Blade insert illuminator
US9468366B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 31, 2013 |
| Grant date | Oct 18, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 31, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2090/309
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An air gap retractor illumination system includes any suitable retractor such as a McCulloch with a channel in the blade to accommodate an air gap illuminator. The illuminator is preferably made from a suitable light conducting plastic material such as acrylic or polycarbonate or silicone. The illuminator has active portions in which light passes and inactive or dead zones in which light does not pass as a result of the configuration and orientation of the input, output and surfaces of the illuminator. The illuminator is formed to have an air gap surrounding any active portion of the illuminator extending from the light input to the light output portion. The dead zones may include elements to allow the illuminator to securely engage the retractor. The light output portion of the illuminator contains from two to eight output zones, each zone having specially designed output optical structures that control and direct light to escape the illuminator to shine onto a predetermined area of interest or to form one or more predetermined shapes or footprints.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.