Illuminated cannula

Abstract

Illumination of a cannula is disclosed herein. A cannula may include a cannula hub at a proximal end of the cannula. The cannula hub is operable to emit visible light. The cannula may further include a tube portion that extends from the cannula hub towards a distal end of the cannula. A surgical system may include a surgical console, a microscope communicatively coupled to the surgical console, and a cannula. The cannula may include a cannula hub at the proximal end of the cannula, and a tube portion that extends from the cannula hub towards a distal end of the cannula. The cannula hub is operable to emit visible light.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An illuminated cannula system comprising:
 a cannula comprising:
 a cannula hub disposed at a proximal end of the cannula and operable to emit visible light; and 
 a tube portion extending from the cannula hub towards a distal end of the cannula. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cannula further comprises a lumen extending along a longitudinal axis of the cannula, and wherein the system further comprising a trocar comprising:
 a shaft portion; and   a blade portion,   wherein the trocar is configured to be receivable into the lumen such that the blade portion of the trocar extends distally from the tube portion of the cannula.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cannula hub comprises at least one luminescent material selected from the group consisting of a fluorescent material, a phosphorescent material, a chemiluminescent material, and a radioluminescent material. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one luminescent material is disposed in the cannula hub, and wherein the cannula hub comprises a material that is transparent or translucent. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one luminescent material is disposed in a coating that is disposed on the cannula hub. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cannula hub comprises a container, the container comprising a radioluminescent material and a fluorescent material, wherein the radioluminescent material is operable to release electrons that interact with the fluorescent material to generate the visible light. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cannula hub comprises a luminescent container disposed at the proximal end of the cannula, wherein the luminescent container comprises a first reactant and a second reactant, wherein the second reactant is disposed in an interior container disposed within the luminescent container, wherein the interior container separates the second reactant from the first reactant, and wherein the first reactant and the second reactant are operable to react to emit the visible light when the first reactant and the second reactant are combined. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the cannula further comprises a lumen extending along a longitudinal axis of the cannula, wherein the system further comprising a trocar receivable within the lumen,
 wherein the trocar comprises:
 a shaft portion; and 
 a blade portion, 
   wherein the luminescent container extends into the lumen, and   wherein the shaft portion of the trocar comprises a shoulder portion that is engageable with the luminescent container extending into the lumen.   
     
     
         9 . The cannula of  claim 1 , wherein the visible light is provided to the cannula hub through an optical fiber. 
     
     
         10 . A surgical system comprising:
 a surgical console;   a microscope communicatively coupled to the surgical console; and   a cannula operable to emit visible light, the cannula comprising:
 a cannula hub disposed at a proximal end of the cannula; and 
 a tube portion that extends from the cannula hub towards a distal end of the cannula. 
   
     
     
         11 . The surgical system of  claim 10 , wherein the cannula further comprises a lumen comprising a lumen extending along a longitudinal axis of the cannula, the surgical system further comprising a trocar, wherein the trocar comprises:
 a shaft portion; and   a blade portion, and   wherein the trocar extends through the lumen such that the blade portion extends distally from the tube portion.   
     
     
         12 . The surgical system of  claim 10 , wherein the cannula hub comprises at least one luminescent material selected from the group consisting of a fluorescent material, a phosphorescent material, a chemiluminescent material, and a radioluminescent material. 
     
     
         13 . The surgical system of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one luminescent material is disposed in the cannula hub, and wherein the cannula hub comprises a material that is transparent or translucent. 
     
     
         14 . The surgical system of  claim 12 , further comprising a coating disposed on the cannula hub, and wherein the at least one luminescent material is disposed in the coating. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical system of  claim 10 , wherein the cannula further comprises a container disposed in the cannula hub, wherein the container comprises a radioluminescent material and a fluorescent material, wherein the radioluminescent material is operable to release electrons that interact with the fluorescent material to generate the visible light. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical system of  claim 10 , wherein the cannula further comprises:
 a luminescent container disposed in the cannula hub; and   an interior container disposed within the luminescent container,   a first reactant contained within the luminescent container; and a second reactant disposed in the interior container, the interior container separating the second reactant from the first reactant, wherein the first reactant and the second reactant are operable to react to emit the visible light.   
     
     
         17 . The surgical system of  claim 10 , further comprising an ultraviolet light source operable to emit ultraviolet light at the cannula, wherein cannula hub comprises a fluorescent material that emits the visible light in response to the ultraviolet light. 
     
     
         18 . The surgical system of  claim 10 , further comprising a light source and an optical fiber coupled to the cannula and the light source, wherein the optical fiber is operable to carry the visible light form the light source to the cannula. 
     
     
         19 . The surgical system of  claim 18 , wherein the optical fiber comprises a modification, and wherein the modification causes a portion of the light passing through the optical fiber to be transmitted through the modification and into the cannula hub. 
     
     
         20 . A method for light projection comprising:
 inserting a cannula into an eye;   emitting visible light from at least one luminescent material disposed in a proximal end of the cannula; and   disposing a surgical instrument through the cannula.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising directing ultraviolet light at the proximal end of the cannula to cause the at least one luminescent material to emit the visible light, wherein the at least one luminescent material comprises a fluorescent material. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein emitting visible light from at least one luminescent material disposed in a proximal end of the cannula comprises activating a luminescent container by removal of a trocar from the cannula.