103795High Efficiency Light-guide with Integrated Conditioning Optics (HELICO)ClosedFeasibility StudiesInnovate UKKey-hole surgery is an advancing field that seeks to reduce trauma associated with surgical procedures, by delivering devices that fit through tiny incisions. Highly complex procedures can be carried out inside confined body cavities, obtaining the best possible view and navigating the surgical field is a key challenge. Smart Surgical (SS) has developed a visualisation product to facilitate navigation in key-hole surgery. Part of this platform is a disposable needle light guide "LG", with an integrated lens, that distributes light and illuminates the body cavity. However, a core challenge is scaling the current LG with respect to manufacturing and material composition. The applicant is limited by currently available production & material processes. At one extreme are very low cost methods to produce plastic LGs (used for consumer products) and at the other extreme are “high-end” glass LGs that have excellent optical performance but are very costly. Equally, both provide no integrated lens to control/condition the distribution of light output. The applicant wishes to broaden the field to develop a middle ground, a high optically efficient polymer LG at very low unit cost with integrated conditioning optics. The LG will aid key-hole surgery, associated medical sectors, and wider industrial applications.