This invention relates to a mounting clip that securely and effectively attaches a light carrier to a surgical cannula or a tube of the type used for spinal surgery and other surgical and medical procedures.
Surgeons and other medical personnel commonly employ a tubular surgical instrument known as a cannula during spinal surgery and other types of surgical/medical procedures. The surgical cannula is especially effective for use during minimally invasive spinal surgery and permits the surgeon to introduce surgical instruments into the patient's body so that surgery may be effectively performed on the spine or other part of the body being treated.
Providing adequate lighting for minimally invasive spinal and other types of orthopedic surgery can be problematic. It can be particularly difficult to provide adequate illumination when working through a surgical cannula. Improving illumination would facilitate such surgery and contribute to improved surgical outcomes.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a mounting clip that allows a light carrier of the type suited for illuminating surgical and medical procedures to be effectively and securely attached to a surgical cannula so that significantly improved illumination is provided for spinal and orthopedic surgeries and other medical procedures that utilize such cannulas.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a light carrier mounting clip that is adapted to be quickly, reliably and securely attached to surgical cannulas having an assortment of diameters and lengths for addressing different surgical applications.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a light carrier mounting clip for a surgical cannula that features a relatively simple construction and which is easy to install and utilize for various surgical and medical purposes.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a mounting clip that permits a surgical or medical light carrier to be quickly, securely and effectively mounted to surgical cannula and other types of tubular surgical and medical instruments as required.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a mounting clip that that is especially effective for mounting a blade-type light carrier to a surgical cannula.
It is a further object of this invention to provide for a mounting clip for a light carrier that is effective for improving lighting in all types of medical procedures involving the use of a surgical cannula or other tubular surgical instrument.
This invention features a light carrier mounting clip for a surgical cannula. The clip includes a resilient split sleeve or ring that is axially or longitudinally split between opposing circumferential ends of the sleeve to provide the sleeve with split edges that extend fully between the opposing circumferential ends of the sleeve. The longitudinal split in the sleeve allows the sleeve to be resiliently expanded and contracted diametrically. Contracting the sleeve enables the sleeve to be inserted into and retained within the central channel of a surgical cannula. Diametrically expanding the sleeve allows the sleeve to be wrapped about the exterior surface of a cannula. A retaining bracket for holding a light carrier is mounted to an inside circumferential surface of the sleeve. The retaining bracket has a slot that extends transversely through the sleeve. The slot receives the light carrier and holds the light carrier releasably in place within the sleeve to illuminate surgical procedures being performed through the cannula.
In a preferred embodiment, the split edges of the sleeve may be separated by a gap that is closed to diametrically contract the sleeve. Alternatively, the split edges of the sleeve may overlap one another. In such cases the edges are spread apart to diametrically expand the sleeve.
One or more mounting tabs may be secured to the sleeve proximate one of the circumferential ends of the sleeve. Such tabs extend radially outwardly from the sleeve to support the sleeve in place within the surgical cannula.
Other objects, features and advantages will occur from the following description of a preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings, in which:
There is shown in
Mounting clip 10 includes a split annular band, ring or sleeve 12 preferably composed of a sturdy and durable, yet lightweight and resilient material. Typically, sleeve 12 is composed of a resilient or spring loaded metal or metal alloy. In alternative embodiments, a resilient plastic may be utilized. Sleeve 12 has a generally annular, cylindrical or tubular shape. As used herein, the term “sleeve” should be construed broadly to include all types of such shapes and analogous configurations. As best shown in
An inside circumferential surface 24 of sleeve 12 supports a light carrier retaining bracket 26 or alternative component for retaining or holding a fiberoptic light carrier onto sleeve 12. The retaining bracket includes a generally flat base 30 and a pair of inwardly inclined side walls 32 and 34 that are attached unitarily and typically at least slightly resiliently to base 30. As a result, retaining bracket 26 defines a longitudinally or axially oriented slot 38 that extends longitudinally along the inside circumferential surface of sleeve 12 and generally parallel to the central axis of the sleeve between the opposite open ends of sleeve 12. Retaining bracket 26 is fastened permanently to the inner surface 24 of sleeve 12 by welding, pins, rivets or other fixed means of attachment. Various alternative forms of retaining brackets may be utilized to support a light carrier on the resilient sleeve in accordance with this invention.
Three support tabs 40, 42 and 44 are welded or otherwise permanently fastened to an open upper end 31 of sleeve 12. These tabs are spaced evenly about the circumference of sleeve 12. As shown by representative tab 40 in
Surgical cannula C, which is shown alone in
Light carrier 50 comprises a structure as shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 10,064,613 (hereinafter U.S. Pat. No. '613) and Publication No. US2016/0361133 (hereinafter Pub. No. '133). The light carrier includes a generally flat blade 51 that is unitarily interconnected through a curved neck 53 to an inlet section 55. Each of blade 51, neck 53 and inlet section 55 includes a light conducting material. At least blade 50 also includes a light projecting material. Preferably, inlet section 55, neck 53 and blade 51 are composed of a single piece of light transmitting and projecting material of the type described in the foregoing references. The inlet section 55 is communicably and operably interconnected to an illumination source, again in the manner described in U.S. Pat. No. '613 and Pub. No. '133.
Light carrier 50, mounting clip 10 and surgical cannula C are operably interengaged in the manner shown in
Light carrier 50 is next interengaged with and supported by retaining bracket 26 of clip 10. More particularly, light projecting blade 51 is inserted into the previously described transverse slot 38 (
It should be understood that in alternative embodiments, the light clip may be adapted to interengage an outer circumferential wall of a surgical cannula. In such cases, the sleeve of the clip should be manufactured and spring loaded to be normally smaller than the outer diameter of the applicable surgical cannula. The clip may then be diametrically expanded by opening the sleeve along the axial split so that the sleeve can be wrapped about the exterior surface of the cannula. The spring bias then urges the clip to diametrically contract against the outer cannula wall, which holds the clip in place. An alternatively configured light carrier may then be interengaged with a retaining bracket or other light carrier retaining structure on the clip and configured to extend into the central opening of the cannula so that the area on which surgery is being performed can be better illuminated.
Although the axial split formed in the mounting clip sleeve illustrated herein forms opposing longitudinally split sleeve edges that are spaced apart by a gap, in alternative embodiments, the split sleeve may extend for more than 360° between the respective split edges and be spring loaded such that the split edges of the sleeve overlap one another. Otherwise, in such versions the diameter of the sleeve is expanded and contracted as required in a manner analogous to that previously described.
Accordingly, this invention relates to a light carrier mounting clip that is particularly effective for supporting a light carrier on a surgical cannula. Although specific features of the invention are shown in some of the drawings and not others, this is for convenience only, as each feature may be combined with any and all of the other features in accordance with this invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/778,564 filed Dec. 12, 2019.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62778564 | Dec 2018 | US |