Illuminated and vacuum assisted retractor

Abstract

A retractor including: an extension member having distal and proximal ends; a retractor member connected to the distal end of the extension member, the retractor member having a retractor surface. In a first implementation, at least a portion of the retractor surface has a distal vacuum port for positively retaining the tissue upon application of a vacuum to the vacuum port. In an alternative implementation, the retractor has an illuminator for transmitting light into an interior of the body proximate to the tissue.

1 - 23 . (canceled)  
     
     
         24 . A retractor comprising: 
 an extension member having distal and proximal ends;    a retractor member connected to the distal end of the extension member, the retractor member having an upper and lower retractor surface; and    a distal vacuum port formed into at least a portion of the upper retractor surface for positively retaining tissue to be retracted upon application of a vacuum to the distal vacuum port.    
     
     
         25 . The retractor of  claim 24 , wherein the extension member is a tubular member having an internal lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end.  
     
     
         26 . The retractor of  claim 25 , wherein the retractor member has an internal conduit in fluid cooperation with both the internal lumen and distal vacuum port, wherein vacuum applied to the proximal end of the extension member is applied to the distal vacuum port through the internal lumen and internal conduit.  
     
     
         27 . The retractor of  claim 26 , further comprising a handle disposed at the proximal end of the extension member, the handle having a proximal vacuum port in fluid communication with the proximal end of the internal lumen.  
     
     
         28 . The retractor of  claim 24 , wherein the retractor member is a curved blade having a convex surface and a concave surface, wherein the distal vacuum port is at least partially formed in the convex surface.  
     
     
         29 . The retractor of  claim 25 , wherein the distal end of the extension member has a male threaded portion and the retractor member has a female threaded portion threadingly engaging the male threaded portion of the extension member.  
     
     
         30 . The retractor of  claim 24 , further comprising illumination means for transmitting light into an interior of a body cavity proximate to the tissue.  
     
     
         31 . The retractor of  claim 30 , wherein the illumination means comprises the retractor member having at least a portion fabricated from a light transmitting material and light guide means for directing light to the light transmitting material.  
     
     
         32 . The retractor of  claim 31 , wherein the extension member is a tubular member having an internal lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end, wherein a light fiber is disposed in the internal lumen for directing the light to the light transmitting material.  
     
     
         33 . The retractor of  claim 32 , further comprising a light pipe molded at least partially into the concave surface of the retractor member for directing the light received from the light guide means to the interior of the body cavity.  
     
     
         34 . The retractor of  claim 33 , wherein the light pipe further comprises lenses molded into the concave surface for directing the light at an angle relative to the concave surface.  
     
     
         35 . The retractor of  claim 34 , wherein the angle of the lenses varies according to a surgical procedure performed with the retractor.  
     
     
         36 . The retractor of  claim 31 , wherein the retractor member is comprised of transparent materials at least a portion of which is the light transmitting material.  
     
     
         37 . The retractor of  claim 32 , wherein the retractor member is a curved blade, the curved blade having a convex surface and a concave surface, wherein the distal vacuum port is formed at least partially on the convex surface and the light transmitting material is at least partially formed in the concave surface.  
     
     
         38 . The retractor of  claim 24 , further comprising a flexible tube connected to the retractor member and to an external vacuum source to provide the vacuum to the distal vacuum port.  
     
     
         39 . A retractor comprising: 
 an extension member having a distal end and a proximal end;    a retractor member connected to the distal end of the extension member and having a retractor surface configured as a curved blade, the curved blade having an upper convex surface and a lower concave surface; and    illumination means for transmitting light into an interior of a body cavity proximate to tissue being retracted, wherein the illumination means transmits light from the lower concave surface.    
     
     
         40 . The retractor of  claim 39 , wherein at least a portion of the retractor surface has a distal vacuum port for positively retaining the tissue upon application of a vacuum to the vacuum port.  
     
     
         41 . The retractor of  claim 40 , wherein the extension member is a tubular member having an internal lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end.  
     
     
         42 . The retractor of  claim 41 , wherein the retractor member has an internal conduit in fluid cooperation with both the internal lumen and the distal vacuum port, wherein vacuum applied to the proximal end of the extension member is applied to the distal vacuum port through the internal lumen and internal conduit.  
     
     
         43 . The retractor of  claim 40 , wherein the distal vacuum port is at least partially formed in the convex surface.  
     
     
         44 . The retractor of  claim 39 , wherein the distal end of the extension member has a male threaded portion and the retractor member has a female threaded portion corresponding and threadingly engaging the male threaded portion of the extension member.  
     
     
         45 . The retractor of  claim 39 , wherein the illumination means comprises the retractor member having at least a portion fabricated from a light transmitting material and light guide means for directing the light to the light transmitting material.  
     
     
         46 . The retractor of  claim 45 , wherein the extension member is a tubular member having an internal lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end, wherein a light fiber is disposed in the internal lumen for directing the light to the light transmitting material.  
     
     
         47 . The retractor of  claim 46  further comprising a handle disposed at the proximal end of the extension member, the handle having a light guide connector in optical communication with the light fiber in the internal lumen.  
     
     
         48 . A method for retracting tissue for accessing a surgical site within a body of a patient, the method comprising: 
 engaging an upper surface of a retractor with tissue to be retracted;    retaining the tissue on the upper surface of the retractor; and    providing a vacuum at the upper surface to positively hold the tissue on the retractor surface.    
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , further comprising directing light from a lower surface of the retractor to illuminate a body cavity proximate to the retractor.