HK1248501B - An illumination device - Google Patents

Description

lighting fixtures

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to lighting devices. More particularly, aspects of the present disclosure relate to lighting devices used in the surgical field, particularly for illuminating a patient's/subject's/human body cavity in a surgical space during surgery.

Background Art

Surgical procedures such as physical examinations and operations on patients/subjects/humans often require auxiliary lighting or light to improve the visual observation of the surgeon/clinician/doctor/user, thereby mitigating the risk of complications or even accidents during the surgical procedure.

Currently, operating rooms are equipped with different types of devices for providing auxiliary lighting when performing surgical procedures. One example is an overhead surgical light device. However, overhead surgical light devices are not able to provide illumination or light at the desired intensity and position because the illumination may be blocked by another object, or it may be difficult to position the lighting element or light source so as to direct the illumination too deep into the body cavity. Especially for surgical procedures on patients or subjects with deep and narrow body cavities, the surgical access area is narrow, and there is a strong need to improve the lighting in the body cavity. If the body cavity is tilted at a certain angle relative to the horizontal, that is, the body cavity is tilted, the light from the overhead surgical light device will not be able to penetrate into the deeper areas of the tilted body cavity. Surgeons using overhead surgical light devices often have difficulty obtaining proper visual observation of the surgical space and the body cavity therein.

Various devices exist that are more portable and can be used to improve or enhance body cavity illumination. One common device is a head-mounted lighting device, also known as a surgeon's headlight or headlamp. The headlight is mounted on the surgeon's head as a separate device or attached to another device mounted on the surgeon's head. However, the headlight often moves when the surgeon moves his head. Therefore, if the surgeon looks up or speaks to another surgical team member for any other reason, the correct or desired viewing position may not always be adequately illuminated for the other surgical team member. Furthermore, headlights often have a very focused and narrow illumination, which allows the surgeon to clearly view a single area of the patient's body cavity. However, if the surgeon looks away from the focused area of surrounding body tissue (i.e., by moving their eyes rather than moving their head), the illuminated area does not change, making it difficult for the surgeon to adjust their eyes to the surrounding body cavity. This can ultimately make it challenging for the surgeon to identify important anatomical structures. Headlights can also require heavy and cumbersome battery packs. The design and method of use of headlights are often not ergonomic, making them cumbersome to use. Headlights may require the surgeon to tilt their head awkwardly to better aim the light at the surgical site. Using a headlamp for extended periods of time can cause discomfort or strain in the neck and shoulder areas.

Some lighting devices can be attached to surgical instruments to provide auxiliary lighting at the surgical site where the surgical instrument is operating. An example of a surgical instrument is a retractor used to separate the edges of a surgical incision or wound (for example, to expand a body cavity). These attachable lighting devices often cannot effectively illuminate the area where the surgeon needs visual observation because the surgical instrument may not be placed or pointed where the light is needed. For example, a retractor is used to retract tissue to allow the surgeon to have a wider operating space, which means that the retractor is located at the edge of the operating space and can therefore only illuminate the area near the edge of the operating space. These lighting devices that can be attached to the retractor cannot provide correct focus and sufficient lighting in the body cavity because the lighting device is not always facing where the light is needed.

Examples of lighting devices or light devices that can be attached to surgical instruments are disclosed in U.S. patent publication US 2008/0266840. In particular, US 2008/0266840 discloses a surgical lighting device (10) that can be attached to a retractor (70). Some of the above-mentioned problems with attachable lighting devices are also addressed here. For example, the lighting direction of the surgical lighting device (10) is limited to the direction in which the retractor (70) is pointed. Once the retractor (70) is inserted into the body cavity, the lighting direction tends to be downward at the peripheral surface of the body cavity. This only allows the lower area of the body cavity to be illuminated, thereby failing to evenly illuminate the entire body cavity.

Therefore, in order to solve or alleviate at least one of the above problems and/or disadvantages, it is necessary to provide an illumination device for illuminating a body cavity, wherein there are at least one or some improved features compared with the prior art.

Summary of the Invention

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a lighting device for illuminating a body cavity in a surgical space during a surgical procedure is provided. The lighting device comprises: a flexible, elongated member comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion; a lighting module disposed at the distal portion of the flexible, elongated member, the lighting module comprising a set of lighting elements for emitting light; and a control module disposed at the proximal portion of the flexible, elongated member, the control module comprising a set of user input elements for controlling the set of lighting elements of the lighting module, wherein the lighting module is movable with the flexible, elongated member to an illumination position in the surgical space such that light from the set of lighting elements is emitted into the body cavity for illumination thereof; and wherein the flexible, elongated member is configurable to maintain the lighting module in the illumination position in the surgical space when the control module is disposed on a fixed structure.

An advantage of the present disclosure is that the lighting device can be used to provide auxiliary or additional lighting to a body cavity to improve visual observation. The lighting module can be located within or near the body cavity to enhance the lighting effect therein. The proximity of the lighting module to the body cavity provides more uniform and consistent lighting for the body cavity. In particular, for deep and narrow body cavities, the lighting device can provide better illumination in the deeper areas of the body cavity. Furthermore, as disclosed in the prior art, the lighting module can be stably maintained in the desired lighting position by a flexible, slender member without being attached to a surgical instrument. This advantageously allows the lighting device to be used independently without relying on external devices.

Thus, the above discloses an illumination device for illuminating a body cavity according to the present disclosure. Various features, aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, which are provided by way of non-limiting examples only, and the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG1 is a diagram of a lighting device for illuminating a body cavity, according to a representative embodiment of the present disclosure.

2A is a front view of a person with the lighting device of FIG. 1 , according to a representative embodiment of the present disclosure.

2B is a side view of a person with the lighting device of FIG. 1 , according to a representative embodiment of the present disclosure.

3A is a diagram of a lighting module of the lighting device of FIG. 1 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3B is a diagram of a lighting module of the lighting device of FIG. 1 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

4A is a cross-sectional view of a body cavity into which the lighting module of FIG. 3A is inserted, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

4B is a cross-sectional view of a body cavity into which the lighting module of FIG. 3B is inserted, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

5 is a diagram of a control module of the lighting device of FIG. 1 , according to a representative embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In this disclosure, descriptions of a given element in a particular figure or consideration or use of a particular element number or descriptive material corresponding thereto may include the same, or equivalent or similar elements or element numbers in another figure or descriptive material associated therewith. The use of "/" in a figure or associated text is to be understood as meaning "and/or" unless otherwise indicated. Recitations of specific values or value ranges herein are to be understood as including or as enumerations of approximate values or value ranges. With respect to statements herein involving size or value comparisons or equivalences, statements using the terms "generally," "approximately," or "substantially" are to be understood as falling within +/-20%, +/-15%, +/-10%, +/-5%, or +/-0% of a representative/exemplary comparison, or a specified value or target value or value range.

As used herein, the term "set" corresponds to or is defined, according to known mathematical definitions, as a non-empty finite organization of elements that mathematically exhibits a cardinality of at least 1 (i.e., a set as defined herein may correspond to a unit, a single or individual set of elements, or a plurality of sets of elements). In general, an element of a set may include or be a system, device, equipment, structure, object, process, physical parameter, or value depending on the type of set under consideration.

For the sake of brevity and clarity, the description of embodiments of the present disclosure relates to an illumination device for illuminating a body cavity in a surgical space during a surgical procedure, with reference to the accompanying drawings in Figures 1-5. For the sake of clarity and conciseness, the drawings may not be shown to scale, and certain components may be shown in broad or schematic form and identified by commercial nomenclature. Although various aspects of the present disclosure will be described in conjunction with the embodiments provided herein, it should be understood that they are not intended to limit the present disclosure to these embodiments. On the contrary, the present disclosure is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents of the embodiments described herein, which are included within the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims. In addition, in the following detailed description, specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. However, a person of ordinary skill in the art, i.e., a skilled person, will recognize that the present disclosure can be implemented without the specific details and/or with multiple details resulting from the combination of aspects of a particular embodiment. In many cases, well-known systems, methods, procedures, and components are not described in detail without obscuring the various aspects of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

In a representative or exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a lighting device 10 is described below for illuminating a body cavity (not shown) in a surgical space during a surgical procedure. Although the embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a body cavity for surgical procedures, a person skilled in the art will readily understand that the lighting device 10 can be used to illuminate cavities/holes/apertures in non-surgical or non-medical environments.

1 , the lighting device 10 includes a flexible, elongated member 20, a lighting module 100, and a control module 200. In some embodiments, the flexible, elongated member 20 is a selectively deformable, shape-retaining elongated structure having an extended length, such as a tubular structure, member, cylinder, or the like. The elongated structure can be selectively deformed by a user and retains its deformed shape even after the user releases it. In other embodiments, the flexible, elongated member 20 can be a flexible cable 20, a tube, or any other flexible hollow/tubular member having an extended length well known to those skilled in the art, wherein, for example, the flexible cable 20 can be retractably adjusted so that it can maintain or hold its bent/deformed shape. The flexible cable 20 includes a proximal portion 20a and a distal portion 20b at opposite ends thereof. The lighting module 100 is disposed at the distal portion 20b, and the control module 200 is disposed at the proximal portion 20a.

The lighting module 100 includes a set of lighting elements 102 for emitting light. The lighting module 100 can be moved to a lighting position in a surgical space via a flexible cable 20. The term "surgical space" as used herein can refer to a spatial region in which a patient/subject's body cavity resides or is located, or other spatial regions within such a body cavity, such that the patient/surgeon or clinician can use the lighting device 10 to provide optimal and/or enhanced lighting to or within the body cavity. The term "body cavity" as used herein refers to an opening or orifice in the body of a patient/subject, which can be natural, for example, a mouth, or a surgical incision made by surgery or operation.

2A and 2B illustrate examples of how the illumination device 10 may be used to illuminate a patient 12 or a body cavity 14 of the patient's body, which show front/frontal and lateral/side views, respectively, of the patient 12. The illumination device 10, and in particular the control module 200, is positioned or resting on a fixed structure (e.g., a drape placed over the patient 12 or an operating table on which the patient 12 rests), and the illumination module 100 is inserted into the body cavity 14 of the patient's body 12.

When the lighting module 100 is attached to the flexible cable 20, flexing or bending the flexible cable 20 can move the lighting module 100 to a desired position. The lighting position can be located outside the body cavity 14, for example, above the body cavity 14, so that light from the set of lighting elements 102 is emitted into the body cavity 14 for illumination thereof. The lighting position can alternatively be located within the body cavity 14, so that the lighting module 100 can be positioned in any suitable manner within the interior of the body cavity 14 for illumination thereof, i.e., the lighting module 100 is adapted to be inserted into or received by the body cavity 14 so as to reside therein for illuminating substantially the entire interior space area of the body cavity 14.

For hygienic purposes, the lighting device 10 can be sterilized and packaged in advance for use during a surgical procedure and disposed of thereafter. Alternatively, the lighting device 10 can be cleaned and reused after each surgical procedure. The lighting module 100 can be sterilized, for example, using gamma radiation before being inserted into the body cavity 14 and moved to the lighting position within the body cavity 14. The flexible cable 20 can be bent so that the lighting module 100 is fixedly set to the desired lighting position within the body cavity 14. For example, the lighting module 100 can be positioned at the desired lighting position by being suspended within the body cavity 14 (as more clearly shown in Figure 2B), whereby the flexible cable 20 can be bent in such a way that the contours of the lighting module 100 and the distal portion 20b of the flexible cable 20 conform to the peripheral contour of the body cavity 14. The peripheral contour of the body cavity 14 refers to the lateral or side surface 16 within the body cavity, which is formed on the surface of the patient's body 12 by a surgical incision or operation. More specifically, the lighting module 100 and the distal end portion 20b are inserted into the body cavity 14 along its depth direction and adjacent to (or nearly in contact with) its side surface 16. In some surgical procedures, the lighting module may also contact the side surface 16 of the body cavity 14.

In some surgical procedures, conventional lighting techniques (e.g., overhead lighting) do not provide adequate illumination for the surgeon. Such surgical procedures include, but are not limited to, procedures in body cavities in the head and neck region (e.g., laryngeal cancer resections), the colon (e.g., bowel cancer resections), obstetrics and gynecology, the spine, and urology. If the surgical site includes a deep, narrow body cavity, the illumination brightness is relatively insufficient. A deep, narrow body cavity generally refers to a body cavity whose length/depth dimension is greater than its diameter/width dimension, similar to a tunnel. Deep, narrow body cavities can be seen in incisions made at an oblique angle or vertically downward into the body. Figure 2B shows a body cavity 14 tilted into the patient's body 12 at an oblique angle. Because the lighting module 100 can be inserted deeper into the body cavity 14 to provide better illumination of the interior area of the body cavity, it is advantageous to use the lighting device 10. Conventional overhead lighting devices or headlights cannot illuminate the deeper areas of the body cavity 14 because the light will not be able to penetrate the body cavity 14, especially for oblique incisions.

One method for illuminating body cavity 14 is by inserting illumination module 100 through an incision in patient's body 12 and into body cavity 14. Illumination device 10 has a small cross-sectional diameter, which facilitates insertion into the incision. In various embodiments, the cross-sectional diameter of illumination module 100 ranges from 1 mm to 20 mm. In a representative embodiment, the cross-sectional diameter of illumination module 100 is preferably 10 mm. The incision in body 12 may be a drainage incision having a normal diameter, for example, but not limited to, approximately 10 mm. Drainage incisions are typically constructed to insert drainage tubes to remove fluids accumulated in body cavity 14 after surgery or procedures. Illumination module 100 has an overall length of approximately 10 cm, but is not limited thereto, and can be inserted or accessed through an incision into body cavity 14. Therefore, the size of illumination module 100 provides a small footprint for use in narrow body cavities. The entire illumination device 10 is also relatively lightweight, weighing approximately 30 to 50 grams, making it convenient to transport for surgical procedures, particularly those involving deep, narrow cavities. In some cases, a portion of the flexible cable 20 , particularly the distal portion 20 b thereof, may also be inserted into the body cavity 14 together with the lighting module 100 , particularly when the body cavity 14 is deep.

The lighting device 10 is configured or configurable to stably maintain its position and reposition during use during a surgical procedure, and to facilitate easy manipulation of the lighting module 100. Specifically, when the control module 200 is mounted on a fixed structure, the flexible cable 20 is configured or configurable to maintain the lighting module in its illuminated position within the surgical space. The control module 200 can be secured within a sterile perioperative area, such as a drape or operating table, to provide a fixed position, allowing the flexible cable 20 to be moved, and the lighting module 100 to be moved relative thereto. The control module 200 can be sterilized before being placed on the drape or operating table. The flexible cable 20 can withstand bends of 20° to 340° without twisting or breaking. In this manner, the flexible cable 20 can be retractably adjusted, allowing it to maintain or retain its bent shape and associated bend angle, thereby maintaining the lighting module 100 in the desired lighting position. As long as the user does not move the lighting device 100, the lighting module 100 will remain in the desired lighting position.

In some alternative embodiments, the lighting device 10 can include an anchoring mechanism for maintaining the lighting module 100 in a desired lighting position. The anchoring mechanism enables the lighting device 10, particularly the distal portion 20b of the flexible cable 20, to be attached or secured to a fixed structure or external body, such as a cover or an operating table. The anchoring of the flexible cable 20 enables the lighting module 100 to be maintained in a fixed position to illuminate the surgical site in which the body cavity 14 is located. The anchoring mechanism can also attach/secure the flexible cable 20 to the surgical site, particularly the area of the patient's body 12 surrounding the body cavity 14. Broadly, the anchoring mechanism can be located at the lighting module 100 or the flexible cable 20 for anchoring the various portions of the lighting device 10 to the external body.

A representative embodiment of lighting module 100 is shown in FIG. 3A , and an alternative embodiment of lighting module 100 is shown in FIG. 3B .

Referring generally to Figures 3A and 3B, each lighting element 102 in the lighting module 100 can be a light-emitting diode (LED) operating in parallel with an LED driver module. Examples of LEDs include, but are not limited to, SSL from OSRAM. Each lighting element 102 emits light at a color temperature ranging from 4000K to 6000K. This translates into the light from the lighting element 102 appearing as white, cool white, or daylight. Using these types of color illumination, a surgeon using the lighting device 10 to illuminate the body cavity 14 can visually observe body tissues in their correct, natural colors. If the color temperature is below 4000K, a warm white or even yellowish tint may appear, affecting the visual observation of the correct and natural colors of human tissues. These tissues can include diseased or non-diseased muscle, fat, fascia, and various organs. Conversely, if the color temperature is above 6000K, a very strong cool white tint may appear, which may be too bright or glaring to the user. The user may not be able to clearly visually observe the color contrast of the body tissues. Thus, within the color temperature range of 4000K to 6000K, illumination from the illumination element 102 facilitates easy and physiologically accurate color rendering of body tissue, thereby assisting the surgeon during surgical procedures.

In various embodiments, each lighting element 102 further emits light having an illuminance range or luminous intensity range of 0 to 6000 lux when the lighting element 102 is placed at a distance of 5 cm to 40 cm from the illuminated surface in the body cavity 14. This illuminance range enables the user to continuously optimize the operation of the lighting device 10, for example, between 0 and 8 hours, which is sufficient to provide auxiliary illumination of the body cavity during certain surgical procedures of the types described above. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the illuminance of each lighting element 102 can be varied, and different types of LEDs with various optical properties can be used depending on user requirements and the environmental conditions in which the lighting device 10 is used.

3A and 3B , the light emitted by each lighting element 102 covers a spatial distribution about a central axis of the lighting element 102. This spatial distribution of light from each lighting element or LED 102 can be in the form of a conical or frusto-conical volume of space that expands from a central axis passing through the center of the lighting element 102. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the spatial distribution or spread of light from each lighting element or LED 102 can have different forms, shapes, and/or sizes depending on the inherent characteristics of the LED 102.

When used together in the illumination module 100, the lighting elements 102 complement each other, enabling the set of lighting elements 102 to collectively emit light over an illumination angle of at least 180°, achieving widespread illumination similar to a floodlight. Thus, the illumination device 10 is capable of providing wide-field illumination (with at least 180° of dispersion) at appropriate illuminance and color temperature, allowing the user to visually observe a wide spatial area within the body cavity 14 with optimal brightness and color rendering during surgery. When the illumination module 100 is positioned at an illumination location within the surgical space and within or near the body cavity 14, the proximity of the lighting elements 102 to the body cavity 14 provides more uniform and consistent illumination, similar to a floodlight effect. Conventional fiber optic light sources have their light source located farther away from the surgical space, and light must travel a longer distance along the light guide before reaching the body cavity, resulting in wasted or lost light as the distance traveled increases. In various embodiments of the present disclosure, the set of lighting elements 102 utilizes LEDs positioned at the distal end portion 20b of the flexible cable 20. This allows the LEDs to be positioned closer to the body cavity, providing better illumination thereof.

Furthermore, the set of lighting elements 102 of the lighting module 100 can be configured to emit light in multiple directions from the distal end portion 20 b of the flexible cable 20. This means that light from the lighting elements 102 is emitted in multiple different directions, so that the set of lighting elements 102 can collectively emit light at an illumination angle of at least 180°. In particular, each lighting element 102 can be configured such that each central axis passing therethrough can be configured to be distinct, different, and non-parallel to at least one other central axis.

In the representative embodiment shown in FIG3A , three lighting elements 102 are positioned longitudinally along the distal portion 20b. Each lighting element 102 can be configured to emit light in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the distal portion 20b. Furthermore, the distal portion 20b is bendable or retractable, adjustable, so that each of the three lighting elements 102 can be oriented in a variety of different directions. This arrangement of lighting elements 102 provides a wide range of combined illumination angles of at least 180°, thereby optimizing the dispersion of light within the body cavity 14. An example of a lighting module 100 inserted into the body cavity 14 is shown in FIG4A . The lighting module 100 is inserted into the body cavity 14 at an angle and adjacent to the outer peripheral surface 16 of the body cavity 14. Illumination from the set of lighting elements 102 is directed inward and deeper into the body cavity. Consequently, the combined illumination or light emitted by the set of lighting elements 102 is used more efficiently, and the interior area of the body cavity can be better illuminated. Furthermore, by providing widespread illumination at a combined illumination angle of at least 180°, the lighting module 100 can provide wide-beam illumination similar to a floodlight or achieve the visual effect of floodlighting.

In an alternative embodiment shown in Figure 3B, at least two lighting elements 102 are positioned at the end of the distal portion 20b of the flexible cable 20. Each lighting element 102 points in a different direction. The central axis of each lighting element 102 is distinct, different and non-parallel to each other. Specifically, each lighting element 102 can be configured to emit light in a direction that is angled away from the longitudinal axis of the distal portion 20b. This enables the illumination of the group of lighting elements 102 to be collectively dispersed over a wider area, thereby achieving a combined illumination angle of at least 180°. An example of a lighting module 100 that is inserted obliquely into a body cavity 14 is shown in Figure 4B. By dispersing the illumination over a wide angle of at least 180°, the lighting module 100 can provide wide beam illumination similar to a floodlight or achieve the visual effect of floodlighting.

In various embodiments of the present disclosure, the lighting module 100 includes a housing or shell 104 for thermally and electrically insulating the set of lighting elements 102. The lighting elements 102 require electricity to operate and may generate heat during operation. The shell 104 provides at least one layer of thermal and electrical insulation for the set of lighting elements 102, allowing a user to safely position and use the lighting module 100 in a surgical space to illuminate a body cavity. The material of the shell 104 has thermal insulation properties that can control the heating effects of the lighting elements 102 and keep such heating effects below a temperature threshold that may cause damage to body tissue. In particular, the shell 104 minimizes the heating effects at potential contact points with body tissue so that the temperature at these contact points is no higher than 40°C, allowing the lighting device 10 to be used safely and effectively without harming body tissue.

The housing 104 is made of a material that can be safely used in the body cavity 14 or any suitable cavity within the patient's body 12 or at an external location of the body 12 during surgery. For example, the housing 104 can be made of a biocompatible material or biomaterial that is designed to interact with biological systems for medical purposes. Non-limiting examples of such biomaterials include polycarbonate, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), polylactic acid (PLA), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), silicone, medical grade titanium, medical grade surgical stainless steel, and epoxy resin. The use of biocompatible materials allows the lighting module 100 inserted into the body cavity 14 to not produce chemical and/or biological reactions with body tissues that may result in undesirable clinical effects, deterioration, or injury. When the lighting module 100 is inserted into the body cavity 14 during surgery, the housing 104 can substantially prevent fluid from entering the lighting module 100 for the duration of the surgery (e.g., 0 to 8 hours).

The housing 104 can be manufactured by, but is not limited to, injection molding, compression molding, or room temperature curing. The profile of the housing 104 is such that the housing 104 has rounded/rounded surfaces and edges to prevent mechanical trauma to body tissue. The design, material, size, and/or shape of the housing 104 can vary depending on the requirements of use. For example, the interior space within the housing 104 for accommodating the group of lighting elements 102 can be a vacuum, or alternatively filled with a fluid, such as air. The presence of the fluid within the housing 104 helps to dissipate heat from the lighting elements 102 by convective heat transfer or convection. In addition, the lighting elements 102 can be securely encapsulated within the housing 104.

The housing 104 includes an optically transmissive portion 104a and an optically enclosed portion 104b. The optically transmissive portion 104a is disposed at the front of the lighting module 100 so that light from the set of lighting elements 102 is emitted therethrough. The optically transmissive portion 104a is removably attached or capable of being attached to the distal portion 20b of the flexible cable. For example, the optically transmissive portion 104a can be coupled or secured to the distal portion 20b using temporary means known to those skilled in the art, such as a clip or latch. The optically transmissive portion 104a can be removed to repair or replace the lighting elements 102. Alternatively, the optically transmissive portion 104a can be permanently attached to the distal portion 20b, for example, using an adhesive. Furthermore, the optically transmissive portion 104a can include a set of lenses or optical elements for modifying the light transmitted from the set of lighting elements to the user's eyes. The set of lenses or optical elements can also be configured to provide uniform and consistent illumination from the lighting elements 102 to the user's eyes. The optically closed portion 104b is provided at the rear of the illumination module 100 to shield the user's eyes from direct illumination or light from the illumination element 102. The optically transmissive portion 104a thus protects the user's eyes from excessive glare and enables the user to more clearly visually observe the body cavity 14 and the surgical site.

The lighting module 100 also includes a heat sink 106 housed within the housing 104. The heat sink 106 is made of a heat dissipating material, such as copper, aluminum, or brass. As will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, the heat sink 106 will have a suitable volume and shape based on the thermal conductivity of the heat dissipating material. The heat sink 106 is thermally connected to a set of lighting elements 102 for removing heat therefrom, thereby reducing the temperature at the lighting elements 102 to no more than 40°C. In particular, the heat sink 106 helps to dissipate heat from the lighting elements 102 so that the temperature at the contact point between the housing 104 and the body tissue is no higher than 40°C. The heat sink 106 can utilize an appropriate design that increases the length of the thermal conduction path between the heat-generating lighting elements 102 and the housing 104, thereby improving the heat dissipation efficiency.

In the example shown in FIG3A , three lighting elements 102 are arranged in a straight line and thermally connected to a heat sink 106. Alternatively, the three lighting elements 102 can be soldered to a flexible, elongated printed circuit board (PCB) that also serves as the heat sink 106. The PCB or heat sink 106, along with the flexible cable 20, can be retractably bent into a desired shape and angle, enabling, for example, a wider lighting angle for the lighting module 100. In another embodiment, as shown in FIG3B , two lighting elements 102 are thermally connected to the heat sink 106. Alternatively, the two lighting elements 102 can be soldered to a rigid printed circuit board (PCB) that also serves as the heat sink 106. The two lighting elements 102 are mounted with an angle between them, allowing the light from the two lighting elements 102 to be dispersed collectively over a wider area. Because the PCB or heat sink 106 is structurally rigid, the angle between the two lighting elements 102 is fixed, but the spacing between the two lighting elements 102 already provides the lighting module 100 with a wide lighting angle.

In various embodiments of the present disclosure, the lighting module 100 is disposed at the distal portion 20b of the flexible cable 20 or is integrally connected to the distal portion 20b of the flexible cable 20, and the control module 200 is disposed at the proximal portion 20a of the flexible cable or is integrally connected thereto. The interconnection between the lighting module 100 and the flexible cable 20, as well as the interconnection between the control module 200 and the flexible cable 20, can be sealed airtight or non-airtightly from the external environment by, but not limited to, ultrasonic welding or feedthrough. This enables the complete lighting device 10 to be sterilized for safe use during surgery. The lighting device 10 can be disposed of after use, or washed and reused for the next surgical procedure.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the lighting module 100 and the control module 200 may be attached or attachable to the distal portion 20b and the proximal portion 20a, respectively. The lighting device 10 may include a proximal connector 22a between the control module 200 and the flexible cable 20, and a distal connector 22b between the lighting module 100 and the flexible cable 20. The control module 200 and/or the lighting module 100 may be attached to and detached from the flexible cable 20 via the proximal connector 22a and the distal connector 22b, respectively. This allows the lighting device 10 to be modular in design and facilitates repair and replacement of individual modules, such as the lighting module 100 and the control module 200. The proximal connector 22a and the distal connector 22b may be airtight or non-airtight.

Depending on the intended use, the flexible cable 20 can have different lengths. For example, if the surgical procedure is performed in an operating room and the patient 12 is lying on an operating table, the flexible cable 20 can have a length of, for example, 30 cm to 50 cm, which at least allows the lighting module 100 to reach the patient's body 12 when the control module 200 is set as a fixed structure on the cover or operating table. The flexible cable 20 can have similar dimensions to the lighting module 100 so that the distal portion 20b can be inserted into the body cavity 14. In particular, the flexible cable 20 can have an outer diameter from 1 mm to 20 mm. In a representative embodiment, the outer diameter of the flexible cable 20 is preferably 10 mm. For hygienic reasons, the flexible cable 20 can be sterilized before use or before insertion into the body cavity 14. The flexible cable 20 is retractably adjustable to enable the lighting module 100 to be easily positioned in the desired lighting position and can withstand sharp bending angles without kinking or breaking. Furthermore, since the lighting module 100 is located at the distal end portion 20 b , the flexible cable 20 may be bent repeatedly or at a sharp angle without causing a reduction in illumination or luminous intensity.

The flexible cable 20 can be made of one or more connected or non-connected portions of structural material, such as metal wires or interlocking elements/couplers, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. Some portions of the flexible cable 20 can be stiffer than others to facilitate conforming to body anatomy, for example. The distal portion 20 b can be stiffer than other portions of the flexible cable 20 because the distal portion 20 b is positioned adjacent to the body cavity 14 in which the lighting module 100 is to be used.

The flexible cable 20 includes at least one structural member that provides structural support to the lighting module 100 as it is moved to a lighting position within the surgical space. The structural member can be made of a material such as, but not limited to, aluminum, copper, or brass. When the control module 200 is positioned on a fixed structure, the structural support provided by the flexible cable 20 maintains the lighting module 100 in the lighting position. The flexible cable 20 enables the lighting module 100 to be stably maintained in the desired lighting position and provides for easy repositioning during any stage of the surgical procedure.

The flexible cable 20 also accommodates the electrical connections between the lighting module 100 and the control module 200. The control module 200 can be configured to turn the group of lighting elements 102 on and off, and to adjust the illumination of the lighting elements 102 via these electrical connections. Alternatively or additionally, the control module 200 can be used to adjust the color temperature of the lighting elements 102. The electrical connections can be in the form of, but not limited to, wires or flexible printed circuits. The flexible cable 20 also includes an insulating layer for electrically insulating the electrical connections. Therefore, the flexible cable 20 has a tubular profile, i.e., a hollow portion 24 as shown in FIG3B , for accommodating the electrical connections. The flexible cable 20 can be purchased or obtained from commonly available sources, stores, or suppliers (i.e., off-the-shelf), or can be manufactured by, but not limited to, injection molding, compression molding, or room temperature curing. The hollow portion 24 also accommodates structural components, and the insulating layer or outermost layer of the flexible cable 20 covers the structural components. The insulating layer can be made of a biocompatible material, for example, silicone or polycarbonate (PC).

The flexible cable 20 may also include a heat transfer cable therein and be insulated by an insulating layer. The heat transfer cable is housed within the hollow portion 24 and thermally connected to the heat sink 106 to conduct heat away. The increased combined length of the heat sink 106 and the heat transfer cable improves the efficiency of heat dissipation from the lighting element 102, thereby increasing the combined thermal conductivity. The heat transfer cable may be housed within the flexible cable 20 along with the electrical connections and structural components and protected by the outer insulating layer.

As shown in FIG5 , in various embodiments of the present disclosure, a control module 200 includes a set of user input elements 202 for controlling the lighting element array 102 of the lighting module 100. Specifically, the set of user input elements 202 can be configured to turn the lighting elements 102 on and off, as well as to adjust the illumination and/or color temperature of the lighting elements 102. The control module 200 includes a housing or casing 204 for a power source and electronics for powering and controlling the lighting elements 102 via electrical connections in the flexible cable 20. Alternatively, the lighting module 100 can include one or more power sources, such as rechargeable or disposable batteries, or inductive power circuits for powering the lighting elements 102 from within the lighting module 100. As will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, these batteries can have a suitable capacity, continuous discharge current, and size, and can include, but are not limited to, cylindrical lithium batteries. The electronics in the control module 200 enable a user to select a desired illumination or luminous intensity output of the lighting elements 102 when the lighting elements 102 are positioned a distance from the surface being illuminated. Examples of such electronic components or electronic components in the control module 200 include, but are not limited to, an adapter for converting alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) and appropriately rectifying the entire circuit, a resistor or device with pulse width modulation (PWM), and one or more devices that control the amount of current supplied to the lighting element 102.

The profile of the housing 204 of the control module 200 is as small and flat as possible, so that it has a small footprint. Therefore, the control module 200 can be portable and does not take up a lot of space, for example, when placed in the sterile area of a surgical procedure. The flatness of the housing 204 allows the control module 200 to be stably placed on the operating table. The profile of the housing 204 gives the housing 204 a rounded/rounded surface and edge, which allows the user to safely hold and position the control module 200. The housing 204 can be manufactured by, but is not limited to, injection molding, compression molding, or room temperature curing. The control module 200 also allows the user to attach it anywhere in the perioperative sterile area to provide a fixed position for the flexible cable 20 and the lighting module 100. The control module 200 can be attached by certain control module attachment devices or mechanisms (not shown) so that the control module 200 can remain in place during a surgical procedure. Some examples include using spring clips, clamps, or straps to secure the control module 200 to a cover or operating table.

The housing 204 protects the internal circuits and electronics of the control module 200 and the user input element group 202 from being exposed to the external environment. The housing 204 can be made of a biocompatible material, such as silicone or polycarbonate (PC). For example, the housing 204 includes a silicone film/sheet 206 for covering the user input element 202 to prevent the internal circuit components from being exposed to the external environment. The flexible properties of the silicone film/sheet 206 allow the user to activate the user input element 202 from below without damaging or compromising the integrity of the housing 204. The silicone film/sheet 206 can be fused to the housing 204 by (but not limited to) ultrasonic welding so that the user input element 202 can be sealed airtight or non-airtightly from the external environment.

The set of user input elements 202 for controlling the lighting element 102 may include, but are not limited to, membrane switches, magnetic switches, latching switches, buttons/pads, actuators, and other standard user input elements known to those skilled in the art as industry standards. As shown in FIG5 , in some embodiments, the set of user input elements 202 includes a first switch for turning the lighting element 102 on and off, a second switch for adjusting the illumination or luminous intensity of the lighting element 102, and a third switch for adjusting the color temperature of the lighting element 102. The user input elements 202 may be hermetically or non-hermetically sealed within the housing 204 to maintain the integrity of the control module 200 and the entire lighting device 10 during sterilization and throughout its service life.

In the preceding detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings to describe embodiments of the present disclosure relating to an illumination device for illuminating a surgical space body cavity during a surgical procedure. Although various embodiments are described with respect to a body cavity for surgical purposes, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the illumination device can be used to illuminate cavities/holes/apertures in non-surgical or non-medical settings.

The description of the various embodiments herein is not intended to declare or be limited to specific or particular representations of the present disclosure, but is merely to illustrate non-limiting examples of the present disclosure. The present disclosure is intended to address at least some of the problems and issues mentioned associated with the prior art. Although only some embodiments of the present disclosure are disclosed herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this disclosure that various changes and/or modifications may be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. The scope of the present disclosure and the scope of the appended claims are not limited to the embodiments described herein.

Claims (15)

1. An illumination device (10) for illuminating a body cavity (14) in a surgical space during a surgical procedure, the illumination device (10) comprising: A flexible elongated member (20) comprising a proximal portion (20a) and a distal portion (20b); An illumination module (100) disposed at the distal portion (20b) of the flexible elongated member, the illumination module (100) comprising a set of illumination elements (102) for emitting light; and A control module (200) is disposed at the proximal portion (20a) of the flexible elongated member (20), the control module (200) including a set of user input elements (202) for controlling the set of lighting elements (102) of the lighting module (100). The lighting module (100) is movable together with the flexible elongated member (20) to a lighting position in the surgical space, such that light from the set of lighting elements (102) is emitted into the body cavity (14) for its illumination; in: (a) The flexible elongated member (20) is made of a material suitable for allowing the flexible elongated member (20) and the lighting module (100) disposed therein to withstand bending angles of up to 340° without twisting or breaking, and when the control module (200) is disposed on a fixed structure, it holds the lighting module (100) in the lighting position in the surgical space, and the flexible elongated member (20) can be adjusted so that each lighting element faces a different direction to improve visual effect; (b) Each lighting element (102) emits light at a color temperature ranging from 4000K to 6000K; and (c) The lighting device (10) is not attached to surgical instruments. 2. The lighting device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the set of lighting elements (102) is configured to emit light from the distal portion (20b) of the flexible elongated member (20) in multiple directions and to emit light together at an illumination angle of at least 180°. 3. The lighting device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the set of lighting elements (102) comprises at least two lighting elements (102) longitudinally positioned along the distal portion (20b) of the flexible elongated member (20). 4. The lighting device (10) according to claim 3, wherein the distal portion (20b) of the flexible elongated member (20) is bendable for constructing the at least two lighting elements (102) to emit light together at an illumination angle of at least 180°. 5. The lighting device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the set of lighting elements (102) comprises at least two lighting elements (102) located at the end of the distal portion (20b) of the flexible elongated member (20). 6. The lighting device (10) according to claim 5, wherein each of the at least two lighting elements (102) points in a different direction, such that light from the at least two lighting elements (102) can be emitted together at an illumination angle of at least 180°. 7. The lighting device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the flexible elongated member (20) is flexible to conform to the outer contour of the body cavity (14) to hold the lighting module (100) in the lighting position within the body cavity (14). 8. The lighting device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lighting module (100) includes a housing (104) for thermally and electrically insulating the set of lighting elements (102). 9. The lighting device (10) according to claim 8, wherein the housing (104) includes an optical transmission portion (104a) for altering the transmission of light from the set of lighting elements (102) to the user's eye, and/or an optical closure portion (104b) for shielding the user's eye from the light emitted by the set of lighting elements (102). 10. The lighting device (10) according to claim 9, wherein the optical transmission portion (104b) can be detachably attached to the distal portion (20b) of the flexible elongated member (20). 11. The lighting device (10) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the optical transmission portion (104b) comprises a set of lenses. 12. The lighting device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lighting module (100) includes a heat sink (106) thermally connected to the set of lighting elements for removing heat therefrom. 13. The lighting device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: The proximal connector (22a) between the control module (200) and the flexible elongated member (20); and The distal connector (22b) between the lighting module (100) and the flexible elongated member (20). 14. The lighting device according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the control module (200) and the lighting module (100) is detachably attached to the flexible elongated member (20) via the proximal connector (22a) and the distal connector (22b), respectively. 15. The lighting device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the set of user input elements (202) is configurable for adjusting the illuminance of the set of lighting elements (102).