WO2009055713A1 - Blade insert illuminator - Google Patents
Blade insert illuminator Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2009055713A1 WO2009055713A1 PCT/US2008/081178 US2008081178W WO2009055713A1 WO 2009055713 A1 WO2009055713 A1 WO 2009055713A1 US 2008081178 W US2008081178 W US 2008081178W WO 2009055713 A1 WO2009055713 A1 WO 2009055713A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- blade
- output
- light
- facets
- retractor
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
- A61B1/06—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor with illuminating arrangements
- A61B1/07—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor with illuminating arrangements using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
- A61B1/06—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor with illuminating arrangements
- A61B1/0623—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor with illuminating arrangements for off-axis illumination
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B17/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets
- A61B17/02—Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets for holding wounds open; Tractors
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B17/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets
- A61B17/02—Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets for holding wounds open; Tractors
- A61B17/0218—Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets for holding wounds open; Tractors for minimally invasive surgery
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B90/00—Instruments, implements or accessories specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis and not covered by any of the groups A61B1/00 - A61B50/00, e.g. for luxation treatment or for protecting wound edges
- A61B90/30—Devices for illuminating a surgical field, the devices having an interrelation with other surgical devices or with a surgical procedure
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B90/00—Instruments, implements or accessories specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis and not covered by any of the groups A61B1/00 - A61B50/00, e.g. for luxation treatment or for protecting wound edges
- A61B90/30—Devices for illuminating a surgical field, the devices having an interrelation with other surgical devices or with a surgical procedure
- A61B2090/306—Devices for illuminating a surgical field, the devices having an interrelation with other surgical devices or with a surgical procedure using optical fibres
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B90/00—Instruments, implements or accessories specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis and not covered by any of the groups A61B1/00 - A61B50/00, e.g. for luxation treatment or for protecting wound edges
- A61B90/30—Devices for illuminating a surgical field, the devices having an interrelation with other surgical devices or with a surgical procedure
- A61B2090/309—Devices for illuminating a surgical field, the devices having an interrelation with other surgical devices or with a surgical procedure using white LEDs
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B90/00—Instruments, implements or accessories specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis and not covered by any of the groups A61B1/00 - A61B50/00, e.g. for luxation treatment or for protecting wound edges
- A61B90/80—Implements for cleaning or washing the skin of surgeons or patients
Definitions
- the inventions described below relate to the field of medicine and more specifically, to providing in vivo surgical field illumination during surgical procedures.
- Blade retractors are a type of retractor that typically have a flat or slightly curved blade that is inserted into the body. The blade may have a handle portion that is used to manipulate the blade.
- One or more blade retractors may be used in a surgical procedure. Illumination in these procedures is typically limited to external illumination sources such as ceiling or wall mounted lights or light sources integrated into a headband worn by the surgeon (e.g., LED based or fiber optic based) . These light sources provide poor illumination of the deep tissue on which surgery is to be performed.
- Fiber optic devices may be fixed to a blade retractor to shine light on the deep tissue, but fiber optic systems either provide a small spot of light requiring constant repositioning to view all the tissue, or they provide a very diffuse light that does not adequately illuminate the tissue of interest.
- the fiber optic also has a very small emission area. Any debris or blood that covers it will block the majority of illumination.
- fiber optic devices are very expensive, requiring specialized cutting, grinding and polishing.
- Some blade retractors are provided with length-wise channels into which ancillary retracting or illumination devices may be inserted. Blade insert illumination devices are currently limited to fiber optic approaches with their poor illumination characteristics .
- a retractor with an air gap illuminator uses any suitable retractor such as McCulloch, and includes a channel in the retractor blade to accommodate the illuminator.
- the illuminator is preferably made from a suitable light conducting plastic material such as acrylic or polycarbonate or silicone.
- the illuminator is also formed to have an air gap or a capillary space surrounding any active portion of the illuminator from the light input to the light output portion.
- 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 dead zones may include elements to allow the illuminator to securely engage the retractor.
- the illuminator may be characterized as having a light input portion, a light conducting portion and a light output portion.
- the light input portion of the illuminator receives light from an external light source.
- a light source may be an external light box, e.g., a xenon light box, to which one end of a fiber optic light guide cable is attached to conduct light to the surgical field.
- the other end of the fiber optic cable would be the source of light for the blade insert illuminator, for example, by employing a mating connector on the illuminator so that it may connect to the fiber optic cable.
- the light input portion may also include a tab, finger or other projection extending from a dead zone to engage the retractor blade at the top or handle end, the projection may be permanently integrated or temporarily attached.
- the light conducting portion of the illuminator typically is responsible for conducting light from the light input section to the light output section. It may be simply a section of optical material designed to support total internal reflection that is integral with the light input and light output portions. Surface treatment, e.g., polishing or reflective coating, the continuous air gap or a capillary space and any suitable fluid may be used to support total internal reflection.
- the light output portion of the illuminator may include one or more output zones having variable geometry facet segments, or a plurality of 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 have a predetermined shape or footprint.
- Such structures may be molded or cut into the light output zone or zones.
- 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.
- a capillary gap retractor illumination system includes any suitable retractor such as a McCulloch with a channel in the blade to accommodate a capillary gap waveguide.
- the waveguide is preferably made from a suitable light conducting plastic material such as acrylic or polycarbonate or silicone.
- the waveguide 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 waveguide.
- the waveguide is formed and sized to create a capillary space surrounding any active portion of the waveguide extending from the light input to the light output portion.
- the dead zones may include elements to allow the waveguide to securely engage the retractor.
- the light output portion of the waveguide contains one or more output zones, each zone having specially designed output optical structures that control and direct light to escape the waveguide to shine onto a predetermined area of interest or to form one or more predetermined shapes or footprints. Any suitable fluid may be drawn or inserted in the capillary space to alter the performance of the waveguide.
- a blade insert illuminator may comprise one or more illuminator sections designed to engage a mating channel or channels formed in the blade.
- the illuminator is preferably made from a suitable light conducting plastic material such as acrylic or polycarbonate or silicone.
- Blade insert illuminators may be characterized by having a light input portion, a light conducting portion and a light output portion. The blade illuminator may be oriented at any suitable position along the retractor blade channel.
- the light input portion of a blade insert illuminator receives light from an external light source.
- a light source may be an external light box, e.g., a xenon light box, to which one end of a fiber optic light guide cable is attached to conduct light to the surgical field.
- the other end of the fiber optic cable would be the source of light for the blade insert illuminator, for example, by employing a mating connector on the illuminator so that it may connect to the fiber optic cable.
- the light input portion may include a short section of a light conducting material, such as for example, a suitable plastic or a fiber optic bundle, that is permanently integrated or temporarily attached.
- the light conducting portion of a blade insert illuminator typically is responsible for conducting light from the light input section to the light output section. It may be simply a section of optical material designed to support total internal reflection that is integral with the light input and light output portions. Any suitable surface treatment, such as for example, polishing, reflective coating, anti-reflective (AR) coatings and or dielectric coatings may be used to support total internal reflection.
- Any suitable surface treatment such as for example, polishing, reflective coating, anti-reflective (AR) coatings and or dielectric coatings may be used to support total internal reflection.
- the light output portion of a blade insert illuminator contains specially designed output optical structures that allow light to be extracted from the illuminator to shine onto a predetermined area of interest. Such structures may be molded into the light output portion or such structures may be applied, for example, as a film.
- a blade insert illumination system may consist of a single illuminator that contains the light input, light conducting and light output portions in a simple, single device that acts as a waveguide.
- Such a system may also be comprised of different sections of illuminator components that attach together to form a complete system.
- Each section acts as a waveguide and may employ optical structures to polarize and or filter the light energy entering or exiting the waveguide.
- a blade insert illuminator must be designed and fabricated to maximize light transfer from the light source or fiber optic input cable and minimize light loss from the waveguide in order to provide an efficient light transmission system.
- Efficiency is particularly important for LED and other light sources, e.g., halogen or xenon lamps, because it directly determines the required brightness of the LED.
- An inefficient waveguide experiences significant light loss, typically 60% of light may be lost from input to output.
- Such a light guide would require a high power LED to provide sufficient light.
- a high power LED requires a lot of power and generates significant heat, thereby requiring large batteries and bulky and inconvenient heat sinking devices and methods that add to the size and increase the difficulty of using such a device.
- High power light sources often require noisy fans, which may disturb the medical personnel conducting a surgery or medical exam.
- Lamps used in high power light sources have a limited life time, requiring frequent and expensive replacement, due to the need to drive the lamp at high power levels to generate enough light.
- An efficient waveguide one in which light loss is typically less than 30%, allows a much lower power LED or other light source to be used, thereby significantly reducing or eliminating the need for special heat sinking devices and methods, reducing cost, and improving the usability of the device.
- the design of an efficient blade insert illumination waveguide may involve special design of the light input portion of the waveguide to efficiently capture the incoming light, for example, by careful selection of numerical apertures or using a lens, design and fabrication of the light reflecting walls of the light conducting portion of the waveguide to maintain surface finish to maximize reflection and reduce light lost through refraction, the use of reflective or dampening coatings, the design of light directing optical structures that direct the light toward the light output optical structures while minimizing light loss through refraction, and or the design of light output optical structures that maximize light exiting the waveguide through refraction, particularly refraction of light in certain directions, while minimizing light lost through reflection.
- a blade insert illumination system includes one or more illumination elements composed of a transparent or semi- transparent polymer that is preferably biocompatible and sterilizable.
- the illumination elements operate as a waveguide and may incorporate optical components such as, for example, symmetric or asymmetric 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. Each module may also have different performance characteristics such as a diffuse light output or a focused light output allowing users to mix and match optical performance as well.
- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a blade insert illuminator.
- Figure IA is a cross-section of the blade insert illuminator of Figure 1 taken along A-A.
- Figure IB is a cross-section of the blade insert illuminator of Figure 1 taken along B-B.
- Figure 2 is a perspective view of an alternate blade insert illuminator.
- Figure 2A is a perspective view of the attachment mechanism of the blade illuminator of Figure 2.
- Figure 3 is a perspective view of another blade insert illuminator.
- Figure 3A is a close perspective view of the light output section of the blade illuminator of Figure 3.
- Figure 3B is a close perspective view of a conduit section of the blade illuminator of Figure 3.
- Figure 3C is a front view of a light ray path for a light conduit section of the blade illuminator of Figure 3.
- Figure 4 is a perspective view of a single waveguide blade illuminator with a flexible input coupling for a short blade retractor.
- Figure 5 is a perspective view of a single waveguide blade illuminator system with a flexible input coupling for a long blade retractor.
- Figure 5A is a perspective view of an alternate waveguide blade illuminator with a rigid input coupling.
- Figure 6 is a perspective view of an alternate attachment mechanism for blade insert illuminator sections.
- Figure 7 is a side view of blade insert illuminator with stepped waveguide sections.
- Figure 8 is a perspective view of an alternate single waveguide blade insert illumination system.
- Figure 9 is a perspective view of a single waveguide blade insert with a light directing structure.
- Figure 10 is a perspective view of a single waveguide blade insert with a light directing structure with an attachment mechanism.
- Figure 11 is a perspective view of a single waveguide blade insert with a waveguide element co-molded with a retracting element.
- Figure 12 is a perspective view of an illuminated retractor.
- Figure 12A is an exploded view of the input collar and the illumination blade input.
- Figure 13 is a cross-section view of the illuminated retractor of Figure 12.
- Figure 14 is a side view of the illumination blade of Figure 12.
- Figure 15 is a front view of the illumination blade of Figure 12.
- Figure 16 is a perspective view of an illumination waveguide .
- Figure 17 is a side view of the output section of the illumination waveguide of Figure 16.
- Figure 18 illustrates the formation of aspheric facets in the output zone of the illumination waveguide of Figure 18.
- Figure 19 illustrates the formation of rotational facets for an illumination waveguide.
- Retractor illumination system 10 of Figure 1 includes blade retractor 12 including channel 13 to engage a fiber optic input 14 and waveguide illuminator 16.
- Latch 17 serves to mechanically attach waveguide illuminator 16 to fiber optic input 14 so that the resulting assembly may be moved up and down in channel 13 to any position suitable for illumination.
- the optical coupling between fiber input 14 and waveguide illuminator 16 is a simple face-to-face coupling, which may be enhanced by use of an index matching gel, or other similar material, applied to either the fiber input 14 or the waveguide illuminator 16 or both.
- Light entering waveguide illuminator 16 is contained within the waveguide with minimal light loss until it reaches output optical structures such as output structures 18, where light exits to illuminate the predetermined illumination area 20.
- Output optical structures 18 may include one or more stair stepped facets or lenses that may include a curved or angled face, one or prism structures, one or more diffraction gratings, applied optical film, or other optical structures designed to direct the available light to the predetermined illumination area 20.
- FIG. 1A In the cross-section view of Figure IA channels 13 of blade 12 engage waveguide illuminator 16. Any suitable channel configuration may be used, such as, for example, a single channel with a circular or rhomboid cross-section.
- the section view of Figure IB shows a section of blade retractor 12, waveguide illuminator 16 and fiber input 14, with detail showing latch 17 which snaps into a hole or detent 14D formed in fiber input 14 and the latch may be disengaged with a minor amount of force.
- Output optical structures 18 control and direct output light energy 21 which illuminates predetermined illumination area 20.
- Alternate blade insert illumination system 22 of Figure 2 includes blade retractor 24 that includes light input section 26, one or more light conduit sections such as light conduit section 27, and a light output section such a light output section 28 that includes one or more output optical elements such as output optical elements 30.
- light input section 26 has an integrated fiber optic input 32.
- One or more fiber optic strands such as strands 32A and 32B may be integrated into the upper portion of light input section 26 by molding the strands into light input section 26, gluing the strands into a formed receiving hole 26R formed into the section, or other suitable methods.
- a light coupling element such as element 33 may also be included to improve light coupling and distribution.
- a collar such as collar 34 may be provided to aid in strain relief for the optical fiber input.
- Light directing structure 36 causes the light coming into the center of the waveguide illuminator to be directed along the sides of light input section 26.
- the same light directing structure is shown in light conduit section 27, serving to direct the light down to the next section.
- Light input section 26 and light conduit section 27 may be provided without the light directing structure, but this may result in a decrease in efficiency.
- Output optical element 30 may have a flat face to which an optical output film is applied to allow light to escape and direct the light toward tissues of interest, or output section 28 may have output optical film or molded structures located on or integrated into rear face 28R that serve to send light out through output optical element 30.
- Figure 2A shows the blade insert illuminator system of Figure 2 with light conduit section 27 removed to show the section attachment mechanism consisting of one or more male members such as engagement member 38 and a corresponding receptacle such as receptacle 39.
- Output end 38A of the male member 38 may also include one or more output transmission coupling structures or optical structures, e.g., a lens, such as lens 38L to focus the light into the corresponding receptacle.
- Bottom 39A of receptacle 39 may also include one or more input transmission coupling structures or optical structures, e.g., a lens, such as lens 39L to spread light into its corresponding waveguide.
- the male members are pressed into the female receptacles of the subsequent section and friction holds the sections together.
- light conduit section 27 of Figure 2 may be removed, allowing light input section 26 and light output section 28 to be directly connected together, for example, to fit a blade having a short length or to permit adjustment along the blade retractor of the waveguide element to adjust the location of the illumination area.
- One or more light conduit sections 27 may be added to the assembly to fit blades of medium or long length thereby providing a modular blade insert illumination system whose components may be mixed and matched as needed. For example, if more than one blade retractor is used in a procedure, one blade may be fitted with a shorter assembly of blade illumination components to illuminate the upper part of the surgical field and a second blade may be fitted with a longer assembly of blade illumination system components to illuminate the lower, deeper part of the surgical field.
- Blade insert illumination system 40 includes light input section 4OA, one or more light conduit sections such as conduit sections 4OB and light output section 4OC.
- Bifurcated fiber optic cable 41 is integrated into light input section 4OA.
- This blade illuminator configuration includes an engagement arm 42 and light directing structure 44.
- Figures 3A, 3B and 3C illustrate details of arm 42 and light directing structure 44.
- the engagement arm 42 of first element 4OB engages adjacent element 4OA to maintain a secure optical connection at interface 45 between the elements.
- Arm 42 is a generally resilient member to permit flexing at joint 46 which permits tooth 47 to engage the light directing structure of the adjacent element.
- One or more light control elements such as light collecting lens 48 may be included at the input end of each blade illuminator element such as input end 49 of light output section 4OC.
- light output lens 50 may be included at the bottom, exit or output end 51 of a light conduit section such as conduit section 4OB.
- Lenses 48 and 50 are illustrative of the use of optical structures to aid in the transmission of light between modules. Any other suitable optical structures such as angled facets, multi-faceted lens structures, spherical or aspherical lens may also be used.
- Figure 3C illustrates how light travels in a blade insert illuminator conduit such as conduit element 4OB.
- Light from bifurcated fiber optic cable 41 first enters the top of light input section 4OA as illustrated in Figure 3.
- Light energy 52 entering a blade illuminator waveguide such as conduit 4OB, either from the fiber optic cable or light collecting lens 48, are guided by light directing structure 44 and light output lens 50.
- Single element blade illuminator 54 is shown in Figure 4. In this example, retractor 56 has a short blade 57. When used with a retractor having a long blade, single element blade illuminator 54 may be adjusted along the length of the retractor blade to provide illumination wherever it is needed.
- a short section of fiber optic cable 58 is integrated into blade illuminator waveguide 60 at the output end and has any suitable connector 62 such as an industry standard ACMI connector or any other type of standard or proprietary connector, at the input end.
- Connector 62 is normally connected to a standard fiber optic light guide cable that conducts light from an external light source. Since blade insert illumination system 54 is made to minimize light loss, portable LED light sources may be attached directly to connector 62 or via a much shorter fiber optic light guide cable.
- Short section of fiber optic cable 58 is flexible and allows considerable latitude in how the connector 62 and light guide cable are oriented. For example, the connector 62 may be placed toward handle 56H of retractor 56 or it may be placed on either side in order to keep out of the way of the surgeon and any other equipment that may be in use.
- Single element extended blade illuminator system 64 of Figure 5 is a simple blade insert illuminator designed to fit long blade retractors such a retractor 66.
- Illuminator waveguide 68 receives light at input 69, conducts light through total internal reflection throughout center portion 68C, and output optical structures such as output structure 70 directs the light toward a predetermined area to be illuminated.
- Blade insert illuminator 72 of Figure 5A is an extended waveguide blade illuminator with a rigid light input component 73 in the place of the short section of fiber optic cable 58 as shown in Figures 4 and 5.
- Rigid light input component 73 allows all of the light guiding sections, waveguide 74 and rigid light input component 73, to be molded as one device, thereby reducing cost of the assembly.
- Support gussets or flanges such as flanges 75 may be added to provide stability.
- Flanges 75 may have a coating or film applied to prevent light from escaping or may be made from a different material, for example, using a co-molding or overmolding process.
- Rigid light input component 73 may have an orthogonal input as shown, requiring light directing structure 76 to direct light from connector 62 down to waveguide 74 of the waveguide illuminator.
- Rigid light input component 73 may also be formed with a radius, as shown in Figure 5, and using total internal reflection to guide the light from connector 62 to the body of the waveguide.
- Rigid light input component 73 may also be made rotatable, thereby allowing the fiber optic light guide cable to be positioned as needed around the surgical field to avoid interference with other instruments.
- Figure 6 illustrates alternate modular blade insert illuminator elements 8OA and 8OB showing an alternative placement of latches 82 that hold the waveguide components together. Keeping the latches off to the side of the components, rather than in front as shown in Figure 3, reduces the likelihood of the latches being accidentally disengaged or broken by surgical instruments during the course of a surgical procedure.
- Any other suitable mechanisms may be used to attach the modular components to each other, e.g., dovetail joints, tongue-and-groove joints, adhesives that are preferably index matching adhesives, etc., to optimize light coupling from one module to the next.
- the attachment mechanisms may also be separate from the optical path, for example, metal pins and sockets may be located in optically inactive areas of the modules.
- FIG. 7 is a side view of an alternate modular blade insert illumination system 84 wherein each subsequent waveguide section is lessened in thickness 85.
- This allows output optical structures such as output structures 86 to be placed at the exposed end of the upstream waveguide, thereby allowing light to be directed from each waveguide section such as sections 84A, 84B, 84C.
- Each waveguide component such as sections 84A, 84B may have a bottom surface that contains output optical structures 86 over much of its surface to act as a terminal illumination component in case no other subsequent waveguide components are attached.
- Light output section 84C shows stepped output optical structure 88 on the front side and output optical structures 89 on the back side. Without output optical structures 88 that direct light out of the face, light would be lost out the end of light output section 84C, therefore, the combination of output optical structures 88 and 89 contribute to higher efficiency through less lost light.
- Illuminator 90 is shown engaged to retractor 91.
- Illuminator 90 has integrated wings 92 that may serve an additional retracting function. Wings 92 are oriented generally parallel to long axis 87 of illuminator 90. In this configuration, light is directed to exit output optical structure 94. Light enters illuminator 90 via light input component 95, which may be a fiber optic component or a rigid light conducting component at previously discussed. Because total internal reflection may allow light to enter wings 92, the wings may need a reflective coating to prevent light from exiting the wings and being lost or shining into unwanted directions, such as back into the surgeons eyes.
- Figure 9 illustrates another alternate blade insert illuminator 9OA that has a light directing element 96, which serves to direct the light coming into the middle of the illuminator out toward the wings 92A.
- Output optical structures such as structures 97 and 98 may be placed on wings 92A and body respectively to provide illumination from both structures as shown by the arrows .
- FIG 10 illustrates another alternate blade insert illuminator 9OB with an extended light directing element 96B.
- optical output structures are placed only on the wings 92B so that illumination, light energy 99, only exits through extended output structures 97B in wings 92B as shown by the arrows.
- Extended light directing element 96B has reflective walls such as wall 93 that extend to output end 9OE of illuminator 9OB to maximize light reflected to the wings 92B.
- This configuration also includes alternative latch arm 100 oriented near the interface with retractor 102 to engage cutouts or detents such as detents 103A, 103B and 103C located in retractor 102.
- Latch arm 100 maybe made of the same material as the waveguide or may be made of a different material for durability.
- latch arm 100 may be made from steel or titanium and insert molded into illuminator 9OB.
- a retractor blade may be inserted into one or more slots in the illuminator waveguide to provide rigidity and or to enable cooperation with surgical site retention apparatus .
- Co-molded blade insert illuminator 104 of Figure 11 includes waveguide section 106 has been co-molded or over- molded with wing and body retractor portions 104W and 104B respectively, which are made of a different material.
- retractor wing and body portions 104W and 104B may be made of a stronger, glass reinforced plastic or steel or titanium for strength while waveguide section 106 is molded from a suitable optical material such as acrylic, polycarbonate, silicone or other similar optical materials.
- Illuminated retractor 107 as illustrated in Figure 12 is composed of retractor blade 108 and illumination blade 109.
- Retractor blade 108 is shown as a McCulloch style retractor blade for use with a McCulloch retraction system although any suitable retractor and or retraction configuration may be used.
- Retractor blade 108 includes one or more mechanical connectors such a mechanical connector 108M and neck slot or channel 110 to accommodate neck zone 124 and blade slot 111 to accommodate output blade 125 within retractor blade 108 while maintaining an air gap between active zones of the illumination blade and the retractor.
- Two or more engagement elements such as blade or plate 112 and tabs 114 secure illumination blade 109 to retractor blade 108.
- Each tab 114 engages one or more engagement receptacles such as receptacles or recesses 115.
- Plate 112 is joined to collar 116, and when collar 116 removably engages input dead zone 122D, the collar surrounds illumination blade input 118. The removable engagement of collar 116 to input dead zone 122D also brings plate 112 into contact with end surface 119 of the retractor blade. Collar 116 securely engages dead zone 122D and surrounds cylindrical input zone 120 and forms input air gap 120G. Engagement at dead zones minimizes interference with the light path by engagement elements such a plate 112 and tabs 114. Plate 112 engages end surface 119 and tabs 114 resiliently engage recesses 115 to hold illumination blade 109 fixed to retractor blade 108 without contact between active zones of illumination blade 109 and any part of retractor blade 108.
- Illumination blade 109 is configured to form a series of active zones to control and conduct light from illumination blade input 118 of the cylindrical input zone 120 to one or more output zones such as output zones 127 through 131 and output end 133 as illustrated in Figures 12, 13, 14 and 15. Illumination blade 109 also includes one or more dead zones such as zones 122D, 126D and 126E. Dead zones are oriented to minimize light entering the dead zone and thus potentially exiting in an unintended direction. As there is minimal light in or transiting dead zones they are ideal locations for engagement elements to secure the illumination blade to the retractor.
- Light is delivered to illumination blade input 118 using any conventional mechanism such as a standard ACMI connector having a 0.5mm gap between the end of the fiber bundle and illumination blade input 118, which is 4.2mm diameter to gather the light from a 3.5mm fiber bundle with .5NA.
- Light incident to illumination blade input 118 enters the illumination blade through generally cylindrical, active input zone 120 and travels through active input transition 122 to a generally rectangular active retractor neck 124 and through output transition 126 to output blade 125 which contains active output zones 127 through 131 and active output end 133.
- Retractor neck 124 is generally rectangular and is generally square near input transition 122 and the neck configuration varies to a rectangular cross section near output transition 126.
- Output blade 125 has a generally high aspect ratio rectangular cross-section resulting in a generally wide and thin blade. Each zone is arranged to have an output surface area larger than the input surface area, thereby reducing the temperature per unit output area.
- illumination blade 109 includes at least one dead zone, dead zone 122D, generally surrounding input transition 122.
- dead zone 122D One or more dead zones at or near the output of the illumination blade provide locations to for engagement elements such as tabs to permit stable engagement of the illumination blade to the retractor.
- This stable engagement supports the maintenance of an air gap such as air gap 121 adjacent to all active zones of the illumination blade as illustrated in Figure 13.
- Neck zone 124 ends with dimension 132 adjacent to output transition 126 which extends to dimension 134 at the output zones.
- the changing dimensions result in dead zones 126D and 126E adjacent to output transition 126.
- These dead zones are suitable locations for mounting tabs 114 to minimize any effects of the engagement elements on the light path.
- Air gap 121 may be sized to operate as a capillary space to draw or hold fluid or fluids between the illumination waveguide and the retractor. The presence of fluid between the illumination waveguide and the retractor will alter the performance of the waveguide. When dimensioned to operate as a capillary space, gap 121 may accommodate any suitable fluid to alter the performance of the illumination waveguide. Different dimensions of gap 121 may be used to preferentially draw or hold specific fluids, and the different specific fluids may be used to accomplish different changes to the operation of the illumination waveguide.
- the engagement elements are aligned to form an engagement axis such as engagement axis 136 which is parallel to light input axis 138.
- Output zones 127, 128, 129, 130 and 131 have similar configurations with different dimensions. Referring to the detailed view of Figure 14, the characteristics of output zone 127 are illustrated. Each output zone is formed of parallel prism shapes with a primary surface or facet such as primary facet 140 with a length 140L and a secondary surface or facet such as secondary facet 142 having a length 142L. The facets are oriented relative to plane 143 which is parallel to and maintained at a thickness or depth 144 from rear surface 145. In the illustrated configuration, all output zones have the same depth 144 from the rear surface.
- each output zone is formed at a primary angle 146 from plane 143.
- Secondary facets such as facet 142 form a secondary angle 147 relative to primary facets such as primary facet 140.
- output zone 127 has primary facet 140 with a length 140L of .45mm at primary angle of 27°and secondary facet 142 with a length 142L of .23mm at secondary angle 88°.
- Output zone 128 has primary facet 140 with a length 140L of .55mm at primary angle of 26° and secondary facet 142 with a length 142L of .24mm at secondary angle 66°.
- Output zone 129 has primary facet 140 with a length 140L of .53mm at primary angle of 20°and secondary facet 142 with a length 142L of .18mm at secondary angle 72°.
- Output zone 130 has primary facet 140 with a length 140L of .55mm at primary angle of 26°and secondary facet 142 with a length 142L of .24mm at secondary angle 66°.
- Output zone 131 has primary facet 140 with a length 140L of .54mm at primary angle of 27°and secondary facet 142 with a length 142L of .24mm at secondary angle 68 ° .
- Output end 133 is the final active zone in the illumination blade and is illustrated in detail in Figure 14.
- Rear reflector 148 forms angle 149 relative to front surface 150.
- Front surface 150 is parallel to rear surface 145.
- Terminal facet 151 forms angle 152 relative to front surface 150. In the illustrated configuration, angle 149 is 32° and angle 152 is 95°.
- output structures may be adopted in one or more output zones.
- output zones 127 and 128 might adopt a concave curve down and output zone 129 might remain generally horizontal and output zones 130 and 131 might adopt a concave curve up.
- plane 143 might be a spherical section with a large radius of curvature. Plane 143 may also adopt sinusoidal or other complex geometries. The geometries may be applied in both the horizontal and the vertical direction to form compound surfaces .
- output zones may provide illumination at two or more levels throughout a surgical site.
- output zones 127 and 128 might cooperate to illuminate a first surgical area and output zones 129 and 130 may cooperatively illuminate a second surgical area and output zone 131 and output end 133 may illuminate a third surgical area. This configuration eliminates the need to reorient the illumination elements during a surgical procedure.
- Illumination waveguide 153 is configured to form a series of active zones to control and conduct light from waveguide input 154 of the cylindrical input zone 155 to one or more output zones such as output zone 162 and output end 163 as illustrated in Figures 16 and 17.
- Output end 163 is oriented to eject any light, generally along the axis of illumination, that is not extracted by output zone 162.
- Illumination waveguide 153 also includes one or more dead zones as discussed above.
- output zone 162 may be configured as a segmented portion of an aspheric curve such as output curve 164 perpendicular to axis of illumination 165.
- Suitable aspheric curves may be described by various mathematical equations.
- Output zone 162 is formed using the following coefficients:
- Curve segments such as segments 166, 167, 168 and 169 may be determined using an equation such as above for each segment length, period or pitch 170, the distance from a point of a facet segment to a corresponding point of an adjacent facet segment, of output zone 162. As illustrated, the pitch of all segments of output zone 162 is constant. This technique may be employed for variable pitch output zones as well. Depth 173 of each facet segment varies as a function of the curve used to develop the facet segments such as segments 166, 167, 168 and 169. Depth 173 may be held constant if the draft angle segment is extended as the overall angle of the facet segments becomes flatter relative to the front surface of the illumination waveguide. Between facet segments are draft angle segments such as draft angle segment 174.
- draft angle segments may be substantially perpendicular to the plane established by the front surface of illumination waveguide 153, or maybe undercut (forming an acute angle with the plane established by the waveguide) or may slope downwardly as shown in Figure 14 (where item numbers 146 and 147 illustrate a primary and secondary angle which, when added together, form and angle obtuse to the plane formed by the front surface of the waveguide .
- the curvature of facet segments 166, 167, 168 and 169 is determined by mapping curve 164 onto the front surface of the waveguide. The mapping, as illustrated, is continuous in the sense that contiguous segments of the curve are mapped to respective contiguous primary facets.
- contiguous curve segments 166c, 167c, 168c and 169c are mapped onto contiguous facet segments 166, 167, 168 and 169.
- the mapping may be varied, so long as the mapping is continuous and complete along the numerous facet segments, while still obtaining the benefits of mapping the aspherical curve onto the facet segment of each ridge.
- curve segments such as curve segments 166, 167, 168 and 169 may be determined using an equation such as above and each facet segment may be approximated to the curve by using a suitable tangent to the curve for each segment.
- Curve segments such as segment 166 may also be approximated by sub- segmented curves in which a curve segment is formed by a plurality of straight sub-segments approximating the calculated curve.
- plane 143 might be a spherical section with a large radius of curvature.
- Plane 143 may also adopt sinusoidal or other complex geometries. The geometries may be applied in both the horizontal and the vertical direction to form compound surfaces.
- output structures may be formed of rotational facets as shown in Figure 19.
- the peak of each facet such as peak 177 in Figure 18 may follow the arc of a series of concentric circles or ellipses such as circles 180.
- a portion of the curves such as portion 182 or portion 184 may be used to form the primary or facet segments for an illuminated waveguide.
- the change in radius of subsequent circles or curves may be a linear or non-linear function of radius 185.
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 contain from two to eight output zones, each zone having specially designed output optical structures
Description
Blade Insert Illuminator
Field of the Inventions
The inventions described below relate to the field of medicine and more specifically, to providing in vivo surgical field illumination during surgical procedures.
Background of the Inventions
Surgical procedures often employ the use of retractors to separate and hold tissue to expose the underlying tissue on which the procedure is to be performed. Blade retractors are a type of retractor that typically have a flat or slightly curved blade that is inserted into the body. The blade may have a handle portion that is used to manipulate the blade. One or more blade retractors may be used in a surgical procedure. Illumination in these procedures is typically limited to external illumination sources such as ceiling or wall mounted lights or light sources integrated into a headband worn by the surgeon (e.g., LED based or fiber optic based) . These light sources provide poor illumination of the deep tissue on which surgery is to be performed. Fiber optic devices may be fixed to a blade retractor to shine light on the deep tissue, but fiber optic systems either provide a small spot of light requiring constant repositioning to view all the tissue, or they provide a very diffuse light that does not adequately illuminate the tissue of interest. The fiber optic also has a very small emission area. Any debris or blood that covers it will block the majority of illumination. Furthermore, fiber optic devices are very expensive, requiring specialized cutting, grinding and polishing. Some blade retractors are provided with length-wise channels into which ancillary retracting or illumination devices may be inserted. Blade insert illumination devices are currently limited to
fiber optic approaches with their poor illumination characteristics .
Summary
A retractor with an air gap illuminator uses any suitable retractor such as McCulloch, and includes a channel in the retractor blade to accommodate the illuminator. The illuminator is preferably made from a suitable light conducting plastic material such as acrylic or polycarbonate or silicone. The illuminator is also formed to have an air gap or a capillary space surrounding any active portion of the illuminator from the light input to the light output portion. 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 dead zones may include elements to allow the illuminator to securely engage the retractor. The illuminator may be characterized as having a light input portion, a light conducting portion and a light output portion.
The light input portion of the illuminator receives light from an external light source. Such a light source may be an external light box, e.g., a xenon light box, to which one end of a fiber optic light guide cable is attached to conduct light to the surgical field. In this instance, the other end of the fiber optic cable would be the source of light for the blade insert illuminator, for example, by employing a mating connector on the illuminator so that it may connect to the fiber optic cable. The light input portion may also include a tab, finger or other projection extending from a dead zone to engage the retractor blade at the top or handle end, the projection may be permanently integrated or temporarily attached.
The light conducting portion of the illuminator typically is responsible for conducting light from the light input section to the light output section. It may be simply a section of optical material designed to support total internal reflection that is integral with the light input and light output portions. Surface treatment, e.g., polishing or reflective coating, the continuous air gap or a capillary space and any suitable fluid may be used to support total internal reflection.
In various configurations, the light output portion of the illuminator may include one or more output zones having variable geometry facet segments, or a plurality of 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 have a predetermined shape or footprint. Such structures may be molded or cut into the light output zone or zones.
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.
A capillary gap retractor illumination system includes any suitable retractor such as a McCulloch with a channel in the blade to accommodate a capillary gap waveguide. The waveguide is preferably made from a suitable light conducting plastic material such as acrylic or polycarbonate or silicone. The waveguide 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 waveguide. The waveguide is formed and sized to create a capillary space surrounding any active portion of the waveguide extending from the light input to the light output portion. The dead zones may include elements to allow the waveguide to securely engage the retractor. The light output portion of the waveguide contains one or more output zones, each zone having specially designed output optical structures that control and direct light to escape the waveguide to shine onto a predetermined area of interest or to form one or more predetermined shapes or footprints. Any suitable fluid may be drawn or inserted in the capillary space to alter the performance of the waveguide.
A blade insert illuminator may comprise one or more illuminator sections designed to engage a mating channel or channels formed in the blade. The illuminator is preferably made from a suitable light conducting plastic material such as acrylic or polycarbonate or silicone. Blade insert illuminators may be characterized by having a light input portion, a light conducting portion and a light output portion. The blade illuminator may be oriented at any suitable position along the retractor blade channel.
The light input portion of a blade insert illuminator receives light from an external light source. Such a light
source may be an external light box, e.g., a xenon light box, to which one end of a fiber optic light guide cable is attached to conduct light to the surgical field. In this instance, the other end of the fiber optic cable would be the source of light for the blade insert illuminator, for example, by employing a mating connector on the illuminator so that it may connect to the fiber optic cable. The light input portion may include a short section of a light conducting material, such as for example, a suitable plastic or a fiber optic bundle, that is permanently integrated or temporarily attached.
The light conducting portion of a blade insert illuminator typically is responsible for conducting light from the light input section to the light output section. It may be simply a section of optical material designed to support total internal reflection that is integral with the light input and light output portions. Any suitable surface treatment, such as for example, polishing, reflective coating, anti-reflective (AR) coatings and or dielectric coatings may be used to support total internal reflection.
The light output portion of a blade insert illuminator contains specially designed output optical structures that allow light to be extracted from the illuminator to shine onto a predetermined area of interest. Such structures may be molded into the light output portion or such structures may be applied, for example, as a film.
A blade insert illumination system may consist of a single illuminator that contains the light input, light conducting and light output portions in a simple, single device that acts as a waveguide. Such a system may also be comprised of different sections of illuminator components that attach together to form a complete system. In this case, there may be a light input section designed to receive light
from a light source, one or more light conduit sections designed to conduct light from the light input section to a light output section, and a light output section containing the optical output structures that allow light to escape and illuminate a predetermined area of interest, said sections attaching together to form a complete system. Each section acts as a waveguide and may employ optical structures to polarize and or filter the light energy entering or exiting the waveguide.
A blade insert illuminator must be designed and fabricated to maximize light transfer from the light source or fiber optic input cable and minimize light loss from the waveguide in order to provide an efficient light transmission system. Efficiency is particularly important for LED and other light sources, e.g., halogen or xenon lamps, because it directly determines the required brightness of the LED. An inefficient waveguide experiences significant light loss, typically 60% of light may be lost from input to output. Such a light guide would require a high power LED to provide sufficient light. A high power LED requires a lot of power and generates significant heat, thereby requiring large batteries and bulky and inconvenient heat sinking devices and methods that add to the size and increase the difficulty of using such a device. Other high power light sources often require noisy fans, which may disturb the medical personnel conducting a surgery or medical exam. Lamps used in high power light sources have a limited life time, requiring frequent and expensive replacement, due to the need to drive the lamp at high power levels to generate enough light. An efficient waveguide, one in which light loss is typically less than 30%, allows a much lower power LED or other light source to be used, thereby significantly reducing or eliminating the need for special heat sinking devices and methods, reducing cost, and improving the usability of the device. The design
of an efficient blade insert illumination waveguide may involve special design of the light input portion of the waveguide to efficiently capture the incoming light, for example, by careful selection of numerical apertures or using a lens, design and fabrication of the light reflecting walls of the light conducting portion of the waveguide to maintain surface finish to maximize reflection and reduce light lost through refraction, the use of reflective or dampening coatings, the design of light directing optical structures that direct the light toward the light output optical structures while minimizing light loss through refraction, and or the design of light output optical structures that maximize light exiting the waveguide through refraction, particularly refraction of light in certain directions, while minimizing light lost through reflection.
A blade insert illumination system includes one or more illumination elements composed of a transparent or semi- transparent polymer that is preferably biocompatible and sterilizable. The illumination elements operate as a waveguide and may incorporate optical components such as, for example, symmetric or asymmetric 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. Each module may also have different performance characteristics such as a diffuse light output or a focused light output allowing users to mix and match optical performance as well.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a blade insert illuminator.
Figure IA is a cross-section of the blade insert illuminator of Figure 1 taken along A-A.
Figure IB is a cross-section of the blade insert illuminator of Figure 1 taken along B-B.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of an alternate blade insert illuminator.
Figure 2A is a perspective view of the attachment mechanism of the blade illuminator of Figure 2.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of another blade insert illuminator.
Figure 3A is a close perspective view of the light output section of the blade illuminator of Figure 3.
Figure 3B is a close perspective view of a conduit section of the blade illuminator of Figure 3.
Figure 3C is a front view of a light ray path for a light conduit section of the blade illuminator of Figure 3.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a single waveguide blade illuminator with a flexible input coupling for a short blade retractor.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a single waveguide blade illuminator system with a flexible input coupling for a long blade retractor.
Figure 5A is a perspective view of an alternate waveguide blade illuminator with a rigid input coupling.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of an alternate attachment mechanism for blade insert illuminator sections.
Figure 7 is a side view of blade insert illuminator with stepped waveguide sections.
Figure 8 is a perspective view of an alternate single waveguide blade insert illumination system.
Figure 9 is a perspective view of a single waveguide blade insert with a light directing structure.
Figure 10 is a perspective view of a single waveguide blade insert with a light directing structure with an attachment mechanism.
Figure 11 is a perspective view of a single waveguide blade insert with a waveguide element co-molded with a retracting element.
Figure 12 is a perspective view of an illuminated retractor.
Figure 12A is an exploded view of the input collar and the illumination blade input.
Figure 13 is a cross-section view of the illuminated retractor of Figure 12.
Figure 14 is a side view of the illumination blade of Figure 12.
Figure 15 is a front view of the illumination blade of Figure 12.
Figure 16 is a perspective view of an illumination waveguide .
Figure 17 is a side view of the output section of the illumination waveguide of Figure 16.
Figure 18 illustrates the formation of aspheric facets in the output zone of the illumination waveguide of Figure 18.
Figure 19 illustrates the formation of rotational facets for an illumination waveguide.
Detailed Description of the Inventions
Retractor illumination system 10 of Figure 1 includes blade retractor 12 including channel 13 to engage a fiber optic input 14 and waveguide illuminator 16. Latch 17 serves to mechanically attach waveguide illuminator 16 to fiber optic input 14 so that the resulting assembly may be moved up and down in channel 13 to any position suitable for illumination. The optical coupling between fiber input 14 and waveguide illuminator 16 is a simple face-to-face coupling, which may be enhanced by use of an index matching gel, or other similar material, applied to either the fiber input 14 or the waveguide illuminator 16 or both. Light entering waveguide illuminator 16 is contained within the waveguide with minimal light loss until it reaches output optical structures such as output structures 18, where light exits to illuminate the predetermined illumination area 20. Output optical structures 18 may include one or more stair stepped facets or lenses that may include a curved or angled face, one or prism structures, one or more diffraction gratings, applied optical film, or other optical structures designed to direct the available light to the predetermined illumination area 20.
In the cross-section view of Figure IA channels 13 of blade 12 engage waveguide illuminator 16. Any suitable channel configuration may be used, such as, for example, a single channel with a circular or rhomboid cross-section. The section view of Figure IB shows a section of blade retractor 12, waveguide illuminator 16 and fiber input 14, with detail showing latch 17 which snaps into a hole or detent 14D formed in fiber input 14 and the latch may be disengaged with a minor amount of force. Output optical structures 18 control and direct output light energy 21 which illuminates predetermined illumination area 20.
Alternate blade insert illumination system 22 of Figure 2 includes blade retractor 24 that includes light input section 26, one or more light conduit sections such as light conduit section 27, and a light output section such a light output section 28 that includes one or more output optical elements such as output optical elements 30. In this configuration, light input section 26 has an integrated fiber optic input 32. One or more fiber optic strands such as strands 32A and 32B may be integrated into the upper portion of light input section 26 by molding the strands into light input section 26, gluing the strands into a formed receiving hole 26R formed into the section, or other suitable methods. A light coupling element such as element 33 may also be included to improve light coupling and distribution. A collar such as collar 34 may be provided to aid in strain relief for the optical fiber input. Light directing structure 36 causes the light coming into the center of the waveguide illuminator to be directed along the sides of light input section 26. The same light directing structure is shown in light conduit section 27, serving to direct the light down to the next section. Light input section 26 and light conduit section 27 may be provided without the light directing structure, but this may result in a decrease in efficiency.
Output optical element 30 may have a flat face to which an optical output film is applied to allow light to escape and direct the light toward tissues of interest, or output section 28 may have output optical film or molded structures located on or integrated into rear face 28R that serve to send light out through output optical element 30.
Figure 2A shows the blade insert illuminator system of Figure 2 with light conduit section 27 removed to show the section attachment mechanism consisting of one or more male members such as engagement member 38 and a corresponding receptacle such as receptacle 39. Output end 38A of the male
member 38 may also include one or more output transmission coupling structures or optical structures, e.g., a lens, such as lens 38L to focus the light into the corresponding receptacle. Bottom 39A of receptacle 39 may also include one or more input transmission coupling structures or optical structures, e.g., a lens, such as lens 39L to spread light into its corresponding waveguide. In use, the male members are pressed into the female receptacles of the subsequent section and friction holds the sections together.
In this configuration, light conduit section 27 of Figure 2 may be removed, allowing light input section 26 and light output section 28 to be directly connected together, for example, to fit a blade having a short length or to permit adjustment along the blade retractor of the waveguide element to adjust the location of the illumination area. One or more light conduit sections 27 may be added to the assembly to fit blades of medium or long length thereby providing a modular blade insert illumination system whose components may be mixed and matched as needed. For example, if more than one blade retractor is used in a procedure, one blade may be fitted with a shorter assembly of blade illumination components to illuminate the upper part of the surgical field and a second blade may be fitted with a longer assembly of blade illumination system components to illuminate the lower, deeper part of the surgical field. Sliding a blade insert illumination system up and down slightly within the blade channel allows the illumination area to be adjusted, for example, sliding the light output section closer to the work area increases the intensity of illumination and sliding it away from the work area provides a more diffuse, less intense illumination. In this way, the modular blade insert illumination system may be optimized for a particular type of work to be performed.
Figure 3 illustrates an alternate blade insert illumination system 40 inserted into blade 12. Blade insert illumination system 40 includes light input section 4OA, one or more light conduit sections such as conduit sections 4OB and light output section 4OC. Bifurcated fiber optic cable 41 is integrated into light input section 4OA. This blade illuminator configuration includes an engagement arm 42 and light directing structure 44.
Figures 3A, 3B and 3C illustrate details of arm 42 and light directing structure 44. When two or more modular elements of blade insert illuminator system 40 engage channels 13, the engagement arm 42 of first element 4OB engages adjacent element 4OA to maintain a secure optical connection at interface 45 between the elements. Arm 42 is a generally resilient member to permit flexing at joint 46 which permits tooth 47 to engage the light directing structure of the adjacent element. One or more light control elements such as light collecting lens 48 may be included at the input end of each blade illuminator element such as input end 49 of light output section 4OC. Similarly, light output lens 50 may be included at the bottom, exit or output end 51 of a light conduit section such as conduit section 4OB. Lenses 48 and 50 are illustrative of the use of optical structures to aid in the transmission of light between modules. Any other suitable optical structures such as angled facets, multi-faceted lens structures, spherical or aspherical lens may also be used. Figure 3C illustrates how light travels in a blade insert illuminator conduit such as conduit element 4OB. Light from bifurcated fiber optic cable 41 first enters the top of light input section 4OA as illustrated in Figure 3. Light energy 52 entering a blade illuminator waveguide such as conduit 4OB, either from the fiber optic cable or light collecting lens 48, are guided by light directing structure 44 and light output lens 50.
Single element blade illuminator 54 is shown in Figure 4. In this example, retractor 56 has a short blade 57. When used with a retractor having a long blade, single element blade illuminator 54 may be adjusted along the length of the retractor blade to provide illumination wherever it is needed.
In this configuration, a short section of fiber optic cable 58 is integrated into blade illuminator waveguide 60 at the output end and has any suitable connector 62 such as an industry standard ACMI connector or any other type of standard or proprietary connector, at the input end. Connector 62 is normally connected to a standard fiber optic light guide cable that conducts light from an external light source. Since blade insert illumination system 54 is made to minimize light loss, portable LED light sources may be attached directly to connector 62 or via a much shorter fiber optic light guide cable. Short section of fiber optic cable 58 is flexible and allows considerable latitude in how the connector 62 and light guide cable are oriented. For example, the connector 62 may be placed toward handle 56H of retractor 56 or it may be placed on either side in order to keep out of the way of the surgeon and any other equipment that may be in use.
Single element extended blade illuminator system 64 of Figure 5 is a simple blade insert illuminator designed to fit long blade retractors such a retractor 66. Illuminator waveguide 68 receives light at input 69, conducts light through total internal reflection throughout center portion 68C, and output optical structures such as output structure 70 directs the light toward a predetermined area to be illuminated.
Figures 4 and 5 illustrate that a blade insert illuminator may be provided in different sizes appropriate for the size of the retractor blade with which it is to be used. Blade insert illuminator 72 of Figure 5A is an extended
waveguide blade illuminator with a rigid light input component 73 in the place of the short section of fiber optic cable 58 as shown in Figures 4 and 5. Rigid light input component 73 allows all of the light guiding sections, waveguide 74 and rigid light input component 73, to be molded as one device, thereby reducing cost of the assembly. Support gussets or flanges such as flanges 75 may be added to provide stability. Flanges 75 may have a coating or film applied to prevent light from escaping or may be made from a different material, for example, using a co-molding or overmolding process. Rigid light input component 73 may have an orthogonal input as shown, requiring light directing structure 76 to direct light from connector 62 down to waveguide 74 of the waveguide illuminator. Rigid light input component 73 may also be formed with a radius, as shown in Figure 5, and using total internal reflection to guide the light from connector 62 to the body of the waveguide. Rigid light input component 73 may also be made rotatable, thereby allowing the fiber optic light guide cable to be positioned as needed around the surgical field to avoid interference with other instruments.
Figure 6 illustrates alternate modular blade insert illuminator elements 8OA and 8OB showing an alternative placement of latches 82 that hold the waveguide components together. Keeping the latches off to the side of the components, rather than in front as shown in Figure 3, reduces the likelihood of the latches being accidentally disengaged or broken by surgical instruments during the course of a surgical procedure. Any other suitable mechanisms may be used to attach the modular components to each other, e.g., dovetail joints, tongue-and-groove joints, adhesives that are preferably index matching adhesives, etc., to optimize light coupling from one module to the next. The attachment mechanisms may also be separate from the optical path, for
example, metal pins and sockets may be located in optically inactive areas of the modules.
Figure 7 is a side view of an alternate modular blade insert illumination system 84 wherein each subsequent waveguide section is lessened in thickness 85. This allows output optical structures such as output structures 86 to be placed at the exposed end of the upstream waveguide, thereby allowing light to be directed from each waveguide section such as sections 84A, 84B, 84C. Each waveguide component such as sections 84A, 84B may have a bottom surface that contains output optical structures 86 over much of its surface to act as a terminal illumination component in case no other subsequent waveguide components are attached. Light output section 84C shows stepped output optical structure 88 on the front side and output optical structures 89 on the back side. Without output optical structures 88 that direct light out of the face, light would be lost out the end of light output section 84C, therefore, the combination of output optical structures 88 and 89 contribute to higher efficiency through less lost light.
Referring now to Figure 8, winged blade insert illuminator 90 is shown engaged to retractor 91. Illuminator 90 has integrated wings 92 that may serve an additional retracting function. Wings 92 are oriented generally parallel to long axis 87 of illuminator 90. In this configuration, light is directed to exit output optical structure 94. Light enters illuminator 90 via light input component 95, which may be a fiber optic component or a rigid light conducting component at previously discussed. Because total internal reflection may allow light to enter wings 92, the wings may need a reflective coating to prevent light from exiting the wings and being lost or shining into unwanted directions, such as back into the surgeons eyes.
Figure 9 illustrates another alternate blade insert illuminator 9OA that has a light directing element 96, which serves to direct the light coming into the middle of the illuminator out toward the wings 92A. Output optical structures such as structures 97 and 98 may be placed on wings 92A and body respectively to provide illumination from both structures as shown by the arrows .
Figure 10 illustrates another alternate blade insert illuminator 9OB with an extended light directing element 96B. In this embodiment, optical output structures are placed only on the wings 92B so that illumination, light energy 99, only exits through extended output structures 97B in wings 92B as shown by the arrows. Extended light directing element 96B has reflective walls such as wall 93 that extend to output end 9OE of illuminator 9OB to maximize light reflected to the wings 92B. This configuration also includes alternative latch arm 100 oriented near the interface with retractor 102 to engage cutouts or detents such as detents 103A, 103B and 103C located in retractor 102. Latch arm 100 maybe made of the same material as the waveguide or may be made of a different material for durability. For example, latch arm 100 may be made from steel or titanium and insert molded into illuminator 9OB.
Alternatively, a retractor blade may be inserted into one or more slots in the illuminator waveguide to provide rigidity and or to enable cooperation with surgical site retention apparatus .
Co-molded blade insert illuminator 104 of Figure 11 includes waveguide section 106 has been co-molded or over- molded with wing and body retractor portions 104W and 104B respectively, which are made of a different material. For example, retractor wing and body portions 104W and 104B may be made of a stronger, glass reinforced plastic or steel or
titanium for strength while waveguide section 106 is molded from a suitable optical material such as acrylic, polycarbonate, silicone or other similar optical materials.
Illuminated retractor 107 as illustrated in Figure 12 is composed of retractor blade 108 and illumination blade 109. Retractor blade 108 is shown as a McCulloch style retractor blade for use with a McCulloch retraction system although any suitable retractor and or retraction configuration may be used. Retractor blade 108 includes one or more mechanical connectors such a mechanical connector 108M and neck slot or channel 110 to accommodate neck zone 124 and blade slot 111 to accommodate output blade 125 within retractor blade 108 while maintaining an air gap between active zones of the illumination blade and the retractor. Two or more engagement elements such as blade or plate 112 and tabs 114 secure illumination blade 109 to retractor blade 108. Each tab 114 engages one or more engagement receptacles such as receptacles or recesses 115. Plate 112 is joined to collar 116, and when collar 116 removably engages input dead zone 122D, the collar surrounds illumination blade input 118. The removable engagement of collar 116 to input dead zone 122D also brings plate 112 into contact with end surface 119 of the retractor blade. Collar 116 securely engages dead zone 122D and surrounds cylindrical input zone 120 and forms input air gap 120G. Engagement at dead zones minimizes interference with the light path by engagement elements such a plate 112 and tabs 114. Plate 112 engages end surface 119 and tabs 114 resiliently engage recesses 115 to hold illumination blade 109 fixed to retractor blade 108 without contact between active zones of illumination blade 109 and any part of retractor blade 108.
Illumination blade 109 is configured to form a series of active zones to control and conduct light from illumination blade input 118 of the cylindrical input zone 120 to one or
more output zones such as output zones 127 through 131 and output end 133 as illustrated in Figures 12, 13, 14 and 15. Illumination blade 109 also includes one or more dead zones such as zones 122D, 126D and 126E. Dead zones are oriented to minimize light entering the dead zone and thus potentially exiting in an unintended direction. As there is minimal light in or transiting dead zones they are ideal locations for engagement elements to secure the illumination blade to the retractor.
Light is delivered to illumination blade input 118 using any conventional mechanism such as a standard ACMI connector having a 0.5mm gap between the end of the fiber bundle and illumination blade input 118, which is 4.2mm diameter to gather the light from a 3.5mm fiber bundle with .5NA. Light incident to illumination blade input 118 enters the illumination blade through generally cylindrical, active input zone 120 and travels through active input transition 122 to a generally rectangular active retractor neck 124 and through output transition 126 to output blade 125 which contains active output zones 127 through 131 and active output end 133. Retractor neck 124 is generally rectangular and is generally square near input transition 122 and the neck configuration varies to a rectangular cross section near output transition 126. Output blade 125 has a generally high aspect ratio rectangular cross-section resulting in a generally wide and thin blade. Each zone is arranged to have an output surface area larger than the input surface area, thereby reducing the temperature per unit output area.
In the illustrated configuration illumination blade 109 includes at least one dead zone, dead zone 122D, generally surrounding input transition 122. One or more dead zones at or near the output of the illumination blade provide locations to for engagement elements such as tabs to permit stable engagement of the illumination blade to the retractor. This
stable engagement supports the maintenance of an air gap such as air gap 121 adjacent to all active zones of the illumination blade as illustrated in Figure 13. Neck zone 124 ends with dimension 132 adjacent to output transition 126 which extends to dimension 134 at the output zones. The changing dimensions result in dead zones 126D and 126E adjacent to output transition 126. These dead zones are suitable locations for mounting tabs 114 to minimize any effects of the engagement elements on the light path.
Air gap 121 may be sized to operate as a capillary space to draw or hold fluid or fluids between the illumination waveguide and the retractor. The presence of fluid between the illumination waveguide and the retractor will alter the performance of the waveguide. When dimensioned to operate as a capillary space, gap 121 may accommodate any suitable fluid to alter the performance of the illumination waveguide. Different dimensions of gap 121 may be used to preferentially draw or hold specific fluids, and the different specific fluids may be used to accomplish different changes to the operation of the illumination waveguide.
To minimize stresses on the light input and or stresses exerted by the light input on the illumination blade, the engagement elements are aligned to form an engagement axis such as engagement axis 136 which is parallel to light input axis 138.
Output zones 127, 128, 129, 130 and 131 have similar configurations with different dimensions. Referring to the detailed view of Figure 14, the characteristics of output zone 127 are illustrated. Each output zone is formed of parallel prism shapes with a primary surface or facet such as primary facet 140 with a length 140L and a secondary surface or facet such as secondary facet 142 having a length 142L. The facets are oriented relative to plane 143 which is parallel to and
maintained at a thickness or depth 144 from rear surface 145. In the illustrated configuration, all output zones have the same depth 144 from the rear surface.
The primary facets of each output zone are formed at a primary angle 146 from plane 143. Secondary facets such as facet 142 form a secondary angle 147 relative to primary facets such as primary facet 140. In the illustrated configuration, output zone 127 has primary facet 140 with a length 140L of .45mm at primary angle of 27°and secondary facet 142 with a length 142L of .23mm at secondary angle 88°. Output zone 128 has primary facet 140 with a length 140L of .55mm at primary angle of 26° and secondary facet 142 with a length 142L of .24mm at secondary angle 66°. Output zone 129 has primary facet 140 with a length 140L of .53mm at primary angle of 20°and secondary facet 142 with a length 142L of .18mm at secondary angle 72°. Output zone 130 has primary facet 140 with a length 140L of .55mm at primary angle of 26°and secondary facet 142 with a length 142L of .24mm at secondary angle 66°. Output zone 131 has primary facet 140 with a length 140L of .54mm at primary angle of 27°and secondary facet 142 with a length 142L of .24mm at secondary angle 68 ° .
Output end 133 is the final active zone in the illumination blade and is illustrated in detail in Figure 14. Rear reflector 148 forms angle 149 relative to front surface 150. Front surface 150 is parallel to rear surface 145. Terminal facet 151 forms angle 152 relative to front surface 150. In the illustrated configuration, angle 149 is 32° and angle 152 is 95°.
Other suitable configurations of output structures may be adopted in one or more output zones. For example, output zones 127 and 128 might adopt a concave curve down and output zone 129 might remain generally horizontal and output zones
130 and 131 might adopt a concave curve up. Alternatively, the plane at the inside of the output structures, plane 143 might be a spherical section with a large radius of curvature. Plane 143 may also adopt sinusoidal or other complex geometries. The geometries may be applied in both the horizontal and the vertical direction to form compound surfaces .
In other configurations, output zones may provide illumination at two or more levels throughout a surgical site. For example, output zones 127 and 128 might cooperate to illuminate a first surgical area and output zones 129 and 130 may cooperatively illuminate a second surgical area and output zone 131 and output end 133 may illuminate a third surgical area. This configuration eliminates the need to reorient the illumination elements during a surgical procedure.
Referring now to Figure 16, illuminated retractor 107 as illustrated in Figure 12 may be used with illumination waveguide 153. Illumination waveguide 153 is configured to form a series of active zones to control and conduct light from waveguide input 154 of the cylindrical input zone 155 to one or more output zones such as output zone 162 and output end 163 as illustrated in Figures 16 and 17. Output end 163 is oriented to eject any light, generally along the axis of illumination, that is not extracted by output zone 162. Illumination waveguide 153 also includes one or more dead zones as discussed above.
As illustrated in Figure 18, output zone 162 may be configured as a segmented portion of an aspheric curve such as output curve 164 perpendicular to axis of illumination 165. Suitable aspheric curves may be described by various mathematical equations. Output curves are generally described by the equation:
Cx2 z(χ) = T - + AAx4 + A6x6 + A8x8 + ...+ Anx" l+^(l-C2(Z + l)x2))
Where X= the position along the axis of illumination 165, C= curvature (1 /radius for a circle), K= conic constant (0 circle, 1 parabola, -1 hyperbola)
An= aspheric coefficients.
Output zone 162 is formed using the following coefficients:
X= 0.000, 0.005, ..., 20.910mm, C=2.064, K=-5.201 A4=-3.511E"5, A6=9.873E"8, A8=-9.100E"11
Curve segments such as segments 166, 167, 168 and 169 may be determined using an equation such as above for each segment length, period or pitch 170, the distance from a point of a facet segment to a corresponding point of an adjacent facet segment, of output zone 162. As illustrated, the pitch of all segments of output zone 162 is constant. This technique may be employed for variable pitch output zones as well. Depth 173 of each facet segment varies as a function of the curve used to develop the facet segments such as segments 166, 167, 168 and 169. Depth 173 may be held constant if the draft angle segment is extended as the overall angle of the facet segments becomes flatter relative to the front surface of the illumination waveguide. Between facet segments are draft angle segments such as draft angle segment 174. These draft angle segments may be substantially perpendicular to the plane established by the front surface of illumination waveguide 153, or maybe undercut (forming an acute angle with the plane established by the waveguide) or may slope downwardly as shown in Figure 14 (where item numbers 146 and 147 illustrate a primary and secondary angle which, when added together, form and angle obtuse to the plane formed by the front surface of the waveguide .
The curvature of facet segments 166, 167, 168 and 169 is determined by mapping curve 164 onto the front surface of the waveguide. The mapping, as illustrated, is continuous in the sense that contiguous segments of the curve are mapped to respective contiguous primary facets. Thus, contiguous curve segments 166c, 167c, 168c and 169c are mapped onto contiguous facet segments 166, 167, 168 and 169. The mapping may be varied, so long as the mapping is continuous and complete along the numerous facet segments, while still obtaining the benefits of mapping the aspherical curve onto the facet segment of each ridge.
Alternatively, to simplify fabrication and lower costs, curve segments such as curve segments 166, 167, 168 and 169 may be determined using an equation such as above and each facet segment may be approximated to the curve by using a suitable tangent to the curve for each segment. Curve segments such as segment 166 may also be approximated by sub- segmented curves in which a curve segment is formed by a plurality of straight sub-segments approximating the calculated curve.
Other suitable configurations of output structures may be adopted in one or more output zones. For example, the plane at the inside of the output structures, plane 143 might be a spherical section with a large radius of curvature. Plane 143 may also adopt sinusoidal or other complex geometries. The geometries may be applied in both the horizontal and the vertical direction to form compound surfaces.
In other configuration, output structures may be formed of rotational facets as shown in Figure 19. The peak of each facet such as peak 177 in Figure 18 may follow the arc of a series of concentric circles or ellipses such as circles 180. A portion of the curves such as portion 182 or portion 184 may be used to form the primary or facet segments for an
illuminated waveguide. The change in radius of subsequent circles or curves may be a linear or non-linear function of radius 185.
While the preferred embodiments of the devices and methods have been described in reference to the environment in which they were developed, they are merely illustrative of the principles of the inventions. Other embodiments and configurations may be devised without departing from the spirit of the inventions and the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. An surgical retractor comprising:
a retractor having a front side, a back side for engaging tissue at a surgical site, at least one receptacle for a mechanical connection to position the retractor in the surgical site, and one or more engagement elements for releasably engaging an illuminator blade on the front side of the retractor; and
an uncoated illuminator blade having a front surface and a rear surface and a plurality of active zones for controlling and conveying light and one or more dead zones which control and convey no light,
a light input,
an input transition forming an active zone light path from the light input and a first dead zone,
an input collar and blade connected to the illuminator blade in the first dead zone,
a neck section conveying light from the light path of the input transition to
an output transitions section, the output transition section forming at least one second dead zone,
one or more retention clips, each retention clip connected to at least one second dead zone, the one or more retention clips for releasably engaging the one or more engagement elements and in cooperation with the input collar and blade securing the illumination blade to the front side of the retractor blade and forming an air gap between the illumination blade and the retractor blade, and
an output section for receiving light from the output transition section and projecting the light out of the illumination blade into the surgical site.
2. The surgical retractor of claim 1 wherein the light input further comprises:
a light input aligned with a light input axis;
and the one or more retention clips further comprises:
one or more retention clips, each retention clip connected to at least one second dead zone and aligned with the input collar and blade to form an engagement axis parallel to the light input axis, the one or more retention clips for releasably engaging the one or more engagement elements and in cooperation with the input collar and blade securing the illumination blade to the front side of the retractor blade and forming an air gap between the illumination blade and the retractor blade
3. The surgical retractor of claim 1 wherein the input collar and blade is removably connected to the air isolated illuminator blade.
4. The surgical retractor of claim 1 wherein the output section comprises:
a plurality of output zones, each zone formed of a plurality of parallel primary facets alternating with a plurality of parallel secondary facets and the primary facets and secondary facets of each output zone have different dimensions and are oriented at different angles relative to the rear surface of the illumination blade.
5. The surgical retractor of claim 4 wherein the output section comprises:
three output zones.
6. The surgical retractor of claim 4 wherein the output section comprises:
four output zones.
7. The surgical retractor of claim 4 wherein the output section comprises:
five output zones.
8. The surgical retractor of claim 4 wherein the output section comprises:
six output zones.
9. The surgical retractor of claim 7 wherein the output section comprises:
a first output zone with primary facets having a length of .45mm at primary angle of 27° relative to the rear surface and secondary facets with a length of .23mm at secondary angle 88°;
a second output zone with primary facets having a length of .55mm at primary angle of 26° and secondary facet having a length of .24mm at secondary angle 66°;
a third output zone with primary facets having a length of .53mm at primary angle of 20°and secondary facets having a length of .18mm at secondary angle 72°; a fourth output zone with primary facets having a length of .55mm at primary angle of 26° and secondary facets having a length of .24mm at secondary angle 66°; and
a fifth output zone with primary facets having a length of .54mm at primary angle of 27° and secondary facets having a length of .24mm at secondary angle 68°.
10. The surgical retractor of claim 1 further comprising:
an end zone having a rear reflector and a terminal facet.
11. The surgical retractor of claim 10 wherein the rear reflector forms and angle of 32° with the rear surface and the terminal facet forms and angle of 95° with the rear surface.
12. The surgical retractor of claim 4 wherein the facets of each output zone are at the same depth relative to the rear surface.
13. An illumination device comprising:
a mechanical blade having a front side, a back side to engage material and form a work area, at least one receptacle for a mechanical connection to position the retractor in the surgical site, and one or more engagement elements for releasably engaging an illuminator blade on the front side of the mechanical blade; and
an uncoated illuminator blade having a front surface and a rear surface and a plurality of active zones for controlling and conveying light and one or more dead zones which control and convey no light,
a light input,
an input transition forming an active zone light path from the light input and a first dead zone, an input collar and blade connected to the illuminator blade in the first dead zone,
a neck section conveying light from the light path of the input transition to
an output transitions section, the output transition section forming at least one second dead zone,
one or more retention clips, each retention clip connected to at least one second dead zone, the one or more retention clips for releasably engaging the one or more engagement elements and in cooperation with the input collar and blade securing the illumination blade to the front side of the mechanical blade and forming an air gap between the illumination blade and the mechanical blade, and
an output section for receiving light from the output transition section and projecting the light out of the illumination blade into the work area, the output section having
a first output zone with primary facets having a length of .45mm at primary angle of 27° relative to the rear surface and secondary facets with a length of .23mm at secondary angle 88°;
a second output zone with primary facets having a length of .55mm at primary angle of 26°and secondary facet having a length of .24mm at secondary angle 66°;
a third output zone with primary facets having a length of .53mm at primary angle of 20° and secondary facets having a length of .18mm at secondary angle 72°; a fourth output zone with primary facets having a length of .55mm at primary angle of 26° and secondary facets having a length of .24mm at secondary angle 66°; and
a fifth output zone with primary facets having a length of .54mm at primary angle of 27° and secondary facets having a length of .24mm at secondary angle 68°.
14. The illumination device of claim 13 wherein the input collar and blade are removably connected to the air isolated illuminator blade.
15. A surgical retractor comprising:
a mechanical blade having a front side, a back side to engage tissue and form a surgical site, a neck slot and a blade slot in the front side, at least one receptacle for a mechanical connection to position the retractor in the surgical site, and one or more engagement elements for releasably engaging an illuminator blade on the front side of the mechanical blade within the neck slot and the blade slot; and
an uncoated illuminator blade having a front surface and a rear surface and a plurality of active zones for controlling and conveying light and two or more dead zones which control and convey no light, at least one engagement element in each dead zone for releasably engaging the front side of the mechanical blade and forming an air gap between the illumination blade and the mechanical blade, and an output section on the front surface for conveying light to the surgical site.
16. The surgical retractor of claim 15 wherein the output section of the uncoated illuminator blade comprises: a plurality of output zones, each zone formed of a plurality of primary facets alternating with a plurality of secondary facets and the primary facets and secondary facets of each output zone have different dimensions and are oriented at different angles relative to the rear surface of the illumination blade.
17. An illumination device comprising:
a mechanical blade having a front side, a back side for engaging material at a work site, at least one mechanical element to position the mechanical blade in the work site, and one or more engagement elements for releasably engaging an illuminator blade on the front side of the mechanical blade; and
an uncoated illuminator blade having a front surface and a rear surface and a plurality of active zones for controlling and conveying light,
a light input,
an input transition forming an active zone light path from the light input,
an input collar and blade connected to the illuminator blade forming an input air gap,
a neck section conveying light from the light path of the input transition to
an output transitions section,
one or more retention clips for releasably engaging the one or more engagement elements and in cooperation with the input collar and blade securing the illumination blade to the front side of the mechanical blade and forming an air gap between the illumination blade and the retractor blade, and
an output section for receiving light from the output transition section and projecting the light out of the illumination blade into the work site.
18. The illumination device of claim 17 wherein the output section comprises:
a plurality of output zones, each zone formed of a plurality of primary facets alternating with a plurality of secondary facets and the primary facets and secondary facets of each output zone have different dimensions and are oriented at different angles relative to the rear surface of the illumination blade.
19. The surgical retractor of claim 17 wherein the output section comprises:
a first output zone with primary facets having a length of .45mm at primary angle of 27° relative to the rear surface and secondary facets with a length of .23mm at secondary angle 88°;
a second output zone with primary facets having a length of .55mm at primary angle of 26° and secondary facet having a length of .24mm at secondary angle 66°;
a third output zone with primary facets having a length of .53mm at primary angle of 20° and secondary facets having a length of .18mm at secondary angle 72°;
a fourth output zone with primary facets having a length of .55mm at primary angle of 26° and secondary facets having a length of .24mm at secondary angle 66°; and a fifth output zone with primary facets having a length of .54mm at primary angle of 27° and secondary facets having a length of .24mm at secondary angle 68°.
20. A method of illuminating a surgical site comprising the steps of:
providing a retractor blade;
removable engaging an illumination blade having an input, a plurality of active zones and an output zone to the retractor blade forming an air gap between all the active zones of the illumination blade and the retractor blade;
securing an illumination source to the input of the illumination blade forming an illumination output;
retracting tissue of a human body using the retractor blade to form a surgical site in the human body;
orienting the retractor blade to direct the illumination output into the surgical site.
21. The method of illuminating a surgical site of claim 20 wherein the illumination blade further comprises a plurality of output zones forming two or more illumination outputs and the step of orienting the retractor blade further comprises:
orienting the retractor blade to direct a first of two or more illumination outputs into a first preferred area of the surgical site, and to direct a second of two or more illumination outputs into a second preferred area of the surgical site.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/923,483 | 2007-10-24 | ||
US11/923,483 US8088066B2 (en) | 2007-10-24 | 2007-10-24 | Blade insert illuminator |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2009055713A1 true WO2009055713A1 (en) | 2009-04-30 |
Family
ID=40580063
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2008/081178 WO2009055713A1 (en) | 2007-10-24 | 2008-10-24 | Blade insert illuminator |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (7) | US8088066B2 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2009055713A1 (en) |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
KR101061695B1 (en) | 2010-01-15 | 2011-09-01 | (주)티디엠 | Detachable clip-type medical light fixture |
WO2014033426A1 (en) * | 2012-08-31 | 2014-03-06 | Karoo Marc Philip Daveraj | Surgical retractors |
EP2757934A4 (en) * | 2011-09-23 | 2016-03-09 | Invuity Inc | Illuminated and modular soft tissue retractor |
USD814028S1 (en) * | 2011-08-31 | 2018-03-27 | Nuvasive, Inc. | Retractor blade |
Families Citing this family (54)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB0718268D0 (en) | 2007-09-19 | 2008-10-08 | Ayrshire And Arran Health Board | Retractor with integrated light source |
US8088066B2 (en) | 2007-10-24 | 2012-01-03 | Invuity, Inc. | Blade insert illuminator |
US11382711B2 (en) | 2008-08-13 | 2022-07-12 | Invuity, Inc. | Cyclo olefin polymer and copolymer medical devices |
ES2573109T3 (en) * | 2010-01-12 | 2016-06-06 | Tedan Surgical | Surgical retractor with curved blades |
EP2662057B1 (en) * | 2010-05-13 | 2018-10-17 | Doheny Eye Institute | Self contained illuminated infusion cannula systems |
US8735791B2 (en) | 2010-07-13 | 2014-05-27 | Svv Technology Innovations, Inc. | Light harvesting system employing microstructures for efficient light trapping |
US9913577B2 (en) | 2010-09-28 | 2018-03-13 | Obp Medical Corporation | Speculum |
WO2012045459A1 (en) * | 2010-10-07 | 2012-04-12 | Martina Heitland | Illuminatable medical retaining hook |
US10292784B2 (en) * | 2010-12-10 | 2019-05-21 | Illumix Surgical Canada Inc. | Illuminating surgical device |
US20130197313A1 (en) * | 2012-01-31 | 2013-08-01 | Shaw P. Wan | Surgical retractor with light |
US9629523B2 (en) | 2012-06-27 | 2017-04-25 | Camplex, Inc. | Binocular viewing assembly for a surgical visualization system |
US9642606B2 (en) | 2012-06-27 | 2017-05-09 | Camplex, Inc. | Surgical visualization system |
KR102176485B1 (en) | 2012-09-24 | 2020-11-09 | 인뷰이티 인코퍼레이티드 | Methods and apparatus for controlling optical properties of light |
US20140121467A1 (en) | 2012-10-31 | 2014-05-01 | Invuity, Inc. | Methods and apparatus for simultaneous retraction and distraction of bone and soft tissue |
CA3169888A1 (en) | 2013-04-01 | 2014-10-09 | Vinod V. Pathy | Lighting device |
USD938095S1 (en) | 2013-04-01 | 2021-12-07 | Pathy Medical, Llc | Lighting device |
AU2014253945B2 (en) * | 2013-04-17 | 2019-03-07 | DePuy Synthes Products, LLC | Expandable dilator |
US20140323811A1 (en) * | 2013-04-30 | 2014-10-30 | Invuity, Inc. | Methods and apparatus for retracting tissue |
EP2999414B1 (en) | 2013-05-21 | 2018-08-08 | Camplex, Inc. | Surgical visualization systems |
JP6598783B2 (en) | 2013-09-16 | 2019-10-30 | インブイティ・インコーポレイテッド | Thermally controlled illuminated device |
JP6521982B2 (en) | 2013-09-20 | 2019-05-29 | キャンプレックス インコーポレイテッド | Surgical visualization system and display |
US10881286B2 (en) | 2013-09-20 | 2021-01-05 | Camplex, Inc. | Medical apparatus for use with a surgical tubular retractor |
WO2015179708A1 (en) | 2014-05-22 | 2015-11-26 | Invuity, Inc. | Medical device featuring cladded waveguide |
GB2532239A (en) | 2014-11-12 | 2016-05-18 | Clear Surgical Ltd | Retractor with improved light source, and light source for an improved retractor |
EP3217857B1 (en) | 2014-11-12 | 2022-02-09 | Invuity, Inc. | Improved thermally controlled illumination devices |
US9629533B2 (en) * | 2014-11-20 | 2017-04-25 | Stayclear Dental Mirror Llc | Multi-purpose dental instrument |
US10206564B2 (en) * | 2014-11-20 | 2019-02-19 | Stayclear Dental Mirror Llc | Multi-purpose dental instrument |
AU2015358529B2 (en) | 2014-12-02 | 2020-09-03 | Invuity, Inc. | Methods and apparatus for coupling an optical input to an illumination device |
WO2016090336A1 (en) | 2014-12-05 | 2016-06-09 | Camplex, Inc. | Surgical visualization systems and displays |
US10420538B2 (en) | 2015-02-05 | 2019-09-24 | Obp Medical Corporation | Illuminated surgical retractor |
US9867602B2 (en) * | 2015-02-05 | 2018-01-16 | Obp Medical Corporation | Illuminated surgical retractor |
US11154378B2 (en) | 2015-03-25 | 2021-10-26 | Camplex, Inc. | Surgical visualization systems and displays |
EP3302292B1 (en) | 2015-06-03 | 2023-10-18 | OBP Surgical Corporation | Retractor |
US10881387B2 (en) | 2015-06-03 | 2021-01-05 | Obp Medical Corporation | Retractor |
US10939899B2 (en) | 2015-06-03 | 2021-03-09 | Obp Medical Corporation | End cap assembly for retractor and other medical devices |
US10123791B2 (en) * | 2015-07-02 | 2018-11-13 | Atlantic Health System, Inc. | Lighted polyhedral retractor |
EP3331469B1 (en) * | 2015-08-05 | 2023-04-19 | Illumix Surgical Canada Inc. | Illuminating surgical device |
WO2017091704A1 (en) | 2015-11-25 | 2017-06-01 | Camplex, Inc. | Surgical visualization systems and displays |
US10376334B2 (en) | 2016-01-06 | 2019-08-13 | Joshua C. Fox | Self-contained lighting device and lighted suction device |
US10722621B2 (en) | 2016-07-11 | 2020-07-28 | Obp Medical Corporation | Illuminated suction device |
EP3573537B1 (en) | 2017-01-24 | 2024-02-28 | Medtronic Advanced Energy LLC | Modular lighted surgical retractor |
USD846119S1 (en) | 2017-01-24 | 2019-04-16 | Medtronic Advanced Energy Llc | Lighted surgical retractor base |
WO2018208691A1 (en) | 2017-05-08 | 2018-11-15 | Camplex, Inc. | Variable light source |
US10543777B2 (en) * | 2017-06-27 | 2020-01-28 | Ford Global Technologies, Llc | Exterior compartment light |
US10687793B2 (en) | 2017-07-18 | 2020-06-23 | Obp Medical Corporation | Minimally invasive no touch (MINT) procedure for harvesting the great saphenous vein (GSV) and venous hydrodissector and retractor for use during the MINT procedure |
US10278572B1 (en) | 2017-10-19 | 2019-05-07 | Obp Medical Corporation | Speculum |
WO2019164795A1 (en) | 2018-02-20 | 2019-08-29 | Obp Medical Corporation | Illuminated medical devices |
US10799229B2 (en) | 2018-02-20 | 2020-10-13 | Obp Medical Corporation | Illuminated medical devices |
USD911521S1 (en) | 2019-02-19 | 2021-02-23 | Obp Medical Corporation | Handle for medical devices including surgical retractors |
USD904607S1 (en) | 2019-05-07 | 2020-12-08 | Obp Medical Corporation | Nasal retractor |
RU193410U1 (en) * | 2019-05-30 | 2019-10-28 | Федеральное государственное автономное образовательное учреждение высшего образования "Белгородский государственный национальный исследовательский университет" (НИУ "БелГУ") | Retractor for surgical interventions on the abdominal organs from mini access |
US10959609B1 (en) | 2020-01-31 | 2021-03-30 | Obp Medical Corporation | Illuminated suction device |
US10966702B1 (en) | 2020-02-25 | 2021-04-06 | Obp Medical Corporation | Illuminated dual-blade retractor |
US11484300B2 (en) | 2021-03-30 | 2022-11-01 | Jgmg Bengochea, Llc | Tubular retractor securement frame |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20070066872A1 (en) * | 2003-03-07 | 2007-03-22 | Paul Morrison | IIIuminable retractor |
US20070208226A1 (en) * | 2006-01-18 | 2007-09-06 | Spotlight Surgical, Inc. | Retractor illumination system |
Family Cites Families (194)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1326300A (en) | 1919-12-30 | Iighi ibanshiiting subglcal device | ||
US1246339A (en) | 1916-08-21 | 1917-11-13 | Isaac J Smit | Self-illuminating depresser for dental and surgical work. |
US2247258A (en) | 1938-12-12 | 1941-06-24 | Kulite Corp | Surgical instrument |
US2186143A (en) | 1939-03-09 | 1940-01-09 | Edwin A Neugass | Illuminator |
US2235979A (en) | 1940-06-03 | 1941-03-25 | Albert L Brown | Surgical and diagnostic instrument |
US2482971A (en) | 1947-07-11 | 1949-09-27 | Golson Kelly Kendall | Self-illuminated transparent proctoscope |
US3075516A (en) | 1960-05-23 | 1963-01-29 | Clauss B Strauch | Apparatus for auto-vaginoscopy |
US3261350A (en) | 1963-09-16 | 1966-07-19 | American Cystoscope Makers Inc | Endoscope |
US3328570A (en) | 1965-04-09 | 1967-06-27 | Gen Electric | Illuminated panel member |
US3590232A (en) | 1968-03-27 | 1971-06-29 | Radioptics Inc | Annular illuminator for dental tools or the like |
FR2033039A5 (en) | 1969-02-26 | 1970-11-27 | Wilder Joseph | |
US3638644A (en) * | 1969-03-05 | 1972-02-01 | Michael Elbert | Illuminated surgical speculum |
CS164985B1 (en) | 1969-03-12 | 1975-11-28 | ||
US3664330A (en) | 1969-09-12 | 1972-05-23 | Harold L Deutsch | Fiber optic medical tool |
US3641332A (en) | 1969-10-30 | 1972-02-08 | Ebert Michael | Fiber optics illumination system |
US3680546A (en) | 1970-10-30 | 1972-08-01 | Instrumentation For Medicine I | Illuminated surgical retractor |
US3712705A (en) | 1971-05-28 | 1973-01-23 | Bell Telephone Labor Inc | Air clad optical fiber waveguide |
US3851642A (en) * | 1971-10-26 | 1974-12-03 | Medical Testing Syst Inc | Medical examining instrument |
US3807393A (en) | 1972-03-01 | 1974-04-30 | Donald B Mc | Surgical retractor |
US3901674A (en) | 1972-08-30 | 1975-08-26 | American Optical Corp | Method of making optical fiber |
DE2302614A1 (en) | 1973-01-19 | 1974-07-25 | Efrudec Vertriebsgesellschaft | SPATULA, PREFERABLY MADE OF PLASTIC |
US3829675A (en) | 1973-04-30 | 1974-08-13 | R Mariani | Lighting means for underwater illumination |
JPS5748762B2 (en) | 1973-05-23 | 1982-10-18 | ||
US3892959A (en) | 1973-11-02 | 1975-07-01 | Gte Automatic Electric Lab Inc | Edge-lighted panel arrangement |
US4043636A (en) | 1974-12-23 | 1977-08-23 | Intel Corporation | Illumination-panel for liquid crystal display of similar device |
US4023903A (en) | 1975-08-11 | 1977-05-17 | Bell & Howell Company | Light composer for providing even field illumination and diffuse light |
US4052980A (en) | 1976-06-10 | 1977-10-11 | Guenter A. Grams | Triaxial fiberoptic soft tissue retractor |
US4173392A (en) | 1977-07-20 | 1979-11-06 | American Hospital Supply Corporation | Glass fiber light guide and method of making the same |
US4226228A (en) | 1978-11-02 | 1980-10-07 | Shin Hee J | Multiple joint retractor with light |
US4497860A (en) * | 1978-12-18 | 1985-02-05 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Imageable prismatic array |
US4300541A (en) | 1979-02-09 | 1981-11-17 | Kermit Burgin | Speculum lens structure |
US4257084A (en) | 1979-02-21 | 1981-03-17 | Reynolds Christopher H | Display device |
US4306546A (en) | 1980-03-26 | 1981-12-22 | Propper Manufacturing Co., Inc. | Endoscope |
US4337763A (en) | 1980-04-21 | 1982-07-06 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Department Of Health, Education And Welfare | Illuminated surgical instrument |
DE3023266A1 (en) | 1980-06-21 | 1982-01-07 | Original Hanau Heraeus Gmbh, 6450 Hanau | WOUND HOOK FOR SURGICAL PURPOSES |
US4592344A (en) | 1980-07-25 | 1986-06-03 | Scheer Peter M | Combination illuminator and lip and cheek expander |
JPS5810033A (en) | 1981-05-26 | 1983-01-20 | オリンパス光学工業株式会社 | Illumination optical system for endoscope |
US4697578A (en) | 1981-07-17 | 1987-10-06 | Burgin Kermit H | Acrylooptic tongue depressor and handle therefor incorporating adjustable viewing optics |
JPS58119108A (en) | 1982-01-09 | 1983-07-15 | 森 敬 | Decoration lamp |
EP0101781B1 (en) | 1982-07-30 | 1986-11-20 | W.C. Heraeus GmbH | Retractor for surgical purposes |
DE3301890C2 (en) | 1983-01-21 | 1986-04-10 | W.C. Heraeus Gmbh, 6450 Hanau | Retractor |
US4562832A (en) | 1984-01-21 | 1986-01-07 | Wilder Joseph R | Medical instrument and light pipe illumination assembly |
US4605990A (en) | 1984-01-21 | 1986-08-12 | Wilder Joseph R | Surgical clip-on light pipe illumination assembly |
DE3509787A1 (en) | 1984-04-04 | 1985-10-31 | Aesculap-Werke Ag Vormals Jetter & Scheerer, 7200 Tuttlingen | SURGICAL INSTRUMENT FOR SPREADING WINDBANDS |
US4597030A (en) | 1985-01-31 | 1986-06-24 | American Hospital Supply Corporation | Surgical illuminator |
US4733332A (en) | 1985-02-22 | 1988-03-22 | Agency Of Industrial Science And Technology | Illuminating device |
US4630895A (en) | 1985-06-06 | 1986-12-23 | Motorola, Inc. | LCD lightguide |
US4714983A (en) | 1985-06-10 | 1987-12-22 | Motorola, Inc. | Uniform emission backlight |
US4643172A (en) | 1985-10-21 | 1987-02-17 | Taff Barry E | Luminescent tongue depressor |
DE3680876D1 (en) | 1985-12-05 | 1991-09-19 | Univ Nebraska | DEVICE FOR DENTAL OBSERVATION. |
US4787722A (en) | 1986-04-10 | 1988-11-29 | Fresnel Technologies, Inc. | Fresnel lens with aspiteric grooves |
US4686972A (en) | 1986-04-30 | 1987-08-18 | Kurland Kenneth Z | Surgical deflector and drilling guide |
JPS62287215A (en) | 1986-06-06 | 1987-12-14 | Olympus Optical Co Ltd | Optical system device for endoscope lighting |
US4785796A (en) | 1986-09-12 | 1988-11-22 | Mattson Philip D | Otoscope and flexible, disposable curette for use therewith |
US4790752A (en) | 1987-01-30 | 1988-12-13 | Poly-Optical Products, Inc. | Illuminated dental impression tray |
US4765701A (en) | 1987-01-30 | 1988-08-23 | Poly-Optical Products, Inc. | Illuminator optical fiber rod |
JPS63257578A (en) | 1987-04-15 | 1988-10-25 | 森 敬 | Light irradiation remedy apparatus |
US4905082A (en) | 1987-05-06 | 1990-02-27 | Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. | Rigid video endoscope having a detachable imaging unit |
US4807599A (en) | 1987-05-08 | 1989-02-28 | Med-Struments, Inc. | Illuminating tongue depressor |
DE3736066C1 (en) | 1987-10-24 | 1988-11-10 | Aesculap Werke Ag | Retractor |
US4897771A (en) | 1987-11-24 | 1990-01-30 | Lumitex, Inc. | Reflector and light system |
US4907132A (en) | 1988-03-22 | 1990-03-06 | Lumitex, Inc. | Light emitting panel assemblies and method of making same |
US4885663A (en) | 1988-03-22 | 1989-12-05 | Lumitex, Inc. | Fiber optic light emitting panel and method of making same |
US4968124A (en) | 1988-07-27 | 1990-11-06 | Poly-Optical Products, Inc. | Vehicle viewing system |
US4957347A (en) | 1989-01-30 | 1990-09-18 | Lumenyte International Corporation | Clad optical conduit and method of manufacture |
US5005108A (en) | 1989-02-10 | 1991-04-02 | Lumitex, Inc. | Thin panel illuminator |
US4974122A (en) | 1989-03-28 | 1990-11-27 | Rockwell International Corporation | Compact LCD luminaire |
US4961617A (en) | 1989-07-19 | 1990-10-09 | Ferrydon Shahidi | Fibre optic waveguide illuminating elements |
US5039198A (en) | 1989-08-02 | 1991-08-13 | Vanbeek Allen L | Stereoscopic microsurgery system |
US5237685A (en) | 1990-02-26 | 1993-08-17 | International Business Machines Corporation | Linear recurrence dispersal structure and method for parallel processors |
JP2544677B2 (en) | 1990-06-05 | 1996-10-16 | 株式会社三ツ葉電機製作所 | Engine starter |
GB2247310B (en) | 1990-07-03 | 1993-09-22 | Meitaku Syst Kk | Edge light panel device |
US5097396A (en) | 1990-09-25 | 1992-03-17 | Poly-Optical Products, Inc. | Fiber optic backlighting panel |
US5159921A (en) | 1990-11-27 | 1992-11-03 | Hoover Rocklin L | Surgical retractor |
US5165387A (en) | 1991-02-04 | 1992-11-24 | Transidyne General Corporation | Endoscope with disposable light |
JPH0813304B2 (en) | 1991-05-10 | 1996-02-14 | 株式会社ニッショー | Incision opening device |
US5226105A (en) | 1991-06-27 | 1993-07-06 | Poly-Optical Products, Inc. | Fiber optic backlighting panel and dot process for making same |
US5307245A (en) | 1991-06-27 | 1994-04-26 | Poly-Optical Products, Inc. | Fiber optic backlighting panel and zig-zag process for making same |
US5209757A (en) | 1991-07-15 | 1993-05-11 | Krug John A | Illuminated ear cleaning device |
US5571215A (en) | 1993-02-22 | 1996-11-05 | Heartport, Inc. | Devices and methods for intracardiac procedures |
DE4220701C2 (en) | 1991-08-02 | 2001-02-08 | Olympus Optical Co | Endoscope cleaning device |
US5312569A (en) | 1991-10-30 | 1994-05-17 | Poly-Optical Products, Inc. | Method for marring fiber optic substrates |
US5281134A (en) | 1991-11-19 | 1994-01-25 | Schultz Allen J | Fiber optic illumination system for dental instruments |
US5353786A (en) | 1992-01-24 | 1994-10-11 | Wilk Peter J | Surgical lighting method |
US5312570A (en) | 1992-02-21 | 1994-05-17 | Poly-Optical Products, Inc. | System and method for preparing fiber optic ribbons |
CA2097109C (en) | 1992-06-01 | 2000-01-11 | Shozo Kokawa | Liquid crystal display |
US5237985A (en) | 1992-06-22 | 1993-08-24 | Crystal Wind, Inc. | Uterine retractor |
JP2601766Y2 (en) | 1992-08-31 | 1999-12-06 | 日本電産コパル株式会社 | Surface emitting device |
JP2630714B2 (en) | 1992-10-08 | 1997-07-16 | 茶谷産業株式会社 | Surface lighting device |
US5303323A (en) | 1992-10-16 | 1994-04-12 | Poly-Optical Products, Inc. | Method and apparatus for making arbitrarily shaped fiber optic backlighting substrates |
US5432876C1 (en) | 1992-10-19 | 2002-05-21 | Minnesota Mining & Mfg | Illumination devices and optical fibres for use therein |
US5354302A (en) | 1992-11-06 | 1994-10-11 | Ko Sung Tao | Medical device and method for facilitating intra-tissue visual observation and manipulation of distensible tissues |
US5562696A (en) | 1992-11-12 | 1996-10-08 | Cordis Innovasive Systems, Inc. | Visualization trocar |
US5334150A (en) | 1992-11-17 | 1994-08-02 | Kaali Steven G | Visually directed trocar for laparoscopic surgical procedures and method of using same |
US5295216A (en) | 1992-11-17 | 1994-03-15 | Poly-Optical Products, Ltd. | Fiber optic panel providing an arbitrary pattern of illumination and method of making same |
US5394863A (en) | 1993-01-12 | 1995-03-07 | Sanford; Theodore H. | Vaginal fornix illuminator |
US5400773A (en) | 1993-01-19 | 1995-03-28 | Loma Linda University Medical Center | Inflatable endoscopic retractor |
EP0797045B1 (en) | 1993-02-01 | 1999-05-12 | Tosoh Corporation | Backlighting device |
US5598280A (en) | 1993-03-23 | 1997-01-28 | Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. | Film lens and a surface light source using the same |
US5431153A (en) | 1993-06-11 | 1995-07-11 | Lee; Hans | Surgical apparatus for assisting in the release of the carpal tunnel |
US5441041A (en) | 1993-09-13 | 1995-08-15 | United States Surgical Corporation | Optical trocar |
US5478338A (en) * | 1993-09-24 | 1995-12-26 | Reynard; Michael | Fiber optic sleeve for surgical instruments |
US5588949A (en) | 1993-10-08 | 1996-12-31 | Heartport, Inc. | Stereoscopic percutaneous visualization system |
US5709459A (en) | 1993-10-08 | 1998-01-20 | Cogent Light Technologies, Inc. | Surgical luminaire |
US5390085A (en) | 1993-11-19 | 1995-02-14 | Motorola, Inc. | Light diffuser for a liquid crystal display |
US5520611A (en) | 1993-12-16 | 1996-05-28 | Rao; Shekar | Illuminated retractor |
US5448990A (en) | 1994-02-15 | 1995-09-12 | Very Inventive Physicians, Inc. | Endoscope viewing cannula and surgical techniques |
US5445142A (en) | 1994-03-15 | 1995-08-29 | Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. | Surgical trocars having optical tips defining one or more viewing ports |
US5584796A (en) | 1994-08-10 | 1996-12-17 | Cohen; Barry J. | Apparatus and method for retracting and viewing bodily tissues on remote display device |
US5575549A (en) | 1994-08-12 | 1996-11-19 | Enplas Corporation | Surface light source device |
US5642557A (en) * | 1994-09-09 | 1997-07-01 | C J Distributors Limited | Panel display system |
US5521342A (en) | 1994-12-27 | 1996-05-28 | General Motors Corporation | Switch having combined light pipe and printed circuit board |
US5591192A (en) | 1995-02-01 | 1997-01-07 | Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. | Surgical penetration instrument including an imaging element |
US5667291A (en) | 1995-05-23 | 1997-09-16 | Surgical Acuity, Inc. | Illumination assembly for dental and medical applications |
JP3187280B2 (en) | 1995-05-23 | 2001-07-11 | シャープ株式会社 | Surface lighting device |
US5613751A (en) | 1995-06-27 | 1997-03-25 | Lumitex, Inc. | Light emitting panel assemblies |
US6712481B2 (en) | 1995-06-27 | 2004-03-30 | Solid State Opto Limited | Light emitting panel assemblies |
US6185356B1 (en) | 1995-06-27 | 2001-02-06 | Lumitex, Inc. | Protective cover for a lighting device |
US5759150A (en) | 1995-07-07 | 1998-06-02 | Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. | System for evulsing subcutaneous tissue |
US5895115A (en) | 1996-01-16 | 1999-04-20 | Lumitex, Inc. | Light emitting panel assemblies for use in automotive applications and the like |
US5961198A (en) | 1996-02-02 | 1999-10-05 | Hitachi, Ltd. | Liquid crystal display device and method of manufacturing backlighting light guide panel therefor |
US5891013A (en) | 1996-02-07 | 1999-04-06 | Pinotage, Llc | System for single-puncture endoscopic surgery |
US6129662A (en) | 1996-06-03 | 2000-10-10 | Cogent Light Technologies, Inc. | Surgical tool with surgical field illuminator |
US5785648A (en) | 1996-10-09 | 1998-07-28 | David Min, M.D., Inc. | Speculum |
US6176824B1 (en) | 1996-10-29 | 2001-01-23 | James M. Davis | Fiberoptically illuminated appliances |
US5902435A (en) | 1996-12-31 | 1999-05-11 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Flexible optical circuit appliques |
US5845038A (en) | 1997-01-28 | 1998-12-01 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Optical fiber illumination system |
JP3299477B2 (en) | 1997-02-07 | 2002-07-08 | 光信 宮城 | Manufacturing method of hollow waveguide |
US5995288A (en) | 1997-04-22 | 1999-11-30 | Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. | Optical sheet optical sheet lamination light source device, and light-transmissive type display apparatus |
US5982969A (en) | 1997-04-24 | 1999-11-09 | Bridgestone Corporation | Optical transmission tube, making method, and linear illuminant system |
US6196968B1 (en) | 1997-06-02 | 2001-03-06 | General Surgical Innovations, Inc. | Direct vision subcutaneous tissue retractor and method for use |
US5913818A (en) | 1997-06-02 | 1999-06-22 | General Surgical Innovations, Inc. | Vascular retractor |
US6033361A (en) | 1997-06-02 | 2000-03-07 | General Surgical Innovations, Inc. | Vascular retractor |
US7306559B2 (en) * | 1997-07-02 | 2007-12-11 | Lumitex, Inc. | Illuminated surgical retractor |
US6304712B1 (en) | 1997-11-06 | 2001-10-16 | James M. Davis | Bendable illuminating appliance |
US6088066A (en) | 1998-03-13 | 2000-07-11 | Westerman; Larry Alan | System for temporarily displaying monochrome images on a color display |
US5967971A (en) | 1998-04-14 | 1999-10-19 | Bolser; Jeffrey William | Surgical instrument |
US5928139A (en) * | 1998-04-24 | 1999-07-27 | Koros; Tibor B. | Retractor with adjustable length blades and light pipe guides |
US6228025B1 (en) | 1998-05-01 | 2001-05-08 | Genzyme Corporation | Illuminated saphenous vein retractor |
US6139493A (en) | 1998-07-08 | 2000-10-31 | Koros; Tibor B. | Retractor with adjustable length blades and light pipe guides |
US6210325B1 (en) | 1998-10-02 | 2001-04-03 | Minnesota Scientific, Inc. | Cam-activated adjustable arm and illuminated tubular retractor |
US6827456B2 (en) * | 1999-02-23 | 2004-12-07 | Solid State Opto Limited | Transreflectors, transreflector systems and displays and methods of making transreflectors |
US6322499B1 (en) | 2000-01-20 | 2001-11-27 | Genzyme Corporation | Pivotal and illuminated saphenous vein retractor |
US6551346B2 (en) | 2000-05-17 | 2003-04-22 | Kent Crossley | Method and apparatus to prevent infections |
US6565225B2 (en) | 2000-07-19 | 2003-05-20 | Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. | Bar-shaped light guide, beam lighting device using the bar-shaped light guide, and surface lighting device using the beam lighting device |
IT1316922B1 (en) * | 2000-09-01 | 2003-05-13 | Paolo Fontana | OPERATOR ANOSCOPE. |
US6554768B1 (en) | 2000-09-05 | 2003-04-29 | Genzyme Corporation | Illuminated deep pelvic retractor |
US6817978B2 (en) | 2002-01-23 | 2004-11-16 | Teleflex-Ct Devices Incorporated | Illuminated retractor for use in connection with harvesting a blood vessel from the arm |
JP2003217327A (en) | 2002-01-28 | 2003-07-31 | Toshiba Corp | Surface light source device |
US6805666B2 (en) * | 2002-05-23 | 2004-10-19 | Donna D. Holland | Pivotal and illuminated saphenous vein retractor with tapered design |
US7223233B2 (en) | 2002-08-02 | 2007-05-29 | Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc. | Systems and techniques for illuminating a surgical space |
JP2004069879A (en) | 2002-08-05 | 2004-03-04 | Hitachi Ltd | Liquid crystal display device |
US6910783B2 (en) | 2002-10-04 | 2005-06-28 | Lumitex, Inc. | Transparent light emitting members and method of manufacture |
US20040120673A1 (en) | 2002-12-19 | 2004-06-24 | Lucent Technologies | Method of polishing polymer facets on optical waveguides |
US6893394B2 (en) | 2002-12-19 | 2005-05-17 | Ethicon, Inc. | Illuminated and vacuum assisted retractor |
US20050182301A1 (en) | 2003-01-31 | 2005-08-18 | Zimmer Technology, Inc. | Lit retractor |
US7503894B2 (en) | 2003-01-31 | 2009-03-17 | Zimmer Technology, Inc. | Lit retractor |
US7371213B2 (en) | 2003-01-31 | 2008-05-13 | Zimmer Technology, Inc. | Lit retractor |
CN1913834B (en) | 2003-12-18 | 2010-12-01 | 德普伊斯派尔公司 | Surgical retractor systems |
US7708688B2 (en) | 2004-03-15 | 2010-05-04 | Paradigm Optics, Incorporated | Polymer endoscopic shaft |
EP1839562B1 (en) | 2004-03-25 | 2009-05-06 | Olympus Corporation | In-vivo information acquisition apparatus system |
US7231122B2 (en) | 2004-04-08 | 2007-06-12 | Omniguide, Inc. | Photonic crystal waveguides and systems using such waveguides |
US7167622B2 (en) | 2004-04-08 | 2007-01-23 | Omniguide, Inc. | Photonic crystal fibers and medical systems including photonic crystal fibers |
JP2005353406A (en) | 2004-06-10 | 2005-12-22 | Toyota Industries Corp | Light guide plate |
US7150714B2 (en) * | 2004-06-14 | 2006-12-19 | Ebi, L.P. | Minimally invasive surgical spinal exposure system |
US20050279354A1 (en) | 2004-06-21 | 2005-12-22 | Harvey Deutsch | Structures and Methods for the Joint Delivery of Fluids and Light |
US8480566B2 (en) | 2004-09-24 | 2013-07-09 | Vivid Medical, Inc. | Solid state illumination for endoscopy |
KR20070097527A (en) | 2004-12-22 | 2007-10-04 | 제이에스알 가부시끼가이샤 | Method for producing cyclic olefin addition copolymer, cyclic olefin addition copolymer and use thereof |
US7842027B2 (en) | 2005-03-21 | 2010-11-30 | Lieponis Jonas V | Multi-purpose surgical instrument with integral optical system |
US20060224045A1 (en) | 2005-03-31 | 2006-10-05 | Depuy Spine, Inc. | Integrated access device and light source for surgical procedures |
US7510524B2 (en) | 2005-04-04 | 2009-03-31 | Invuity, Inc. | Optical waveguide sheath |
CN1861656A (en) | 2005-05-12 | 2006-11-15 | 中国石油天然气股份有限公司 | Cycloolefines/ethylene copolymer ization catalyst and application thereof |
US8684577B2 (en) | 2005-05-13 | 2014-04-01 | Invuity, Inc. | Body cavity illumination system |
US7645050B2 (en) * | 2005-11-23 | 2010-01-12 | Kerr Corporation | User-wearable illumination assembly |
US7593615B2 (en) * | 2006-02-10 | 2009-09-22 | Rpc Photonics, Inc. | Optical devices for guiding illumination |
US20080003694A1 (en) | 2006-04-18 | 2008-01-03 | Swanson Basil I | Robust, self-assembled, biocompatible films |
US8012089B2 (en) * | 2006-05-22 | 2011-09-06 | Ardeshir Bayat | Disposable expandable cordless lighted retractor |
US8047987B2 (en) * | 2006-05-26 | 2011-11-01 | Invuity, Inc. | Blade insert illuminator |
US7686492B2 (en) * | 2006-06-13 | 2010-03-30 | Invuity, Inc. | Film illumination system |
US7773834B2 (en) | 2006-08-30 | 2010-08-10 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Multilayer polarizing fibers and polarizers using same |
JP5030530B2 (en) | 2006-10-30 | 2012-09-19 | 株式会社ヴィーネックス | Light emitting element array and paper sheet recognition device |
US20080147018A1 (en) | 2006-12-15 | 2008-06-19 | Squilla John R | Laparoscopic cannula with camera and lighting |
EP1939955A3 (en) | 2006-12-27 | 2015-12-23 | CSEM Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique SA - Recherche et Développement | Optical device and system and method for fabricating the device |
GB0708761D0 (en) | 2007-05-04 | 2007-06-13 | Evexar Medical Ltd | Improvements in and relating to medical instruments |
US20080319432A1 (en) | 2007-06-20 | 2008-12-25 | Scott Ely | Surgical illumination system and method |
CN100497416C (en) | 2007-07-09 | 2009-06-10 | 中山大学 | Preparation method of cyclolefin copolymer |
US8641609B2 (en) | 2007-10-23 | 2014-02-04 | Zimmer Spine, Inc. | Surgical access system and method of using the same |
US8088066B2 (en) | 2007-10-24 | 2012-01-03 | Invuity, Inc. | Blade insert illuminator |
US8317693B2 (en) * | 2008-08-13 | 2012-11-27 | Invuity, Inc. | Cyclo olefin polymer and copolymer medical devices |
US9282878B2 (en) | 2008-08-13 | 2016-03-15 | Invuity, Inc. | Cyclo olefin polymer and copolymer medical devices |
US9717403B2 (en) * | 2008-12-05 | 2017-08-01 | Jeffrey B. Kleiner | Method and apparatus for performing retro peritoneal dissection |
US8586347B2 (en) | 2010-09-15 | 2013-11-19 | Mbio Diagnostics, Inc. | System and method for detecting multiple molecules in one assay |
US9212995B2 (en) | 2009-03-02 | 2015-12-15 | Mbio Diagnostics, Inc. | System and method for detecting multiple molecules in one assay |
US8795162B2 (en) | 2009-11-10 | 2014-08-05 | Invuity, Inc. | Illuminated suction apparatus |
-
2007
- 2007-10-24 US US11/923,483 patent/US8088066B2/en active Active
-
2008
- 2008-10-24 WO PCT/US2008/081178 patent/WO2009055713A1/en active Application Filing
-
2011
- 2011-11-18 US US13/300,325 patent/US9060707B2/en active Active
-
2013
- 2013-10-31 US US14/068,571 patent/US9468366B2/en active Active
-
2014
- 2014-12-30 US US14/585,403 patent/US9986901B2/en active Active
-
2018
- 2018-05-01 US US15/968,011 patent/US10582844B2/en active Active
-
2020
- 2020-01-25 US US16/752,620 patent/US11583175B2/en active Active
-
2023
- 2023-01-18 US US18/098,309 patent/US20230218155A1/en active Pending
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20070066872A1 (en) * | 2003-03-07 | 2007-03-22 | Paul Morrison | IIIuminable retractor |
US20070208226A1 (en) * | 2006-01-18 | 2007-09-06 | Spotlight Surgical, Inc. | Retractor illumination system |
Cited By (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
KR101061695B1 (en) | 2010-01-15 | 2011-09-01 | (주)티디엠 | Detachable clip-type medical light fixture |
USD814028S1 (en) * | 2011-08-31 | 2018-03-27 | Nuvasive, Inc. | Retractor blade |
EP2757934A4 (en) * | 2011-09-23 | 2016-03-09 | Invuity Inc | Illuminated and modular soft tissue retractor |
US9610130B2 (en) | 2011-09-23 | 2017-04-04 | Invuite, Inc. | Illuminated and modular soft tissue retractor |
US9718130B1 (en) | 2011-09-23 | 2017-08-01 | Invuity, Inc. | Illuminated and modular soft tissue retractor |
US10220445B2 (en) | 2011-09-23 | 2019-03-05 | Invuity, Inc. | Illuminated and modular soft tissue retractor |
US10953466B2 (en) | 2011-09-23 | 2021-03-23 | Invuity, Inc. | Illuminated and modular soft tissue retractor |
US11633094B2 (en) | 2011-09-23 | 2023-04-25 | Invuity, Inc. | Illuminated and modular soft tissue retractor |
WO2014033426A1 (en) * | 2012-08-31 | 2014-03-06 | Karoo Marc Philip Daveraj | Surgical retractors |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US9468366B2 (en) | 2016-10-18 |
US20090112068A1 (en) | 2009-04-30 |
US8088066B2 (en) | 2012-01-03 |
US11583175B2 (en) | 2023-02-21 |
US20140058209A1 (en) | 2014-02-27 |
US20200154991A1 (en) | 2020-05-21 |
US20150119649A1 (en) | 2015-04-30 |
US20120083663A1 (en) | 2012-04-05 |
US9986901B2 (en) | 2018-06-05 |
US20230218155A1 (en) | 2023-07-13 |
US20180249902A1 (en) | 2018-09-06 |
US10582844B2 (en) | 2020-03-10 |
US9060707B2 (en) | 2015-06-23 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US11583175B2 (en) | Blade insert illuminator | |
US9877639B2 (en) | Blade insert illuminator | |
US9844364B2 (en) | Retractor illumination system | |
US8864662B2 (en) | Cyclo olefin polymer and copolymer medical devices | |
US8596847B2 (en) | Film illumination system |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
121 | Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application |
Ref document number: 08843122 Country of ref document: EP Kind code of ref document: A1 |
|
NENP | Non-entry into the national phase |
Ref country code: DE |
|
122 | Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase |
Ref document number: 08843122 Country of ref document: EP Kind code of ref document: A1 |