Retractor systems with sensors
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system comprising:
- a retractor, for retracting a tissue, comprising a shaft, a handle coupled to a proximal end of the shaft, a tip coupled to a distal end of the shaft, wherein the tip comprises a retractor portion and an oximeter sensor;
a force sensor coupled to the retractor, wherein the force sensor is a load cell having a first end and a second end on opposite sides of each other, along an axis of the load cell, and the force sensor measures force in a first direction;
one or more optical fibers, wherein the one or more optical fibers pass through a channel in the shaft, distal ends of the one or more optical fibers are coupled to one or more openings of the tip, and at least one optical fiber is coupled to one opening of the tip to transmit light in the first direction; and
a system unit comprising a display, processor, signal emitter circuit, signal detector circuit, a receptacle to couple to proximal ends of the one or more optical fibers,wherein the signal emitter circuit sends a signal through from the one or more optical fibers,the signal detector circuit receives a signal through the one or more optical fibers,the processor processes signals received through the one or more optical fibers, andthe display shows results of the processing by the processor.
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Abstract
A retractor system includes a retractor with an oximeter sensor at its tip and a force sensor coupled to the retractor. The retractor system also includes a system unit which can send signals to and receive signals from the oximeter sensor via optical fibers. The oximeter sensor measures oxygen saturation of a tissue being refracted by the retractor, and the force sensor measures an amount of force that is applied to the retracted tissue by the tip of the retractor. Another retractor system has a closed loop control arrangement with a positioning mechanism which moves the retractor based on measurements of the sensors.
38 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a retractor, for retracting a tissue, comprising a shaft, a handle coupled to a proximal end of the shaft, a tip coupled to a distal end of the shaft, wherein the tip comprises a retractor portion and an oximeter sensor; a force sensor coupled to the retractor, wherein the force sensor is a load cell having a first end and a second end on opposite sides of each other, along an axis of the load cell, and the force sensor measures force in a first direction; one or more optical fibers, wherein the one or more optical fibers pass through a channel in the shaft, distal ends of the one or more optical fibers are coupled to one or more openings of the tip, and at least one optical fiber is coupled to one opening of the tip to transmit light in the first direction; and a system unit comprising a display, processor, signal emitter circuit, signal detector circuit, a receptacle to couple to proximal ends of the one or more optical fibers, wherein the signal emitter circuit sends a signal through from the one or more optical fibers, the signal detector circuit receives a signal through the one or more optical fibers, the processor processes signals received through the one or more optical fibers, and the display shows results of the processing by the processor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system comprising:
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a retractor, for retracting a tissue, comprising a shaft, a first handle coupled to a proximal end of the shaft, a tip coupled to a distal end of the shaft, wherein the tip comprises a retractor portion and an oximeter sensor; a force sensor coupled to the retractor, wherein the force sensor is an electronic load cell having a first end and a second end on opposite sides of each other, along an axis of the load cell, a second handle, wherein the first end of the load cell is coupled to the first handle and the second end of the load cell is coupled to the second handle, one or more optical fibers, wherein the one or more optical fibers pass through a channel in the shaft and distal ends of the one or more optical fibers are coupled to one or more openings of the tip; and a system unit comprising a display, processor, signal emitter circuit, signal detector circuit, a receptacle to couple to proximal ends of the one or more optical fibers, wherein the signal emitter circuit sends a signal through from the one or more optical fibers, the signal detector circuit receives a signal through the one or more optical fibers, the processor processes signals received through the one or more optical fibers, and the display shows results of the processing by the processor. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification