Blade insert illuminator

• US 9,241,617 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2015
• Issued: 01/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Invuity, Inc. (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Invuity, Inc. (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Grey, Thomas L., Vayser, Alex, Gasson, Jonathan G.
• Primary Examiner(s): BOLES, SAMEH RAAFAT
• Application Number:
  US14/673,577
• Publication Number:
  US 20150320302A1
• Time in Patent Office: 302 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00105 characterised by modular construction
• 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 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

Abstract

A blade insert illumination system includes one or more illumination elements composed of a transparent or semitransparent polymer that is preferably biocompatible and sterilizable. The illumination elements operate as a waveguide and may incorporate optical components such as, for example, facets, lenses, gratings, prisms and or diffusers to operate as precision optics for customized delivery of the light energy. The illumination elements may be modular, allowing components to be mixed and matched for different sizes of blade retractors, or may be a single integrated unit.

Claims

1. A modular surgical illumination system comprising:

a blade insert illuminator comprising a light input element, at least one light conduit section, and a light output element,

wherein the at least one light conduit section is disposed between the light input element and the light output element,

wherein the light input element, at least one light conduit section, and the light output element are releasably engaged together so as to maintain a secure optical connection therethrough, and

wherein at least one releasable engagement is disposed over a blade, and

wherein the at least one light conduit section and a portion of the light output element act as waveguides.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a blade retractor coupled to the blade insert illuminator.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the blade insert illuminator is releasably coupled with the blade retractor through a channel formed in the blade retractor.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein a substantial portion of the light input element is substantially transverse to the blade retractor when releasably coupled thereto.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the light output element comprises one or more light output structures.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the one or more light output structures comprise one or more stair stepped facets.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the one or more light output structures comprise one or more lenses.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein light passes through the at least one light conduit section and the portion of the light output element by total internal reflection.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein a detent is formed in the light input element and the at least one light conduit section comprises a latch adapted to releasably engage the detent.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one light conduit section comprises an engagement structure and the light output element comprises an engagement arm adapted to releasably engage the engagement structure.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one light conduit section comprises a first light conduit section and a second light conduit section, the first light conduit section and the second light conduit section being releasably engaged with one another so as to maintain a secure optical connection therebetween, and wherein the first light conduit section comprises an engagement structure and the second light conduit section comprises an engagement arm adapted to releasably engage the engagement structure.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one light conduit section comprises an engagement structure and the light output element comprises an engagement arm adapted to releasably engage the engagement structure.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein a distal portion of the light input element comprises a male engagement member and a proximal portion of the at least one light conduit section comprises a receptacle adapted to releasably capture the male engagement member.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one light conduit section comprises a first light conduit section and a second light conduit section, the first light conduit section and the second light conduit section being releasably engaged with one another so as to maintain a secure optical connection therebetween, and wherein a distal portion of the first light conduit section comprises a male engagement member and a proximal portion of the second light conduit section comprises a receptacle adapted to releasably capture the male engagement member.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein a distal portion of the at least one light conduit section comprises a male engagement member and a proximal portion of the light output element comprises a receptacle adapted to releasably capture the male engagement member.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the light input element comprises a bifurcated fiber optic cable.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the light input element comprises an integrated fiber optical cable having a plurality of fiber optic strands.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the light input element is rotatable relative to the blade retractor when releasably coupled thereto.