Tissue Retractor Oximeter

• US 20080319290A1
• Filed: 05/24/2008
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ViOptix, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ViOptix, Inc.
• Inventors: Lash, Robert E., Mao, Jimmy Jian-min
• Granted Patent: US 9,380,966 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/323
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/02 for holding wounds open; Tractors specula A61B1/32 ; drainage appliances for wounds A61M27/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0262 with a provision for protecting nerves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0266 for monitoring or limiting apparatus function
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/223 Optical cables therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/225 Connectors or couplings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0086 using infrared radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14552 Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1459 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6846 specially adapted to be brought in contact with an internal body part, i.e. invasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence

Abstract

A retractor has an oximeter sensor at its tip, which allows measuring of oxygen saturation of a tissue being retracted by the retractor. The tip includes one or more openings for at least one source and detector. A specific implementation is a spinal nerve root retractor with an oximeter sensor.

Claims

1. A device of comprising:

a shaft;

a handle, coupled to a proximal end of the shaft;

a tip, coupled to a distal end of the shaft, comprising a retractor portion and an oximeter sensor;

a first optical fiber;

a second optical fiber, wherein the first optical fiber passes through a channel in the shaft and a distal end of the first optical fiber is coupled to a first sensor opening of the tip, and the second optical fiber passes through the channel in the shaft and a distal end of the second optical fiber is coupled to a second sensor opening of the tip; and

a system unit comprising a display, processor, signal emitter circuit, signal detector circuit, and a receptacle to couple to proximal ends of the first and second optical fibers,

wherein the signal emitter circuit sends a signal through the optical fiber and the signal detector circuit receives the signal from the second optical fiber.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the system unit comprises a power management circuit and a battery, and

when the power management circuit detects a low battery condition, the power management circuit causes a warning to show on the display.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the oximeter sensor comprises the first sensor opening and second sensor opening on a bottom side of the tip, and the first sensor opening and second sensor opening are separated by about five millimeters or less.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the signal emitter circuit comprises at least one of a laser emitter or light emitting diode (LED) emitter.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the signal emitter circuit causes an optical signal, having a wavelength from about 600 nanometers to about 900 nanometers, to be transmitted through the first sensor opening.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the signal emitter circuit causes an optical signal having a two or more different wavelengths to be transmitted through the first sensor opening.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein a first wavelength of the two or more different wavelengths is about 690 nanometers, and a second wavelength of the two or more different wavelengths is about 830 nanometers.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein to measure oxygen saturation of tissue touching the tip of device, the system unit determines a first quantity corresponding to an intensity of light of a first wavelength transmitted from the first sensor opening of the tip through the tissue to the second sensor opening of the tip;

determines a second quantity corresponding to an intensity of light of a second wavelength transmitted from the first sensor opening of the tip through the tissue to the second sensor opening of the tip, wherein the second wavelength is different from the first wavelength; and

calculates an attenuation ratio of the first quantity to the second quantity.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the oximeter sensor comprises three or more holes in a linear arrangement on a bottom side of the tip.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the oximeter sensor comprises three or more holes, where any two of the three or more or more holes are positioned in a linear arrangement on a bottom side of the tip.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the oximeter sensor comprises a first sensor emitter opening, a second sensor emitter opening, a first sensor detector opening, and a second sensor detector opening.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the any three of the openings are positioned in a linear arrangement on a bottom side of the tip.

13. The device of claim 11 wherein the second sensor emitter opening is between the first sensor emitter opening and the first sensor detector opening, and the first sensor detector opening is between the second sensor emitter opening and the second sensor detector opening.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the first sensor detector opening is spaced away from the second sensor detector by about 5/3 millimeters or less, and the first sensor detector opening is spaced away from the second sensor emitter opening by about 5/3 millimeters or less.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein the receptacle is removably coupled to proximal ends of the first and second optical fibers.

16. A device comprising:

a shaft;

a handle, coupled to a proximal end of the shaft;

a tip, coupled to a distal end of the shaft, comprising an oximeter sensor having an opening with at least two light channels.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein the opening comprises a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber.

18. The device of claim 16 wherein the opening comprises a concentric core fiber.

19. The device of claim 16 wherein the opening comprises a split channel fiber.

20. The device of claim 16 wherein the tip comprises a retractor blade.