Illuminated surgical cannula

Claim 2

A cannula for laproscopic surgery comprising a thin-walled plastic tube, said tube having at least one longitudinally extending fiber optic filament adapted to transmit light from one end of the tube to the other, and means for connecting said fiber optic filament to a source of artificial light.

Claim 3

A cannula according to claim 1, wherein at least said axially extending filaments are glass.

Claim 4

A cannula for laproscopic surgery, comprising a thin-walled plastic tube, said tube having a cylindrical sidewall reinforced with continuous filaments embedded in said plastic for imparting both torsional and flexural strength thereto, said reinforcement comprising a plurality of filaments extending in one circumferential direction in the form of a helix alternately over and under successive axially extending continuous filaments, other filaments extending in an opposite circumferential direction in the form of a helix alternately over and under said axially extending continuous filaments and alternately over and under the successive filaments of the first mentioned helix, said axially extending filaments being fiber optic filaments adapted to transmit light from one end of said tube to the other, and means for connecting said fiber optic filaments to a source of artificial light.

Claim 5

A cannula for laproscopic surgery, comprising a thin-walled plastic tube, said tube having a cylindrical sidewall reinforced with continuous filaments embedded in said plastic for imparting both torsional and flexural strength thereto, said reinforcement comprising a plurality of filaments extending in one circumferential direction in the form of a helix alternately over and under successive axially extending continuous filaments, other filaments extending in an opposite circumferential direction in the form of a helix alternately over and under said axially extending continuous filaments and alternately over and under the successive filaments of the first mentioned helix, said axially extending filaments being fiber optic filaments adapted to transmit light from one end of said tube to the other, and means for connecting said fiber optic filaments to a source of artificial light.

Claim 6

A cannula according to claim 3, wherein at least said axially extending filaments are glass.

Claim 7

In a trocar assembly comprising an elongated trocar obturator having a piercing tip at its distal end, mounting means for said trocar comprising a handle and a cannula attached to said handle for respectively detachably mounting the proximal end of said trocar and providing a guide path to a surgical site, in combination therewith the improvement wherein said cannula comprises a thin-walled plastic tube, said tube having a cylindrical sidewall reinforced with filaments embedded in said plastic for imparting both torsional and flexural strength thereto, said filaments including a plurality of axially extending filaments, said axially extending filaments being fiber optic filaments adapted to transmit light from one end of said tube to the other, and means for connecting said fiber optic filaments to a source of artificial light.

Claim 8

In a trocar assembly comprising an elongated trocar obturator having a piercing tip at its distal end, mounting means for said trocar comprising a handle and a cannula attached to said handle for respectively detachably mounting the proximal end of said trocar and providing a guide path to a surgical site, in combination therewith the improvement wherein said cannula comprises a thin-walled plastic tube, said tube having a cylindrical sidewall reinforced with filaments embedded in said plastic for imparting both torsional and flexural strength thereto, said filaments including a plurality of axially extending filaments, said axially extending filaments being fiber optic filaments adapted to transmit light from one end of said tube to the other, and means for connecting said fiber optic filaments to a source of artificial light.

Claim 9

A trocar assembly according to claim 5, wherein at least said axially extending filaments are glass.

Claim 10

In a trocar assembly comprising an elongate trocar obturator having a piercing tip at its distal end, mounting means for said trocar comprising a handle and a cannula attached to said handle for respectively detachably mounting the proximal end of said trocar and providing a guide path to a surgical site, in combination therewith the improvement wherein said cannula comprises a thin walled plastic tube, said tube having a cylindrical sidewall reinforced with continuous filaments embedded in said plastic for imparting both torsional and flexural strength thereto, said reinforcement comprising a plurality of filaments extending in one circumferential direction in the form of a helix alternately over and under successive axially extending continuous filaments, otherfilaments extending in an opposite circumferential direction in the form of a helix alternately over and under said axially extending continuous filaments and alternately over and under the successive filaments of the first mentioned helix, said axially extending filaments being fiber optic filaments adapted to transmit light from one end of said tube to the other, and means for connecting said fiber optic filaments to a source of artificial light.

Claim 11

In a trocar assembly comprising an elongate trocar obturator having a piercing tip at its distal end, mounting means for said trocar comprising a handle and a cannula attached to said handle for respectively detachably mounting the proximal end of said trocar and providing a guide path to a surgical site, in combination therewith the improvement wherein said cannula comprises a thin walled plastic tube, said tube having a cylindrical sidewall reinforced with continuous filaments embedded in said plastic for imparting both torsional and flexural strength thereto, said reinforcement comprising a plurality of filaments extending in one circumferential direction in the form of a helix alternately over and under successive axially extending continuous filaments, otherfilaments extending in an opposite circumferential direction in the form of a helix alternately over and under said axially extending continuous filaments and alternately over and under the successive filaments of the first mentioned helix, said axially extending filaments being fiber optic filaments adapted to transmit light from one end of said tube to the other, and means for connecting said fiber optic filaments to a source of artificial light.

Claim 12

A trocar assembly according to claim 6, wherein at least said axially extending filaments are glass.