Importance

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Abstract

A surgical instrument incorporating visualizing optics is disclosed. The instrument comprises a handle supporting a rigid, curved, hollow shaft, a spherical tip is located on the distal end of the shaft providing a surface that will not tear or easily penetrate tissue. A fiber-optic assembly, containing at least one illumination transmitting fiber, a plurality of image-carrying fibers and an objective lens mounted near the distal end of the image fibers runs the entire length of the shaft. The objective lens is mounted relative to an opening in the tip allowing either axial viewing or side viewing. Light for illuminating the surgical site passes through one or more illumination fibers and through the opening in the spherical tip of the probe. Light reflected from the tissue at the tip of the probe is focused onto the distal face of the image assembly by an objective lens and is then transmitted to the proximal end of the image assembly. Connectors on the proximal ends of the illumination fibers and image fibers facilitate their being coupled to an illumination source and a viewing device.

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First Claim