Surgical Retractor Lighting With Focused, Low-Heat Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing illuminated medical devices fail to provide focused illumination to desired surgical fields, often create glare, generate excessive heat, require complex assembly, and pose environmental risks due to battery disposal.
Innovation Solution
A surgical retractor with a flexible circuit board and adjustable light sources, a textured non-slip pattern, ergonomic design, and a push-tab assembly for easy battery removal, integrated smoke evacuation, and improved thermal dissipation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If light sources are integrated into medical devices to illuminate surgical fields, then illumination is provided, but heat is generated that may burn patients or damage tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful heat from the system by using optical waveguides to transmit light from an external source rather than integrating light-generating components that produce heat directly at the surgical site. This separates the illumination function from the heat-generating function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces optical waveguides as an intermediary medium to transmit light energy from the surgical site without converting electrical energy to light locally. The waveguides act as intermediaries that deliver illumination while avoiding the heat generation problem of integrated LEDs or other light sources.
2Illumination intensity
If existing medical devices illuminate a large area, then the surgical field is visible, but glare is created that interferes with the physician's field of view
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using optical waveguides that can be positioned and oriented to illuminate specific local areas of the surgical field. The illumination is concentrated where needed rather than diffusely distributed, preventing glare in the physician's direct line of view while maintaining visibility of the surgical site.
3Reliability
If single-use medical devices with battery power sources are disposed of, then sterilization and cross contamination risks are eliminated, but toxic gases are released from battery incineration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the battery power source from the single-use device structure, allowing the medical device to be disposed of without batteries. This enables incineration of the disposable device without releasing toxic gases from battery materials, while the device still maintains sterilization safety benefits.
4Reliability
If illuminated medical devices require assembly of parts prior to use, then device functionality is ensured, but time is lost in urgent surgical environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the optical waveguide with the surgical device structure itself, making the illumination system an integrated, pre-assembled component. The waveguide is incorporated into the device body rather than being a separate attachment, eliminating assembly steps while ensuring proper optical alignment and functionality.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Provides focused illumination without glare, ensures safe battery disposal, facilitates quick assembly, and enhances user safety and comfort during surgical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
The LED flex circuit includes a flexible substrate, an LED array, and a copper layer configured to improve thermal dissipation
Implementation Method 2
the cover may form a space for at least one smoke evacuation channel between the cover and the blade
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A surgical retractor comprising a handle and a blade extending at an angle from the handle; an illumination assembly having a plurality of direct light sources provided on the blade, at least one of the light sources being angled differently relative to the blade than another one of the light sources; and a cover configured to enclose the illumination assembly, wherein the cover comprises a plurality of openings, each opening corresponding in position to a respective light source of the illumination assembly when the cover is attached to the blade.