METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR COUPLING AN OPTICAL INPUT TO AN ILLUMINATION DEVICE

A surgical illumination apparatus for illuminating a surgical field in a patient comprises a fiber optic input comprising one or more optical fibers, a surgical retractor, and an optical waveguide. The surgical retractor comprises a handle, and a retractor blade extending from the handle, wherein the retractor blade has a central channel for containing the fiber optic input and comprises a receptacle therein. The optical waveguide is coupled to the receptacle of the retractor blade. A proximal end of the optical waveguide is coupled with the fiber optic input and a distal end of the optical waveguide is configured to emit light from the optical waveguide. The apparatus further comprises an optical coupling bracket for coupling the fiber optic input to the optical waveguide, wherein the optical coupling bracket comprises an elongate frame having a proximal end, a distal end, and a central channel extending between the proximal end and the distal end of the elongate frame. The central channel of the optical coupling bracket is sized to receive and support the one or more optical fibers. The distal end of the optical coupling bracket is coupled to the optical waveguide, wherein the optical waveguide comprises a protrusion extending on the sides of the optical waveguide.