Blade insert illuminator
First Claim
1. An illuminated surgical device comprising:
- a non-fiber optic illuminator for projecting light onto a surgical site, the illuminator comprising a light input, at least one light output zone for projecting light in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the illuminator, and at least one dead zone through which internal reflection of light is reduced, wherein the light is conducted from the light input to the at least one light output zone by internal reflection, wherein the at least one dead zone is disposed between a first section of the illuminator having a first dimension and a second section of the illuminator having a second dimension different than the first dimension, wherein the second section is distal to the first section along a direction of reflection of the light;
wherein the at least one dead zone comprises at least one illuminator engagement element comprising a tab; and
a surgical instrument adapted to engage tissue at a surgical site, the surgical instrument being coupled to the illuminator via the illuminator engagement element such that an air gap is maintained between a front-facing channel of the surgical instrument and a rear surface of the illuminator to preserve internal reflection of light through the illuminator.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
187 Citations
27 Claims
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1. An illuminated surgical device comprising:
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a non-fiber optic illuminator for projecting light onto a surgical site, the illuminator comprising a light input, at least one light output zone for projecting light in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the illuminator, and at least one dead zone through which internal reflection of light is reduced, wherein the light is conducted from the light input to the at least one light output zone by internal reflection, wherein the at least one dead zone is disposed between a first section of the illuminator having a first dimension and a second section of the illuminator having a second dimension different than the first dimension, wherein the second section is distal to the first section along a direction of reflection of the light; wherein the at least one dead zone comprises at least one illuminator engagement element comprising a tab; and a surgical instrument adapted to engage tissue at a surgical site, the surgical instrument being coupled to the illuminator via the illuminator engagement element such that an air gap is maintained between a front-facing channel of the surgical instrument and a rear surface of the illuminator to preserve internal reflection of light through the illuminator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25)
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24. An illuminated surgical device comprising:
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a non-fiber optic illuminator for projecting light onto a surgical field, the illuminator comprising at least one dead zone in which internal reflection of light is reduced, wherein light is reflected through the illuminator by internal reflection, wherein the at least one dead zone is disposed between a first section of the illuminator having a first dimension and a second section of the illuminator having a second dimension different than the first dimension, wherein the second section is distal to the first section along a direction of conduction of the light; wherein the at least one dead zone comprises at least one illuminator engagement element comprising a tab; and a surgical instrument adapted to engage tissue at a surgical site, the surgical instrument comprising at least one surgical instrument engagement element for releasably engaging the at least one illuminator engagement element.
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26. An illuminated surgical device comprising:
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a non-fiber optic illuminator for projecting light onto a surgical field, the illuminator comprising at least one active zone for light conduction by internal reflection therethrough and at least one optically transparent dead zone through which internal light reflection is reduced, wherein the at least one dead zone is disposed between a first section of the illuminator having a first dimension and a second section of the illuminator having a second dimension different than the first dimension, wherein the second section is distal to the first section along a direction of conduction of the light and wherein the at least one dead zone is oriented to minimize light entering therethrough; wherein the at least one dead zone comprises at least one illuminator engagement element comprising a tab; and a surgical instrument coupled to the illuminator via the at least one illuminator engagement element and adapted to engage tissue in the surgical field, wherein the illuminator comprises an input zone comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion comprising at least one dead zone, and wherein the illuminator further comprises an input collar for removably engaging the at least one dead zone of the input zone and surrounding the proximal portion of the input zone to form an input air gap therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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Specification