Tissue retractors with fluid evacuation/infusion and/or light emission capability

Abstract

Retractor apparatus including a blade and a fluid port and/or a light emitter associated with blade, and surgical systems including an arm and a retractor apparatus.

1 - 42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . A retractor apparatus, comprising:
 a retractor including
 a longitudinally extending blade having a tissue contact side and a second side opposite the tissue contact side, and 
 a fluid port projecting outwardly from the tissue contact side of the blade, the fluid port including a plurality of openings that face in different directions; and 
   a connector associated with the retractor and configured to secure the retractor to a mechanical arm.   
     
     
         44 . A retractor apparatus as claimed in  claim 43 , wherein
 the fluid port is carried by and extends longitudinally along tissue contact side of the blade.   
     
     
         45 . A retractor apparatus as claimed in  claim 43 , further comprising:
 a fluid tube; and   a connector tube having a first end connected to the fluid tube and second end associated with the fluid port.   
     
     
         46 . A retractor apparatus as claimed in  claim 43 , wherein
 the blade is substantially rigid and the tissue contact side is substantially flat.   
     
     
         47 . A retractor apparatus as claimed in  claim 43 , wherein
 the blade include first and second blade members; and   the first and second blade members are movable relative to one another.   
     
     
         48 . A retractor apparatus as claimed in  claim 47 , wherein
 the fluid port comprises a first fluid port associated with the first blade member and a second fluid port associated with the second blade member.   
     
     
         49 . A retractor apparatus as claimed in  claim 43 , further comprising:
 at least one light emitting element carried by the blade.   
     
     
         50 . A retractor apparatus as claimed in  claim 43 , wherein
 the connector is configured to releasably secure the retractor to the mechanical arm.   
     
     
         51 . A retractor apparatus as claimed in  claim 50 , wherein
 the connector includes a shaft with a spherical indentation.   
     
     
         52 . A retractor apparatus as claimed in  claim 43 , wherein
 the longitudinally extending blade includes an outer perimeter that separates the tissue contact side from the second side, and first and second side edges that extend longitudinally along respective portions of the perimeter; and   the fluid port is located inwardly of the first and second side edges.   
     
     
         53 . A surgical system, comprising:
 an arm; and   a retractor, operably connected to the arm, including a longitudinally extending blade having a tissue contact side and a second side opposite the tissue contact side, and a fluid port projecting outwardly from the tissue contact side of the blade, the fluid port including a plurality of openings that face in different directions.   
     
     
         54 . A surgical system as claimed in  claim 53 , wherein the arm comprises a flexible articulating arm. 
     
     
         55 . A surgical system as claimed in  claim 54 , wherein the flexible articulating arm includes a plurality of links and a tension cable. 
     
     
         56 . A surgical system as claimed in  claim 53 , wherein
 the arm includes a first connector;   the retractor includes a second connector; and   the first and second connectors are configured to releasably connect the retractor to the arm.   
     
     
         57 . A surgical system as claimed in  claim 53 , wherein
 the fluid port is carried by and extends longitudinally along tissue contact side of the blade.   
     
     
         58 . A surgical system as claimed in  claim 53 , further comprising:
 a fluid tube; and   a connector tube having a first end connected to the fluid tube and second end associated with the fluid port.   
     
     
         59 . A surgical system as claimed in  claim 53 , wherein
 the blade is substantially rigid and the tissue contact side is substantially flat.   
     
     
         60 . A surgical system as claimed in  claim 53 , wherein
 the blade include first and second blade members; and   the first and second blade members are movable relative to one another.   
     
     
         61 . A surgical system as claimed in  claim 60 , wherein
 the fluid port comprises a first fluid port associated with the first blade member and a second fluid port associated with the second blade member.   
     
     
         62 . A surgical system as claimed in  claim 53 , further comprising:
 at least one light emitting element carried by the blade.   
     
     
         63 . A surgical system as claimed in  claim 53 , wherein
 the longitudinally extending blade includes an outer perimeter that separates the tissue contact side from the second side, and first and second side edges that extend longitudinally along respective portions of the perimeter; and   the fluid port is located inwardly of the first and second side edges.