Device for Assessing Ischemia in Nerve Root Tissue Using Oxygen Saturation

• US 20090292187A1
• Filed: 05/21/2009
• Published: 11/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California), ViOptix, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California), ViOptix, Inc.
• Inventors: Lyon, William, Lash, Robert E., Mao, Jimmy Jian-min, Fechter, Richard J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,031,628 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/339
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/025 Joint distractors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0262 with a provision for protecting nerves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1459 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1464 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 comprising:

a shaft;

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

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

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the shaft is steel.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the retractor portion is angled with respect to the shaft at an angle between about 90 degrees to about 179 degrees.

4. The device of claim 1 comprising:

a display, coupled to the oximeter sensor using optical fibers, to show an oxygen saturation measurement made by the oximeter sensor.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein oximeter sensor comprises a first sensor opening and a second sensor opening on a bottom side of the tip.

6. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a first optical fiber; and

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.