Blade insert illuminator

• US 8,088,066 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2007
• Issued: 01/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Invuity, Inc. (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Invuity, Inc. (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Grey, Thomas L., Vayser, Alex, Gasson, Jonathan G., Trauner, Kenneth B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Robert, Eduardo C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Merene, Jan Christopher
• Application Number:
  US11/923,483
• Publication Number:
  US 20090112068A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,532 Days
• Field of Search: 600/212, 600/223, 600/241, 600245-249, 600/210, 600/211, 600213-216, 600226-233, 248/230.7, 248/74.2, 385/133, 385/146, 439/909
• US Class Current: 600/212
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0623 for off-axis illumination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/07 using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/02 for holding wounds open; Tractors specula A61B1/32 ; drainage appliances for wounds A61M27/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0218 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0281, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/306 using optical fibres
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/80 Implements for cleaning or washing the skin of surgeons or patients

Abstract

An air gap retractor illumination system includes any suitable retractor such as a McCulloch with a channel in the blade to accommodate an air gap illuminator. The illuminator is preferably made from a suitable light conducting plastic material such as acrylic or polycarbonate or silicone. The illuminator has active portions in which light passes and inactive or dead zones in which light does not pass as a result of the configuration and orientation of the input, output and surfaces of the illuminator. The illuminator is formed to have an air gap surrounding any active portion of the illuminator extending from the light input to the light output portion. The dead zones may include elements to allow the illuminator to securely engage the retractor. The light output portion of the illuminator contains from two to eight output zones, each zone having specially designed output optical structures that control and direct light to escape the illuminator to shine onto a predetermined area of interest or to form one or more predetermined shapes or footprints.

Claims

1. A surgical retractor comprising:

a retractor blade having a front side, a back side, and one or more engagement elements disposed on the retractor blade, wherein the back side is adapted to engage tissue at a surgical site; and

an illuminator blade having a front surface and a rear surface, wherein the illuminator blade further comprises a plurality of active zones through which light passes by total internal reflection, and one or more dead zones where total internal reflection does not occur, and one or more engagement elements disposed in the one or more dead zones,

wherein the illuminator blade is disposed adjacent the retractor blade such that the rear surface of the illuminator blade is disposed adjacent the front side of the retractor blade, and

wherein the one or more engagement elements on the retractor blade releasably engage the one or more engagement elements in the dead zones so as to maintain an air gap between active zones of the illuminator blade and the retractor blade wherein the illuminator blade projects light onto the surgical site, and

wherein the illuminator blade comprises a light input portion having an input dead zone where total internal reflection does not occur, and an input collar connected to the illuminator blade in the input dead zone, the collar surrounding the light input portion and forming an input air gap circumferentially therearound.

2. The surgical retractor of claim 1, wherein the engagement elements on the retractor blade comprise a receptacle for receiving the engagement elements in the one or more dead zones.

3. The surgical retractor of claim 1, wherein the engagement elements on the illuminator blade comprise a retention clip that releasably engages the engagement elements on the retractor blade.

4. The surgical retractor of claim 1, wherein the illuminator blade comprises a light input section and a light output section, the light output section projecting light out of the illumination blade onto the surgical site.

5. The surgical retractor of claim 4, wherein the light output section comprises a plurality of output zones, each zone formed from a plurality of parallel primary facets alternating with a plurality of parallel secondary facets.

6. The surgical retractor of claim 5, wherein the primary facets and the secondary facets of each output zone have different dimensions and are oriented at different angles relative to the rear surface of the illumination blade.

7. The surgical retractor of claim 5, wherein each output zone has depth relative to the rear surface of the illuminator blade, and wherein each depth is the same.

8. The surgical retractor of claim 5, wherein a first light output zone provides illumination at a first level of the surgical site, and a second light output zone provides illumination at a second level of the surgical site, wherein the first level is different than the second level.

9. The surgical retractor of claim 4, wherein the light output section comprises a rectangular cross-section.

10. The surgical retractor of claim 1, wherein the illumination blade comprises an end zone having a rear reflector and a terminal facet.

11. The surgical retractor of claim 1, wherein the retractor blade comprises a surgical retractor blade.

12. The surgical retractor of claim 1, wherein the illumination blade is uncoated.

13. The surgical retractor of claim 1, wherein the illuminator blade projects light laterally from the front surface of the illuminator blade onto the surgical site.

14. The surgical retractor of claim 1, wherein the illuminator blade is removably engaged with the retractor blade.

15. The surgical retractor of claim 14, wherein the illuminator blade is adjustably disposed in a channel of the retractor blade such that movement of the illuminator blade adjustably illuminates the surgical field.

16. The surgical retractor of claim 1, wherein the illuminator blade comprises a plurality of output zones where light is extracted therefrom, the output zones comprising a plurality of parallel prism shapes with a primary facet and a secondary facet.

17. The surgical retractor of claim 5, wherein the primary facets and the secondary facets are oriented relative to a plane substantially parallel to a rear surface of the illuminator blade such that the primary facet forms a primary angle relative to the plane and the secondary facet forms a secondary angle relative to the plane, and wherein at least some of the primary angles are acute.

18. The surgical retractor of claim 17, wherein at least some of the secondary angles are obtuse.

19. The surgical retractor of claim 1, wherein the illuminator blade comprises an input portion, the input portion comprising a generally cylindrical portion transitioning to a generally rectangular neck portion.