Abstract: Disclosed is an exemplary surgical illumination system that includes a first laser configured to emit a first light beam having a first spectral range, and an illumination probe optically connectable to the first laser. The first laser may be configured as a supercontinuum laser. The surgical illumination system may include a second laser configured to emit a second light beam having a second spectral range, and a beam combiner for combing the first and second laser beams to form a third laser beam having a spectral range of the first and second lasers. The illumination probe includes a fiber optic cable for delivering at least a portion of the first light beam to a surgical site. The fiber optic cable includes a fiber optic core having a diameter of 100 microns or less.

Abstract: Disclosed is an exemplary illumination device for enhancing the brightness and chromaticity of an illuminator employing light emitting diodes (LED). The illumination device may include a first light source configured to emit light at a first wavelength range. A first dichroic optical element associated with the first light source may be configured to optically block less than the entire wavelength range of the light emitted from the first light source. The illumination device may also include a second light source configured to emit light at second wavelength range substantially corresponding to the wavelength range optically blocked by the first dichroic optical element.

Abstract: A structured illumination probe is disclosed, one embodiment comprising: an optical fiber, to receive and transmit a light beam; a handpiece, coupled to the optical fiber; an optical element, comprising a distal optical fiber and a distal light guide, wherein the proximal ends of the distal optical fiber and the distal light guide can be selectably optically coupled to the optical fiber, for receiving the light beam and scattering the light beam to illuminate an area, and wherein the surface area of the proximal end of the distal light guide is greater than the surface area of the distal end of the optical fiber; an actuator, coupled to the handpiece, for selectably coupling the optical fiber to the distal optical fiber and the distal light guide; and a cannula, coupled to the handpiece, for housing and directing the optical fiber and the optical element.

Abstract: A structured illumination surgical system is disclosed, one embodiment comprising: a light source for providing a light beam; an optical cable, comprising an optical fiber, optically coupled to the light source for receiving and transmitting the light beam; a handpiece, operably coupled to the optical cable; an optical element, a proximal end of the optical element optically coupled to a distal end of the optical fiber, for receiving the light beam and scattering the light beam to illuminate an area (e.g., a surgical site), wherein the surface area of the proximal end of the optical element is greater than the surface area of the distal end of the optical fiber; and a cannula, operably coupled to the handpiece, for housing and directing the optical fiber and the optical element.

Abstract: A fiber optic illuminator is provided comprising an optics bed, a light source, a collimating lens, and a condensing lens. The light source is mounted in a fixed position with respect to the optics bed. The collimating lens is mounted in a fixed position with respect to the optics bed and collimates at least a portion of the light from the light source. A condensing lens receives the substantially collimated light output and focuses the collimated light output to optically couple to an optical fiber. The condensing lens may be mounted on an adjustable mount. The tolerances of the fixed optical elements i.e. light source and collimating lens allow the fixed optical elements to be positioned with a minimal amount of variation where the variation is determined by manufacturing tolerances associated with these individual elements and their mounts and couple them to the optics bed.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, determining an endoilluminator output includes calculating an illuminator contribution of an endoilluminator system and a fiber contribution of one or more optical fibers of the endoilluminator system. The endoilluminator output is determined from the illuminator contribution and the fiber contribution. The illuminator contribution may be established using calibrated or empirically determined factors, such as an illuminator leg efficiency, an attenuator factor, an initial lamp performance, and/or a lamp performance degradation factor of the lamp. The fiber contribution may be established using calibrated or empirically determined factors, such as a fiber coupling factor and/or fiber transmission ratio of the optical fibers.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of an endoilluminator may include a cannula, an intermediate material, and an optical fiber. The cannula has a substantially cylindrical shape that defines an interior region and has a cylindrical axis. The intermediate material is disposed within the interior region. The optical fiber is disposed within the intermediate material and has a fiber optical axis and a distal end configured to emit light. The emitted light has an illumination pattern with an illumination axis that is not parallel to the cylindrical axis.

Abstract: Certain embodiments may include a laser system configured to emit collimated laser light, a beam diverging element configured to diverge the laser light to yield a range of propagation angles with a maximum angle greater than zero, and fiber coupling optics configured to direct the diverged laser light towards a spot of a cross-section of a fiber core of an optical fiber. As another example, certain embodiments may include a laser system configured to emit collimated laser light, a beam shaping element configured to shape the laser light into a beam with an elliptical cross-section, and fiber coupling optics configured to direct the diverged laser light towards a spot of a cross-section of a fiber core of an optical fiber, where the spot's center point is located at a distance from the cross-section's center point.

Abstract: An ophthalmic endoilluminator is provided. The ophthalmic endoilluminator includes one or more white light emitting diodes (LEDs), an additional light source, a first optical assembly, an optical coupling element, and an optical fiber optically coupled to the optical coupling element. The white LED is capped with a phosphor layer. The additional light source illuminates at least a portion of an exterior surface of the phosphor layer within an absorption band of phosphor material of the phosphor layer in order to excite the phosphor layer and produce additional white light. The first optical assembly receives and substantially collimates the white light. The optical coupling element receives the substantially collimated white light from the first optical assembly and directs the light to an optical fiber. The optical fiber is then used to conduct the white light into an eye.

Abstract: Disclosed is an exemplary surgical illumination system that includes a first laser configured to emit a first light beam having a first spectral range, and an illumination probe optically connectable to the first laser. The first laser may be configured as a supercontinuum laser. The surgical illumination system may include a second laser configured to emit a second light beam having a second spectral range, and a beam combiner for combing the first and second laser beams to form a third laser beam having a spectral range of the first and second lasers. The illumination probe includes a fiber optic cable for delivering at least a portion of the first light beam to a surgical site. The fiber optic cable includes a fiber optic core having a diameter of 100 microns or less.

Abstract: Disclosed is an exemplary illumination device for enhancing the brightness and chromaticity of an illuminator employing light emitting diodes (LED). The illumination device may include a first light source configured to emit light at a first wavelength range. A first dichroic optical element associated with the first light source may be configured to optically block less than the entire wavelength range of the light emitted from the first light source. The illumination device may also include a second light source configured to emit light at second wavelength range substantially corresponding to the wavelength range optically blocked by the first dichroic optical element.

Abstract: A structured illumination probe is disclosed, one embodiment comprising: an optical fiber, to receive and transmit a light beam; a handpiece, coupled to the optical fiber; an optical element, comprising a distal optical fiber and a distal light guide, wherein the proximal ends of the distal optical fiber and the distal light guide can be selectably optically coupled to the optical fiber, for receiving the light beam and scattering the light beam to illuminate an area, and wherein the surface area of the proximal end of the distal light guide is greater than the surface area of the distal end of the optical fiber; an actuator, coupled to the handpiece, for selectably coupling the optical fiber to the distal optical fiber and the distal light guide; and a cannula, coupled to the handpiece, for housing and directing the optical fiber and the optical element.

Abstract: A structured illumination surgical system is disclosed, one embodiment comprising: a light source for providing a light beam; an optical cable, comprising an optical fiber, optically coupled to the light source for receiving and transmitting the light beam; a handpiece, operably coupled to the optical cable; an optical element, a proximal end of the optical element optically coupled to a distal end of the optical fiber, for receiving the light beam and scattering the light beam to illuminate an area (e.g., a surgical site), wherein the surface area of the proximal end of the optical element is greater than the surface area of the distal end of the optical fiber; and a cannula, operably coupled to the handpiece, for housing and directing the optical fiber and the optical element.

Abstract: A fiber optic illuminator is provided comprising an optics bed, a light source, a collimating lens, and a condensing lens. The light source is mounted in a fixed position with respect to the optics bed. The collimating lens is mounted in a fixed position with respect to the optics bed and collimates at least a portion of the light from the light source. A condensing lens receives the substantially collimated light output and focuses the collimated light output to optically couple to an optical fiber. The condensing lens may be mounted on an adjustable mount. The tolerances of the fixed optical elements i.e. light source and collimating lens allow the fixed optical elements to be positioned with a minimal amount of variation where the variation is determined by manufacturing tolerances associated with these individual elements and their mounts and couple them to the optics bed.

Abstract: An ophthalmic endoilluminator is provided. The ophthalmic endoilluminator includes one or more white light emitting diodes (LEDs), an additional light source, a first optical assembly, an optical coupling element, and an optical fiber optically coupled to the optical coupling element. The white LED is capped with a phosphor layer. The additional light source illuminates at least a portion of an exterior surface of the phosphor layer within an absorption band of phosphor material of the phosphor layer in order to excite the phosphor layer and produce additional white light. The first optical assembly receives and substantially collimates the white light. The optical coupling element receives the substantially collimated white light from the first optical assembly and directs the light to an optical fiber. The optical fiber is then used to conduct the white light into an eye.