US 11,737,741 B1
Retractor systems with sensors
Larry C. Heaton, II, Pleasanton, CA (US); Alex Keller, Manhasset, NY (US); Robert E. Lash, Redwood City, CA (US); and Jimmy Jian-min Mao, Fremont, CA (US)
Assigned to ViOptix, Inc., Newark, CA (US)
Filed by ViOptix, Inc., Newark, CA (US)
Filed on Nov. 17, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/950,795.
Application 15/346,692 is a division of application No. 12/365,735, filed on Feb. 4, 2009, granted, now 9,486,196, issued on Nov. 8, 2016.
Application 16/950,795 is a continuation of application No. 15/346,692, filed on Nov. 8, 2016, granted, now 10,835,227.
Int. Cl. A61B 17/02 (2006.01); A61B 1/32 (2006.01); A61B 5/12 (2006.01); A61B 5/1455 (2006.01); A61B 5/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 5/103 (2006.01); A61B 90/30 (2016.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01)
CPC A61B 17/02 (2013.01) [A61B 1/32 (2013.01); A61B 5/125 (2013.01); A61B 5/14552 (2013.01); A61B 5/4893 (2013.01); A61B 5/7278 (2013.01); A61B 5/1036 (2013.01); A61B 5/14551 (2013.01); A61B 90/03 (2016.02); A61B 2017/00022 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00057 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00119 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00137 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00199 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00398 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0237 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0262 (2013.01); A61B 2090/064 (2016.02); A61B 2090/065 (2016.02); A61B 2090/306 (2016.02)] 55 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
a retractor, for retracting a tissue, comprising a shaft, a handle coupled to a proximal end of the shaft, a tip coupled to a distal end of the shaft, wherein the tip comprises a retractor portion and an oximeter sensor;
a force sensor coupled to the retractor, wherein the force sensor comprises a load cell having a first end and a second end on opposite sides of each other, along an axis of the load cell;
one or more optical fibers, wherein the one or more optical fibers pass through a channel in the shaft and distal ends of the one or more optical fibers are coupled to one or more openings of the tip; and
a signal emitter circuit and a signal detector circuit, coupled to the one or more optical fibers, wherein the signal emitter circuit sends a signal through from the one or more optical fibers, and the signal detector circuit receives a signal through the one or more optical fibers;
a processor, coupled to the signal emitter circuit and signal detector circuit, wherein the processor processes signals received through the one or more optical fibers;
a display, coupled to the processor, wherein the display shows results of the processing by the processor,
wherein the force sensor is located between the handle and the tip of the retractor, the force sensor measures force in a first direction, the handle extends in the first direction, and the tip of the retractor extends in a second direction, angled in a range from about 90 degrees to about 45 degrees to the first direction.