US 6,428,473 B1Granted

Illuminated rectal retractor

AssigneeGenzyme Corporation

InventorsRobert F. Leonard, Chad Garrish, Christopher S. Looney, Keith Wells

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

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Abstract

An illuminated rectal retractor for creating a working space for dissecting instruments in support of a surgical procedure such as rectal examination or for the removal of polyps or hemorrhoids or other types of procedures which require the illumination and access to tissue in the rectal area of a patient, the illuminated retractor having a handle member pivotally connected at an obtuse angle to a first cylindrical and elongate section and a second elongate section that is releasably connected to the first elongate section and a portion of the second elongate section defining an illumination input end portion which is optically coupled to a light source so that the second elongate section is substantially illuminated, and, an operating channel extends along the lengthwise dimension of the first elongate section and the operating channel is illuminated by the second elongate section in use.

Claims9

Dependent claims

An illuminated retractor for use in a patient comprising:

a handle member having a first end portion and a second end portion;
a first elongate section having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, an operating channel extending lengthwise therealong and an inner surface extending from the generally closed distal end portion to near the open proximal end portion,
an illumination connector having a connector thereon and at least one rod member for interconnecting the handle member to the first elongate section such that said handle member forms an obtuse angle with said first elongate section;
a second elongate section having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion and a shaft shaped portion extending proximally from the proximal end portion, wherein said distal end portion of said second elongate section is releasably connected to said first elongate section such that said first and second elongate sections are substantially aligned, the second elongate section defining an illumination output member.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/639,488Filed 14 Aug 2000 · continuation in part
Priority: 18 Feb 2000
Granted: 6 Aug 2002
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

A61B 1/31
Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g.…:…
A61B 1/07
With illuminating arrangements: using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres
A61B 90/30
Instruments, implements or accessories specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis and not covered by any of the groups A61B1/00 - A61B50/00,…
A61B 1/32
Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g.…:…