Illuminated surgical retractor

• US 10,420,538 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2016
• Issued: 09/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Coopersurgical Incorporated (The Cooper Cos., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Obp Medical Corporation (The Cooper Cos., Inc.)
• Inventors: Swift, Jeffrey Ralph
• Primary Examiner(s): Hammond, Ellen C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Matthews, Tessa M
• Application Number:
  US15/178,675
• Publication Number:
  US 20160310120A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,201 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0669 at proximal end of an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/32 Devices for opening or enlarging the visual field, e.g. of a tube of the body dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/02 for holding wounds open; Tractors specula A61B1/32 ; drainage appliances for wounds A61M27/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0023 disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0092 for X-rays
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00964 composite
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/309 using white LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/30 Devices for illuminating a surgical field, the devices having an interrelation with other surgical devices or with a surgical procedure

Abstract

An illuminated surgical retractor embodiment includes a blade, a handle, a curved section and an illumination assembly. The blade has a top surface and a bottom surface. The handle extends at an angle from a proximal end of the blade. The curved section connects the handle to the blade. The illumination assembly includes at least one light source, at least one battery and an activation device for energizing the light source. In an embodiment, the blade, handle, and curved section are molded from a glass-fiber reinforced polymer.

Claims

1. An illuminated surgical retractor, comprising:

a blade having a top surface and a bottom surface;

a handle extending at an angle from a proximal end of the blade;

a curved section connecting the handle to the blade; and

an illumination assembly comprising at least one light source, at least one battery and an activation device comprising one of a switch and a removable dielectric tab for energizing the light source, and the illumination assembly being non-releasably attached to the retractor;

wherein the blade, handle, and curved section are molded from a glass-fiber reinforced polymer having a flexural strength of at least 300 Mpa; and

wherein the blade, being molded from the glass-fiber reinforced polymer, deforms less than 10 mm under 15 lbs of force applied thereto.

2. The illuminated surgical retractor of claim 1, wherein the polymer is a 50 wt % glass-fiber reinforced polymer.

3. The illuminated surgical retractor of claim 1, wherein the polymer is a polyarylamide compound.

4. The illuminated surgical retractor of claim 1, wherein the polymer is a thermoplastic crystalline polymer.

5. The illuminated surgical retractor of claim 4, wherein the polymer is a thermoplastic crystalline polymer of aromatic diamines and aromatic dicarboxylic anhydrides.

6. The illuminated surgical retractor of claim 1, wherein the polymer is a glass-fiber reinforced polyarylamide.

7. The illuminated surgical retractor of claim 6, wherein the polymer is at least 50 wt % glass-fiber reinforced.

8. The illuminated surgical retractor of claim 1, wherein the polymer has a flexural modulus of at least 17 Gpa.

9. The illuminated surgical retractor of claim 1, wherein the polymer has a flexural strength of at least 375 Mpa.

10. The illuminated surgical retractor of claim 1, wherein the polymer has an impact strength of at least 100 J/M.

11. The illuminated surgical retractor of claim 1, wherein the illumination assembly is non-releasably attached to the curved section.

12. The mated surgical retractor of claim 1, wherein a proximal tip of the blade withstands over 30 lbs of force applied thereto.

13. The illuminated surgical retractor of claim 1, wherein the polymer has a flexural modulus of at least 16 Gpa.

14. The illuminated surgical retractor of claim 1, wherein he blade has a thickness of approximately 2 mm.

15. An illuminated surgical retractor, comprising:

a blade having a top surface and a bottom surface;

a handle extending at an angle from a proximal end of the blade;

a curved section connecting the handle to the blade; and

an illumination assembly comprising at least one light source, at least one battery and an activation device comprising one of a switch and a removable dielectric tab for energizing the light source, and the illumination assembly being non-releasably attached to the retractor;

wherein the blade handle, and curved section are molded from a polymer, said polymer being a low conductivity polymer and a radiolucent polymer;

wherein said polymer has a flexural strength of at leas 300 Mpa; and

wherein the blade, being molded from the polymer, deforms less than 10 mm under 15 lbs of force applied thereto.

16. The illuminated surgical retractor of claim 15, wherein the polymer has a flexural modulus of at least 16 Gpa.

17. The illuminated surgical retractor of claim 15, wherein the polymer is a 50 wt % glass-fiber reinforced polymer.

18. The illuminated surgical retractor of claim 15, wherein the polymer is a polyarylamide compound.

19. The illuminated surgical retractor of claim 15, wherein the polymer is a thermoplastic crystalline polymer.

20. The illuminated surgical retractor of claim 19, wherein the polymer is a thermoplastic crystalline polymer of aromatic diamines and aromatic dicarboxylic anhydrides.

21. The illuminated surgical retractor of claim 15, wherein the polymer comprises a non-conductive material that limits currents to less than 10⁻

6 A.

22. The illuminated surgical retractor of claim 15, wherein the illumination assembly is non-releasably attached to the curved section.

23. The illuminated surgical retractor of claim 15, wherein the blade has a thickness of approximately 2 mm.

24. An illuminated surgical retractor, comprising:

a blade having a top surface and a bottom surface;

a handle extending at an angle from a proximal end of the blade;

a curved section connecting the handle to the blade; and

an illumination assembly comprising at least one light source, at least one battery and an activation device comprising one of a switch and a removable dielectric tab for energizing the light source, and the illumination assembly being non releasably attached to the retractor;

wherein the blade, handle, and curved section are molded from a low conductivity polymer; and

wherein the polymer comprises a non-conductive material that limits currents to less than 10<sup>−

6</sup> A.

25. The illuminated surgical retractor of claim 24, wherein the blade, being molded from the polymer, deforms less than 10 mm under 15 lbs of force applied thereto.

26. The illuminated surgical retractor of claim 24, wherein a proximal tip of the blade withstands over 30 lbs of force applied thereto.