Tissue monitoring surgical retractor system

• US 8,376,937 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2010
• Issued: 02/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Xia, Jusong, Saladino, Joseph Jude, Justis, Jeff R., Metcalf, Newton H. Jr., Marik, Greg C., Kerr, Nikolas F., Trieu, Hai H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Robert, Eduardo C
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOFFMAN, MARY C
• Application Number:
  US12/695,211
• Publication Number:
  US 20110184245A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,118 Days
• Field of Search: 600184-246
• US Class Current: 600/202
• 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 17/0206 with antagonistic arms as supports for retractor elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00115 with audible or visual output
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00119 alarm; indicating an abnormal situation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00221 with wireless transmission of data, e.g. by infrared radiation or radiowaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 46/17 closed at the distal end

Abstract

An apparatus for monitoring the characteristics of tissue adjacent a surgical site and communicating that information to a health care provider includes a retractor, a sensor, and a processing system. The sensor is disposed on the retractor and is configured to measure a parameter indicative of at least one characteristic of the tissue adjacent the first or the second blade. The processing system is in communication with the sensor and configured and arranged to receive information from the sensor indicative of the measured parameter. It includes a threshold stored therein indicative of excessive trauma to the tissue and it is configured in a manner such that it compares the received information to the stored threshold and communicates information to the health care provider regarding the comparison.

Claims

1. A surgical retractor system for monitoring the characteristics of tissue adjacent a surgical site and communicating that information to a health care provider, comprising:

a retractor comprising

a first blade for interfacing with tissue on a first side of a surgical site;

a second blade for interfacing with tissue on a second side of the surgical site opposite the first side of the surgical site;

a body portion supporting the first blade relative to the second blade, the body portion being adjustable in situ in a manner that changes tissue parameters by displacing the first blade relative to the second blade to displace tissue and provide access to a surgical site;

a sensor disposed on the retractor, the sensor being configured to measure a parameter indicative of at least one characteristic of the tissue adjacent the first or the second blade;

a sensor system comprising a removable sleeve sized and shaped to extend about one of the first and second blades of the retractor, the removable sleeve comprising the sensor configured to measure the parameter indicative of at least one characteristic of the tissue; and

a processing system in communication with the sensor configured and arranged to receive information from the sensor indicative of the measured parameter, the processing system having a threshold stored therein indicative of excessive trauma to the tissue, the processing system being configured in a manner such that it compares the received information to the stored threshold and communicates information to the health care provider regarding the comparison.

2. The surgical retractor system of claim 1, wherein the processing system comprises one of a visual alert and an audible alert, and wherein the processing system activates the one of the visual and audible alerts when the received information exceeds the threshold.

3. The surgical retractor system of claim 1, wherein the processing system comprises a recording system that is configured and arranged to record the information received from the sensor.

4. The surgical retractor system of claim 1, wherein the processing system comprises a monitor and computer system.

5. The surgical retractor system of claim 1, wherein the processing system comprises a monitor remote from the computer system that functions to initiate recording on the computer system.

6. The surgical retractor system of claim 1, wherein the retractor body portion comprises a first arm and a second arm extending respectively from the first and second blades, the sensor being configured to measure strain on the first arm indicative of the force on the tissue adjacent the blades.

7. The surgical retractor system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is removable from the retractor.

8. The surgical retractor system of claim 7, wherein the sensor is a part of the removable sleeve.

9. The surgical retractor system of claim 1, wherein the processing system comprises a computer.

10. The surgical retractor system of claim 1, comprising a wireless communication system configured to wirelessly transmit the information from the sensor to the processing system.

11. The surgical retractor system of claim 1, wherein the removable sleeve is formed of a flexible material configured to conform to the shape of said one of the first and second blades of the retractor.

12. A surgical retractor system for monitoring the characteristics of tissue adjacent a surgical site and communicating that information to a health care provider, comprising:

a retractor comprising

a first blade for interfacing with tissue on a first side of a surgical site;

a second blade for interfacing with tissue on a second side of the surgical site opposite the first side of the surgical site;

a body portion comprising a first arm and a second arm and an adjustment element adjustably connecting the first and second arms, the first and second arms respectively supporting the first blade and the second blade, the adjustment element being adjustable in situ in a manner that changes tissue parameters by displacing the first blade relative to the second blade to displace tissue and provide access to a surgical site;

a tissue parameter detecting system comprising a sensor structurally configured and arranged to measure a parameter indicative of at least one characteristic of the tissue adjacent the first or the second blade, the tissue parameter detecting system having a threshold stored therein indicative of excessive trauma to the tissue, the tissue parameter detecting system being structurally configured and arranged in a manner such that it compares the measured information to the stored threshold and communicates information to the health care provider regarding the comparison; and

a sensor system comprising a removable sleeve sized and shaped to extend about one of the first and second blades of the retractor, the removable sleeve comprising the sensor configured to measure the parameter indicative of at least one characteristic of the tissue.

13. The surgical retractor system of claim 12, wherein the tissue parameter detecting system comprises:

a strain sensor disposed on one of the first arm and the first blade of the retractor, the strain sensor being configured to measure strain applied to the one of the first arm and the first blade by the tissue adjacent the first blade; and

a processing system in communication with the sensor and configured and arranged to receive the information from the sensor indicative of the strain, the processing system having the threshold stored therein indicative of excessive trauma to the tissue, the processing system being configured in a manner such that it compares the received information to the stored threshold and communicates information to the health care provider regarding the comparison.

14. The surgical retractor system of claim 12, wherein the first and second blades each have an arcuate cross section with a concave inner surface and a convex outer surface configured to engage tissue, the inner surface of the first blade facing the inner surface of the second blade so as to define a substantially circular working channel.

15. The surgical retractor system of claim 12, wherein the sensor configured to measure the parameter indicative of at least one characteristic of the tissue comprises more than one sensor for measuring more than one parameter.

16. The surgical retractor system of claim 12, wherein the sensor is embedded within the sleeve such that the sensor is applied against the retractor.