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US 8,317,693 B2Granted
Cyclo olefin polymer and copolymer medical devices
AssigneeInvuity, Inc.
InventorsThomas L. Grey, Fernando Erismann, Alex Vayser
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Medical retractors including light guides made of cyclo olefin polymer.
Claims52
An illuminated retractor system, said retractor system comprising:
- a retractor blade;
- and
- a blade insert illuminator engaged with the retractor blade, wherein the blade insert illuminator is formed primarly of a cylic olefin polymer, wherein the blade insert illuminator comprises a light input end near a proximal end of the blade insert illuminator, a light output end near a distal end of the blade insert illuminator, and a light conducting portion therebetween, and wherein the blade insert illuminator is an optical waveguide and light is conducted from the light input end through the light conducting portion to the light output end by total internal reflection, and
- wherein the blade insert illuminator 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 therebetween and circumferentially therearound.
1 more element
An illuminated retractor system, said retractor system comprising:
- a retractor blade;
- and
- a blade insert illuminator engaged with the retractor blade, wherein the blade insert illuminator is formed primarly of a cylic olefin polymer, wherein the blade insert illuminator comprises a light input end near a proximal end of the blade insert illuminator, a light output end near a distal end of the blade insert illuminator, and a light conducting portion therebetween, and wherein the blade insert illuminator is an optical waveguide and light is conducted from the light input end through the light conducting portion to the light output end by total internal reflection, and
- wherein the blade insert illuminator comprises active zones, wherein light passes through the active zones using total internal reflection, and wherein an air gap is maintained between the active zones of the blade insert illuminator and the retractor blade, and
- wherein the blade insert illuminator comprises dead zones and one or more engagement elements for securing the blade insert illuminator to the retractor blade,
- and wherein the engagement elements are disposed in the dead zones of the blade insert illuminator such that the blade insert illuminator contacts the retractor blade only along the dead zones.
3 more elements
An illuminated retractor system, said retractor system comprising:
- a retractor blade;
- and
- a blade insert illuminator engaged with the retractor blade, wherein the blade insert illuminator is formed primarly of a cylic olefin polymer, wherein the blade insert illuminator comprises a light input end near a proximal end of the blade insert illuminator, a light output end near a distal end of the blade insert illuminator, and a light conducting portion therebetween, and wherein the blade insert illuminator is an optical waveguide and light is conducted from the light input end through the light conducting portion to the light output end by total internal reflection, and
- wherein the blade insert illuminator further comprises a pair of engagement tabs disposed on opposite sides of the blade insert illuminator, wherein the pair of engagement tabs are parallel with one another and parallel with the blade insert illuminator, and wherein a gap separates each engagement tab from the blade insert illuminator, and wherein each engagement tab comprises a dead zone where total internal reflection does not occur, and wherein each of the engagement tabs are coupled with the retractor blade.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.