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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a surgical implement for use during a surgical
operation when a cavity is formed in the anatomy of a patient. More
particularly, the device pertains to a solution for problems recognized in
the surgical field pertaining to provision of adequate illumination of the
working region where a surgeon operates.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Attempts to provide illumination have included overhead or relatively
distant fixedly mounted lights to provide general illumination, but such
devices create shadows or regions of fluctuating brightness when surgeons
or others present move about. Furthermore, such lights are difficult to
focus to the region of operation, and are not easily adjusted as the need
for illumination changes during the progress of the surgical procedure.
Other prior illuminating devices are not capable of easy sterilization by
standard surgical methods, such as by passing through an autoclave. Other
types of relatively high intensity lighting, such as a standard
incandescent bult mounted in a conventional receptacle socket can generate
excessive heat which could damage or deleteriously affect living tissues,
or which are excessively bulky and inconvenient due to the requirement for
a connection by means of an electrical cord to an external source of
power. Moreover, no retracting function is possible with such devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a surgical
implement capable of performing a retracting function and an illuminating
function within a cavity in the anatomy of a patient during surgery.
Another object of the invention is to provide an illuminated retractor
having linked segments movable for adjustment of the blade of the
retractor in order to control the illumination of the cavity and gripping
of the cavity edge.
Another object of the invention is to provide a surgical implement
performing both retracting and illuminating functions, and which is
conveniently sterilized by standard hospital techniques in a conventional
autoclave.
Yet a further object is to provide a surgical retractor with illuminating
means which delivers adequate illumination for conducting a surgical
procedure, without damage or deleterious effect upon living tissues.
Still another object is to provide a multiple joint interlocking retractor
easily manufactured from common materials by well-known techniques, and
which is convenient to use, occupies a minimum of space when in use, and
in addition, is durable, efficient and reliable when used for its intended
function.
These together with other objects and advantages which will become
subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation
as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to
the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals
refer to like parts throughout.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lighted retractor of the present
invention, showing in phantom outline a pair of batteries enclosed within
the handle.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged, perspective view of a surgical cavity in which a
pair of lighted retractors of the present invention are in use.
FIG. 3 is a fragmental, enlarged view of the blade portion of a multiple
joint interlocking lighted retractor, showing in phantom outline an
alternative positioning of the blade.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmental perspective view of the blade portion of
a second embodiment of the rigid lighted retractor, showing an alternative
manner of placement of lighting means.
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, longitudinal sectional view of the distal end of
the blade portion of the retractor of FIG. 3.
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, longitudinal sectional view of the device of FIG.
5, showing the blade alternatively positioned after flexing to the
configuration shown in phantom in FIG. 3.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 discloses a fixed illuminated retractor designated generally by the
numeral 10 with batteries 12 being contained in handle 14 which also is
provided with spring 16 for maintaining electrical contact, and with
switch 18, for opening and closing the electrical circuit, one leg of
which can comprise the framework of the device, if the framework is
constructed of an electrically conductive material, such as metal. Shaft
20 connects handle 14 with blade 22, which contains on inward surface 23
the lighting means comprising electric lamps 24. When shaft 20 functions
as a leg of the electrical circuit, shaft 20 is hollow and contains a
single insulated wire 26 terminating at one end at a contact (not shown)
at the interior portion of switch 18, and terminating at the opposite end
in blade 22 at an electrical contact of lamps 24, which can be connected
either in parallel, with suitable branching of wire 26, or in series, with
connections between individual lamps 24.
Many prior art patents describe methods for mounting small electrical lamps
in surgical implements and certain of these disclosures are incorporated
in this application by reference to the following patents. U.S. Pat. No.
1,767,025, issued June 24, 1930, to Wappler, shows a cystoscope without
mechanical movement or articulated parts, disclosing a lamp 16 mounted in
an extension 15 of the device. Another disclosure of mounting means is
found in the Wappler U.S. Pat. No. 878,917, issued Feb. 11, 1908, and in
the endoscope disclosed by Takahashi in U.S. Pat. No. 4,078,55, issued
Mar. 14, 1978.
Instead of utilizing the framework of the device of FIG. 1 as a leg of the
electrical circuit, two insulated wires can be used, each carrying current
to lamps 24 from batteries 12. Such a configuration would be required, for
example, if shaft 20 is constructed of a non-conductive material, such as
could be preferable in certain surgical procedures where some danger from
the presence of an electrical conductor might exist during the surgical
operation.
In FIG. 2, retractors 30 and 32 are shown in use, each being of the type
and construction shown in FIG. 1. A body cavity with walls 34 is pulled
outwardly by the outward surface 33 of the retractor 30 at point 36, and
is pulled outwardly by the outward surface 35 of retractor 32 at point 38.
Organs 40 and 42 are representative of internal body parts undergoing
examination or other steps in a surgical procedure. It is seen from FIG. 2
that organ 40 is illuminated by each of the bulbs 44 on the inward surface
23 of retractor 30 and bulbs 46 on retractor 32, thereby concentrating and
projecting light on organ 40 from two different directions, while
maintaining a clear field of vision for a surgeon standing behind cavity
wall 34.
FIG. 3 shows the blade portion 50 of a multiple joint interlocking
retractor, with individual segments 52, 54, 56 and 58 linked together,
with segment 58 linked to lip 60 formed as part of the framework including
shaft 62. Flexibility of the segments is indicated in FIG. 3 by the
phantom outline showing an alternative positioning of segments 52, 54, 56
and 58, affording a different pattern of illumination and a different
contour for conformance with the body cavity with which the segments make
contact. Lamps 64 are shown connected in series from a branch 66 of
electrical cord 68, and lamps 70 are similarly connected in series from
branch 72, branches 66 and 72 joining cord 68 at junction 74. Each of the
electrical cords is insulated from its surroundings, and the framework
provides a leg for return of electrical current to the batteries (not
shown in FIG. 3). Alternatively, as in the case of the fixed illuminated
retractor of FIG. 1, a duplicate set of insulated wires can be used to
return current to the source of electrical power in the handle.
Disclosure has been made in the prior art of means for flexible linkage of
segments in surgical implements. For example, Stokes in U.S. Pat. No.
3,190,286, issued June 22, 1965, shows a segmented flexible endoscope with
a plurality of small pivot elements between the segments, and control
means are shown for flexing the device by means of a pivoting action
similar to a universal joint. Another known method of pivoting sections of
an optical device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,642,352, issued Feb. 15,
1972, to Beach, where a manipulating device incorporating three compound
joints utilizes ball-bearings to provide pivotal movement. A controllably
bendable tube section of an endoscope is shown by Fukaumi, et al., in U.S.
Pat. No. 3,799,151, issued Mar. 26, 1974, where an endoscope is shown with
control possible over various curvatures into which the tube can be bent
when inserted within a living body. Yet another method of pivoting
sections of a device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,079,233, issued May 4,
1937, to Wappler, where a pivotal extension of a telescopic tube can be
adjusted by the operator. The Fukaumi, et al. patent, the Wappler '233
patent, and the Stokes patent all provide for a current carrying wire
passing across joints between adjacent segments. In the present invention,
any of the conventional techniques, such as are illustrated by these
patents, for linking flexible segments of a surgical implement while
carrying current between segments, can be successfully used. Once the
retractor is in place in a certain position, however, the joints should
remain firm. There should also be a releasing mechanism when it becomes
necessary to change the position of the segments of the multiple joint
interlocking retractor. One such locking and releasing mechanism is
illustrated by the control mechanism described in the Fukaumi et al
patent.
In FIG. 4, another embodiment of a fixed illuminated retractor is
illustrated, where blade 80 is connected to shaft 82, and electrical cord
84 brings current to an illuminating trough 86, in the same manner as
described above in connection with FIG. 1. Illuminating trough 86
preferably has arranged along its length a plurality of connected
electrical sockets, each adapted to receive a small electric lamp to
provide illumination along the length of trough 86. Alternatively, tubular
illuminating means can be installed in trough 86, such as a tubular
U-shaped incandescent lamp containing a single filament along its length.
Other lighting arrangements conventional in the art can also be employed
within trough 86 to direct light upwardly from blade 80.
In FIGS. 5 and 6 an embodiment of the invention is shown wherein blade
portion 50 is made up of spaced transverse rigid segments 52, 54 and 56
linked together by bridging material 90, which can be manually flexible so
that blade portion 50 can be manipulated to any desired direction and
maintain a continuous surface. Segments 52, 54 and 56 can be joined by
conventional techniques, such as by welding or adhesion, with use of
flexible aluminum or tin as bridging material 90. Segments 52, 54 and 56
can be made from a suitable surgical material, such as stainless steel.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the
invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily
occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the
invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and
accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted
to, falling within the scope of the invention.
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