Illuminated clip and methods of use
US9574742B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 30, 2014 |
| Grant date | Feb 21, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 10, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF21W2131/205
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A surgical clip for illuminating tissue in a surgical field has first and second elongate arms and a connector joining the arms together. The arms are biased to expand laterally outward into an expanded configuration in which the arms engage the tissue in the surgical field with enough force to seat the clip without retracting the tissue. A waveguide illuminator is coupled to the first arm, and has a light input portion, a light output portion, and a light conducting portion extending between the light input portion and the light output portion. Light passes through the waveguide illuminator by total internal reflection, and the waveguide illuminator directs light to the tissue. Methods of using the illuminated clip are also disclosed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.