US 11,698,522 B2
Systems and methods for connecting a light cable to an illuminator
Wenjie Deng, San Jose, CA (US); Michelle Sun, San Jose, CA (US); and Maziyar Keshtgar, San Jose, CA (US)
Assigned to Stryker Corporation, Kalamazoo, MI (US)
Filed by Stryker Corporation, Kalamazoo, MI (US)
Filed on Mar. 3, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/191,501.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/985,812, filed on Mar. 5, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0278659 A1, Sep. 9, 2021
Int. Cl. G02B 6/42 (2006.01); G02B 23/24 (2006.01); A61B 1/06 (2006.01); F21V 21/088 (2006.01); A61B 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 23/2476 (2013.01) [A61B 1/00117 (2013.01); A61B 1/0661 (2013.01); F21V 21/088 (2013.01); G02B 6/4204 (2013.01); G02B 6/4292 (2013.01); G02B 23/2461 (2013.01)] 39 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An illuminator comprising a receptacle for connecting a light cable to an illuminator, the receptacle comprising:
a clamp assembly comprising a plurality of clamping jaws that are moveable by the clamp assembly from an open configuration in which a connecter of the light cable can be positioned between the clamping jaws for receiving light traveling in a light pathway in the illuminator to a closed configuration in which the clamping jaws completely block the light pathway; and
a clutch that is movable between an engaged position in which the clutch engages the clamp assembly for holding the clamping jaws in the open configuration and a disengaged position in which the clutch is disengaged from the clamp assembly for allowing the clamping jaws to move to a gripped configuration in which the clamping jaws grip onto the connector positioned between the clamping jaws and to the closed configuration, the clutch comprising a central portion that can be pushed by the connector when the connector is positioned between the clamping jaws to move the clutch out of the engaged position so that the clamp assembly moves the clamping jaws to the gripped configuration.