US7223233B2 — Systems and techniques for illuminating a surgica…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 134 words

A retractor for illuminating a surgical space, comprising: a body extending between a distal end and a proximal end and forming a tube defining a working channel for receiving at least one surgical instrument therethrough, said body comprised of light transmittable material, said body including a coupling portion for receiving light from a light source for transmission of light into said body, said body including a light emitting surface formed by a discontinuity in an inner wall surface of said body in communication with said working channel for reflection of light from said body into said working channel, said body further including an outer surface masked along at least a portion of a length of said body between said distal end proximal ends to prevent light from transmitting through said masked outer surface portion.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 134 words

A retractor for illuminating a surgical space, comprising: a body extending between a distal end and a proximal end and forming a tube defining a working channel for receiving at least one surgical instrument therethrough, said body comprised of light transmittable material, said body including a coupling portion for receiving light from a light source for transmission of light into said body, said body including a light emitting surface formed by a discontinuity in an inner wall surface of said body in communication with said working channel for reflection of light from said body into said working channel, said body further including an outer surface masked along at least a portion of a length of said body between said distal end proximal ends to prevent light from transmitting through said masked outer surface portion.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 18 words

The retractor of claim 1 , wherein said body includes a concavely curved surface defining said working channel.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 26 words

The retractor of claim 1 , wherein said light emitting surface includes a recess in said inner wall surface of said body adjacent said working channel.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 19 words

The retractor of claim 3 , wherein said body is tubular and said recess extends about said working channel.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 21 words

The refractor of claim 4 , wherein said light emitting surface is spaced proximally from said distal end of said body.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 21 words

The refractor of claim 3 , wherein said light emitting surface includes a proximal surface portion and a distal surface portion.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 16 words

The refractor of claim 6 , wherein said proximal and distal surface portions form a V-shape.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 30 words

The retractor of claim 1 , wherein said light emitting surface includes at least one protrusion extending transversely to a longitudinal axis of said body and into said working channel.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 21 words

The refractor of claim 8 , wherein said body is tubular and said inner wall surface extends around said working channel.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 20 words

The retractor of claim 9 , wherein said at least one protrusion forms a ring extending around said working channel.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 23 words

The retractor of claim 10 , wherein said at least one protrusion comprises a series of two or more protrusions adjacent one another.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 32 words

The retractor of claim 8 , wherein said at least one protrusion includes an outer surface convexly curved in a direction between said distal end and said proximal end of said body.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 20 words

The retractor of claim 8 , wherein said at least one protrusion is spaced a distance from said distal end.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 13 words

The retractor of claim 1 , wherein said light transmittable material is plastic.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 37 words

The retractor of claim 1 , wherein said coupling portion includes a ring portion extending about said proximal end of said body and an extension portion extending from said ring portion for coupling with said light source.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 56 words

The refractor of claim 1 , wherein said body includes an outer wall surface opposite said inner wall surface, said distal end and including a first surface portion extending from said outer wall surface toward said inner wall surface and a convexly curved second surface portion extending from said first portion to said inner wall surface.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 22 words

The retractor of claim 16 , wherein said body is tubular and said working channel is enclosed by said inner wall surface.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 20 words

The retractor of claim 17 , wherein said first surface portion is orthogonally oriented relative to said outer wall surface.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 122 words

A retractor for illuminating a surgical space, comprising: a tubular body extending between a distal end and a proximal end, said body including an inner wall surface defining a working channel for receiving at least one surgical instrument therethrough, said body comprised of light transmittable material and including a light emitting surface on said inner wall surface in communication with said worlcing channel, said light emitting surface being spaced a distance from said distal end to focus light from said body into said working channel, said body further including an outer wall surface masked along at least a portion of a length of said body between said distal end proximal ends to prevent light from transmitting through said masked outer surface portion.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 122 words

A retractor for illuminating a surgical space, comprising: a tubular body extending between a distal end and a proximal end, said body including an inner wall surface defining a working channel for receiving at least one surgical instrument therethrough, said body comprised of light transmittable material and including a light emitting surface on said inner wall surface in communication with said worlcing channel, said light emitting surface being spaced a distance from said distal end to focus light from said body into said working channel, said body further including an outer wall surface masked along at least a portion of a length of said body between said distal end proximal ends to prevent light from transmitting through said masked outer surface portion.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 23 words

The retractor of claim 19 , wherein said working channel includes a circular shape cross-section transversely to a longitudinal axis of said body.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 19 words

The retractor of claim 19 , wherein said light emitting surface includes a recess in said inner wall surface.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 21 words

The refractor of claim 21 , wherein said light emitting surface includes a proximal surface portion and a distal surface portion.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 16 words

The retractor of claim 22 , wherein said proximal and distal surface portions form a V-shape.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 20 words

The refractor of claim 21 , wherein said recess is orthogonally oriented relative to a longitudinal axis of said body.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 15 words

The refractor of claim 24 , wherein said recess extends completely about said worldng channel.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 25 words

The refractor of claim 19 , wherein said light emitting surface includes at least one protrusion extending from said inner surface into said working channel.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 17 words

The retractor of claim 26 , wherein said at least one protrusion extends around said working channel.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 39 words

The retractor of claim 26 , wherein said at least one protrusion comprises a series of two or more protrusions adjacent one another and extending about said working channel and spaced along said inner wall surface of said body.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 32 words

The retractor of claim 26 , wherein said at least one protrusion includes an outer surface convexly curved in the direction between said distal end and said proximal end of said body.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 41 words

The retractor of claim 19 , wherein said body comprises a proximal coupling portion including a ring portion extending about said proximal end of said body and an extension portion extending from said ring portion for coupling with a light source.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 48 words

The refractor of claim 19 , wherein said body includes the outer wall surface, said distal end including a first surface portion extending from said outer surface toward said inner surface and a convexly curved second surface portion extending from said first portion to said inner wall surface.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 18 words

The retractor of claim 31 , wherein said first surface portion is orthogonally oriented to said outer surface.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 89 words

A retractor for illuminating a surgical space, comprising: a tubular body extending between a distal end and a proximal end, said body including an inner wall surface defining a working channel for receiving at least one surgical instrument therethrough, said body comprised of light transmittable material and including at least one light transmitter in a wall of said body to transmit light along said body and into said working channel, wherein said at least one light transmitter extends circumferentially about at least a proximal portion of said tubular body.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 89 words

A retractor for illuminating a surgical space, comprising: a tubular body extending between a distal end and a proximal end, said body including an inner wall surface defining a working channel for receiving at least one surgical instrument therethrough, said body comprised of light transmittable material and including at least one light transmitter in a wall of said body to transmit light along said body and into said working channel, wherein said at least one light transmitter extends circumferentially about at least a proximal portion of said tubular body.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 29 words

The refractor of claim 33 , wherein said at least one light transmitter includes a plurality of light transmitters radially spaced about and axially extending along said tubular body.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 27 words

The retractor of claim 33 , wherein said at least one light transmitter extends circumferentially about said tubular body between said distal end and said proximal end.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 19 words

The retractor of claim 33 , wherein said at least one light transmitter extends spirally about said tubular body.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 17 words

The retractor of claim 33 , wherein said at least one light transmitter is an optical fiber.

Claim 41

Independent Claim 126 words

A system for illuminating a surgical space, comprising: a retractor comprised of light transmittable material, said retractor extending between a distal end and a proximal end and defining a working channel for receiving at least one surgical instrument therethrougb and a proximal coupling portion that extends around said working channel at said proximal end, said retractor further including an inner wall surface extending about said working channel and a discontinuity in said inner wall surface to direct light into said working channel; a light source operable to generate light; and a link coupling said light source to said coupling portion of said retractor to deliver light around said coupling portion for transmission of light from said coupling portion through said retractor and into said working channel.

Claim 42

Independent Claim 126 words

A system for illuminating a surgical space, comprising: a retractor comprised of light transmittable material, said retractor extending between a distal end and a proximal end and defining a working channel for receiving at least one surgical instrument therethrougb and a proximal coupling portion that extends around said working channel at said proximal end, said retractor further including an inner wall surface extending about said working channel and a discontinuity in said inner wall surface to direct light into said working channel; a light source operable to generate light; and a link coupling said light source to said coupling portion of said retractor to deliver light around said coupling portion for transmission of light from said coupling portion through said retractor and into said working channel.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 13 words

The system of claim 38 , wherein said light transmitting material is plastic.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 28 words

The system of claim 38 , wherein said body includes an outer surface masked along at least a portion thereof to prevent light transmission through said outer surface.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 38 words

The system of claim 38 , wherein said proximal coupling portion includes a ring portion extending about said proximal end of said body and an extension portion extending from said ring portion for coupling with said light source.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 15 words

The system of claim 38 , wherein said link includes a plurality of optical fibers.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2010-05-28	2010-11-27	2011-05-29	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2014-05-28	2014-11-27	2015-05-29	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2018-05-28	2018-11-27	2019-05-29	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Systems and techniques for illuminating a surgical space

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