A surgical device is disclosed which includes an optical source for wirelessly transmitting a light based signal transcutaneously and a receiver for receiving the light based signals. The wireless coupling of signals between the optical source and the receiver wirelessly transmits video images from an internal site in a patient to a video monitor or other viewer outside the patient, and may wirelessly transmit control signals from a controller outside of the patient to an instrument inside the patient during a therapeutic or diagnostic surgical procedure.
