Stryker Corporation

Richard Feinberg

Mark G Fontenot

Jim Vining

Howard Katz

An apparatus and method for identifying a body member during a body intrusive procedure includes infrared light energy which is applied to the body member. Substantially visible infrared free light is introduced into the region. The body member is located by detecting the infrared light energy applied thereto. The infrared light energy may be applied to the body member via a light guide which is inserted into or placed in contact with the body member. In addition, a body member to be located may be illuminated from one side and the location of the illuminator detected by a probe on the other side of the body member.

Transillumination of body members for protection during body invasive procedures

Apparatus is provided that provides a ring of light around a junction to be viewed; the ring of light being bright enough to be seen on the other side of the junction. Such an arrangement may be used in severing an anatomic body, such as the cervix, from the vagina whereby a surgeon viewing the structure from the pelvic cavity has the junction outlined in light brought into contact with the junction through the vagina.

Circumferential transillumination of anatomic junctions using light energy

In order to protect body members adjacent an invasive procedure on a body, the member to be protected is illuminated preferably with infrared light energy and the entire site of the invasive procedure is viewed through an optical system that conducts both infrared and visible light energy to one or more video cameras. Various structures may be employed to separate the visible and infrared light energies so that the signals representing such light energies may be processed separately and differently if desired and then recombined for display or separately displayed on a video color monitor.

Imaging system with independent processing of visible an infrared light

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for illuminating the region of a body member to be subjected to a surgical procedure by inserting an infrared conducting fiber into the body member, the fiber emitting infrared light energy over a limited range at the precise location where the procedure is to occur. The procedure may involve an organ, a blood vessel, even a nerve. Mechanisms and detectors may be employed to locate the infrared emissions.

Growing community of inventors

Bellingham, WA, United States of America

Richard Feinberg