# US 8,088,066 B2 · Blade insert illuminator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,088,066 B2 - Document ID: US8088066B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/923,483 - Filed: 2007-10-24 - Published: 2009-04-30 - Granted: 2012-01-03 - Earliest claimed: 2007-10-24 - Assignees: Invuity, Inc. - Inventors: Thomas L. Grey; Alex Vayser; Jonathan G. Gasson; Kenneth B. Trauner - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8088066B2 ## CPC - A61B 1/07: using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres - A61B 1/0623: {for off-axis illumination} - A61B 17/02: for holding wounds open, e.g. retractors; Tractors - A61B 17/0218: {for minimally invasive surgery (A61B17/0281, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence)} - A61B 90/30: Devices for illuminating a surgical field, the devices having an interrelation with other surgical devices or with a surgical procedure - A61B 90/80: Implements for cleaning or washing the skin of surgeons or patients - A61B 2090/306: {using optical fibres} - A61B 2090/309: {using white LEDs} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A surgical retractor comprising: a retractor blade having a front side, a back side, and one or more engagement elements disposed on the retractor blade, wherein the back side is adapted to engage tissue at a surgical site; and an illuminator blade having a front surface and a rear surface, wherein the illuminator blade further comprises a plurality of active zones through which light passes by total internal reflection, and one or more dead zones where total internal reflection does not occur, and one or more engagement elements disposed in the one or more dead zones, wherein the illuminator blade is disposed adjacent the retractor blade such that the rear surface of the illuminator blade is disposed adjacent the front side of the retractor blade, and wherein the one or more engagement elements on the retractor blade releasably engage the one or more engagement elements in the dead zones so as to maintain an air gap between active zones of the illuminator blade and the retractor blade wherein the illuminator blade projects light onto the surgical site, and wherein the illuminator blade comprises a light input portion having an input dead zone where total internal reflection does not occur, and an input collar connected to the illuminator blade in the input dead zone, the collar surrounding the light input portion and forming an input air gap circumferentially therearound. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The surgical retractor of claim 1, wherein the engagement elements on the retractor blade comprise a receptacle for receiving the engagement elements in the one or more dead zones. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The surgical retractor of claim 1, wherein the engagement elements on the illuminator blade comprise a retention clip that releasably engages the engagement elements on the retractor blade. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The surgical retractor of claim 1, wherein the illuminator blade comprises a light input section and a light output section, the light output section projecting light out of the illumination blade onto the surgical site. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The surgical retractor of claim 4, wherein the light output section comprises a plurality of output zones, each zone formed from a plurality of parallel primary facets alternating with a plurality of parallel secondary facets. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The surgical retractor of claim 5, wherein the primary facets and the secondary facets of each output zone have different dimensions and are oriented at different angles relative to the rear surface of the illumination blade. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The surgical retractor of claim 5, wherein each output zone has depth relative to the rear surface of the illuminator blade, and wherein each depth is the same. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The surgical retractor of claim 5, wherein a first light output zone provides illumination at a first level of the surgical site, and a second light output zone provides illumination at a second level of the surgical site, wherein the first level is different than the second level. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The surgical retractor of claim 4, wherein the light output section comprises a rectangular cross-section. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The surgical retractor of claim 1, wherein the illumination blade comprises an end zone having a rear reflector and a terminal facet. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The surgical retractor of claim 1, wherein the retractor blade comprises a surgical retractor blade. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The surgical retractor of claim 1, wherein the illumination blade is uncoated. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The surgical retractor of claim 1, wherein the illuminator blade projects light laterally from the front surface of the illuminator blade onto the surgical site. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The surgical retractor of claim 1, wherein the illuminator blade is removably engaged with the retractor blade. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The surgical retractor of claim 14, wherein the illuminator blade is adjustably disposed in a channel of the retractor blade such that movement of the illuminator blade adjustably illuminates the surgical field. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The surgical retractor of claim 1, wherein the illuminator blade comprises a plurality of output zones where light is extracted therefrom, the output zones comprising a plurality of parallel prism shapes with a primary facet and a secondary facet. ### Claim 17 (depends on 5) The surgical retractor of claim 5, wherein the primary facets and the secondary facets are oriented relative to a plane substantially parallel to a rear surface of the illuminator blade such that the primary facet forms a primary angle relative to the plane and the secondary facet forms a secondary angle relative to the plane, and wherein at least some of the primary angles are acute. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The surgical retractor of claim 17, wherein at least some of the secondary angles are obtuse. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The surgical retractor of claim 1, wherein the illuminator blade comprises an input portion, the input portion comprising a generally cylindrical portion transitioning to a generally rectangular neck portion.