# US 12,599,376 B2 · Illuminated medical devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,599,376 B2 - Document ID: US12599376B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 19/276,346 - Filed: 2025-07-22 - Published: 2026-01-15 - Granted: 2026-04-14 - Earliest claimed: 2018-02-20 - Assignees: CooperSurgical, Inc. - Applicants: CooperSurgical, Inc. - Inventors: Jeffrey Ralph Swift; Jason Swift; Matthew Traub; Nicholas Lauder - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12599376B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/02: for holding wounds open, e.g. retractors; Tractors - A61B 17/0206: {with antagonistic arms as supports for retractor elements} - A61B 90/35: Supports therefor - H05K 1/0209: {External configuration of printed circuit board adapted for heat dissipation, e.g. lay-out of conductors, coatings} - A61B 2017/00017: {Electrical control of surgical instruments} - A61B 2017/00424: {ergonomic, e.g. fitting in fist} - A61B 2017/00734: {battery operated} - A61B 2017/00849: {with respect to tissue, e.g. hollow organs} - A61B 2090/062: {penetration depth} - A61B 2090/309: {using white LEDs} - A61B 2217/005: with suction drainage system - A61B 2218/008: for smoke evacuation - H05K 1/189: characterised by the use of flexible or folded printed circuits - H05K 2201/10106: Light emitting diode [LED] - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ## Abstract A surgical retractor comprising a blade having first and second opposing surfaces, and a handle extending from a proximal end of the blade, wherein the first surface of the blade includes a non-slip texture having a preferential grip in a first direction corresponding to direction of extraction of the surgical retractor from an incision and having a minimal or no grip in a second direction opposite to the first direction and in a third direction transverse to the first and second directions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A surgical retractor comprising: a blade; a handle extending from the blade; a cover attached to the blade, the cover defining a plurality of light openings; and a plurality of direct light sources positioned adjacent a surface of the blade, each of the plurality of direct light sources being aligned with a corresponding one of the plurality of light openings and arranged at an angle relative to the surface of the blade, wherein the angle of the plurality of direct light sources relative to the surface of the blade and the alignment of each of the plurality of direct light sources with the corresponding one of the plurality of light openings causes light emitted by the plurality of direct light sources to travel toward a distal end portion of the blade when the plurality of direct light sources are activated. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The surgical retractor of claim 1, wherein the plurality of direct light sources are angled relative to the surface of the blade. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The surgical retractor of claim 2, wherein the blade includes a distal tip that is angled in a first direction relative to a main body of the blade, and the plurality of direct light sources are angled in a second direction relative to the main body of the blade, wherein the second direction extends away from the first direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The surgical retractor of claim 1, wherein the plurality of direct light sources at least partially protrude through the plurality of light openings in the cover. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The surgical retractor of claim 1, further comprising a smoke evacuation channel that extends between the surface of the blade and the cover. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The surgical retractor of claim 5, wherein the smoke evacuation channel is laterally spaced from each of the plurality of direct light sources. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The surgical retractor of claim 6, wherein the plurality of direct light sources are positioned along a central portion of the blade, and the smoke evacuation channel is positioned along a side portion of the blade. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The surgical retractor of claim 6, wherein the smoke evacuation channel is at least partially formed by tubing that extends between the surface of the blade and the cover and is adjacent each of the plurality of direct light sources. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The surgical retractor of claim 8, wherein the tubing comprises a pair of tubes that extend along opposite sides of the plurality of direct light sources. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The surgical retractor of claim 6, wherein the smoke evacuation channel further comprises a smoke evacuation opening defined by a distal surface of the cover, and the smoke evacuation opening is laterally spaced from each of the plurality of direct light sources. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The surgical retractor of claim 1, wherein the handle comprises an end portion that is angled relative to a grip portion of the handle such that the end portion of the handle is offset from a longitudinal axis of the grip portion of the handle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The surgical retractor of claim 11, further comprising a switch positioned on the end portion of the handle, the switch being configured to activate at least one of the plurality of direct light sources. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The surgical retractor of claim 12, wherein the switch is configured to be operated by a thumb of a user when the user is grasping the grip portion of the handle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The surgical retractor of claim 11, further comprising a vacuum port extending from the end portion of the handle, the vacuum port being configured to be connected to a vacuum source. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The surgical retractor of claim 1, further comprising a circuit board positioned between the surface of the blade and the cover. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The surgical retractor of claim 15, wherein the plurality of direct light sources are connected to the circuit board. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The surgical retractor of claim 1, wherein a distal tip portion of the blade comprises a plurality of elongate ribs configured to increase grip in a first direction without substantially increasing grip in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The surgical retractor of claim 17, wherein the first direction is a direction of retraction of the blade, and the second direction is a lateral direction of the blade. ### Claim 19 A surgical retractor comprising: a blade; a handle extending from the blade, the handle comprising an end portion that is angled relative to a grip portion of the handle such that the end portion of the handle is offset from a longitudinal axis of the grip portion of the handle; a cover attached to the blade, the cover defining a plurality of openings; a plurality of direct light sources positioned adjacent a surface of the blade and arranged at an angle relative to the surface of the blade, each of the plurality of direct light sources being aligned with a corresponding one of the plurality of openings in the cover, wherein the angle of the plurality of direct light sources relative to the surface of the blade and the alignment of each of the plurality of direct light sources with the corresponding one of the plurality of openings causes light emitted by the plurality of direct light sources to travel toward a distal end portion of the blade when the plurality of direct light sources are activated; a switch positioned on the handle, the switch being configured to be operated by a user when the user is grasping the grip portion of the handle, and the switch being configured to activate the plurality of direct light sources when the switch is operated by the user; and a smoke evacuation channel extending between the surface of the blade and the cover, the smoke evacuation channel being laterally spaced from each of the plurality of direct light sources. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The surgical retractor of claim 19, wherein the smoke evacuation channel is at least partially formed by tubing that extends between the surface of the blade and the cover and is adjacent each of the plurality of direct light sources, and wherein the end portion of the handle comprises a vacuum port in fluid communication with the tubing to allow air to be drawn through the tubing when the vacuum port is connected to a vacuum source. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The surgical retractor of claim 19, further comprising a circuit board positioned between the surface of the blade and the cover. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The surgical retractor of claim 21, wherein the plurality of direct light sources are connected to the circuit board. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The surgical retractor of claim 22, wherein the circuit board comprises wings. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The surgical retractor of claim 23, wherein the blade comprises projections positioned adjacent the wings of the circuit board. ### Claim 25 (depends on 19) The surgical retractor of claim 19, wherein the cover includes a distal facing smoke evacuation opening arranged adjacent at least one of the plurality of direct light sources, the distal facing smoke evacuation opening being aligned with and coupled to a smoke evacuation tube. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The surgical retractor of claim 1, wherein the cover includes a distal facing smoke evacuation opening arranged adjacent at least one of the plurality of direct light sources, the distal facing smoke evacuation opening being aligned with a smoke evacuation tube. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The surgical retractor of claim 26, wherein the distal facing smoke evacuation opening is coupled to the smoke evacuation tube. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) The surgical retractor of claim 1, further comprising a circuit board positioned between the surface of the blade and the cover, wherein the plurality of direct light sources are connected to the circuit board, and wherein the circuit board comprises wings. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The surgical retractor of claim 28, wherein the blade comprises projections positioned adjacent the wings of the circuit board. ### Claim 30 (depends on 1) The surgical retractor of claim 1, wherein the cover is releasably attached to the blade with fasteners.