives of an embodiment of an illumination apparatus 1 according to the present invention.

[0065] The illumination apparatus 1 is attached to a conventional endoscope imager 5 via attachment means 4.

[0066] Moreover, FIGS. 2 to 5 show the opening 3 of the illumination apparatus 1, the attachment means 4 in the form of clips 4, finger accommodation means 6, a stand 7, a coupler 8, a connecting piece 12 for the imager cable 11, a light guide cable 13, the hand 14 of a user and a protrusion 15.

[0067] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 5, the illumination apparatus 1 according to the present invention works as follows:

[0068] Via attachment means 4, the main body 2 of the illumination apparatus 1 is connected sideways to a conventional endoscope imager 5. Referring to FIGS. 1a/1b, any known endoscope imager 5 may be used.

[0069] Since the illumination apparatus 1 according to the present invention does not occupy the coupler 8, the latter may accommodate a sterile cover as explained below.

[0070] As shown only in FIGS. 6 and 8, a standard sterile cover 16 may be connected to the coupler 8 and cover both, the endoscope imager 5 and the illumination apparatus 1. The radiation 18 emitted by the illumination apparatus 1 permeates the sterile cover 16, which is usually transparent. Thus, the operating field (not shown) is illuminated by the illumination apparatus 1 although the latter is covered by the sterile cover 16.

[0071] Standard sterile covers 16 are designed so that they are easily connected to the coupler 8 and cover the whole endoscope imager 5.

[0072] Since the optics of the endoscope imager “sees” the operating field through opening 17, the part of the cover 16 covering the opening 17 is designed so that the vision is not impaired. A combined imaging window and connecting piece 23 as shown in FIG. 8 may be employed. Piece 23 combines a connecting piece which may accommodate an endoscope, for example, and a transparent imaging window which makes sure that the vision of opening 17 is not blocked or impaired. Such a cover 16 is known from the state of the art.

[0073] The image taken by the endoscope imager 5 in FIGS. 2 to 6 is transported via the imager cable 11 connected to the connecting piece 12 to a processor or the like and eventually to a screen (not shown).

[0074] The radiation or illumination 18 sent by the illumination apparatus 1 to the operating field (not shown) is provided by a light source (not shown), which is connected to the illumination apparatus 1 via the light guide cable 13 connected to the illumination apparatus 1.

[0075] Comparing FIGS. 3 and 4 it is evident how the finger accommodation means 6 allow the user to get hold of the illumination apparatus 1 instinctively.

[0076] FIG. 5 shows how the illumination apparatus 1 can be connected to a stand 7 in case the user does not want to hold it in the hand 14. The stand 7 is easily connected to the protrusion 15 with the recess 19 shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4.

[0077] Together with the recess 19 next to it, the protrusion 15 may form both, a connection piece to connect the illumination apparatus 1 to the stand 7 and one of the finger accommodation means 6. The design of the protrusion 15 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is especially suitable accommodating the finger and being connected to a stand 7, since it has a high surface area.

[0078] As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 6, the direction of the radiation 18 leaving the illumination apparatus may be inclined in a way so that within a distance of 10 to 30 cm, the area around the optical axis 20 of the endoscope imager 5 is illuminated well.

[0079] As shown in FIG. 8, the radiation 18 leaving the opening 3 of the main body 2 of the illumination apparatus 1 travels through the transparent sterile cover 16. Because the main body 2 is attached sideways to the endoscope imager 5, there are no parts blocking the radiation 18 from exiting the sterile cover 16.

TABLE-US-00001 Reference Numbers 1 illumination apparatus 34 2 main body of the illumination apparatus 35 3 opening of the illumination apparatus 36 4 attachment means 37 5 endoscope imager 38 6 finger accommodation means 39 7 stand 40 8 coupler 41 9 eyepiece 42 10 shaft 43 11 imager cable 44 12 connecting piece for imager cable 45 13 light guide cable 46 14 hand 47 15 protrusion 48 16 sterile cover 49 17 opening of the endoscope imager 50 18 radiation 51 19 recess 52 20 optical axis 53 21 endoscope 54 22 light guide inlet 55 23 imaging window and connecting piece 56 24 57 25 58 26 59 27 60 28 61 29 62 30 63 31 64 32 65 33 66