Abstract:
The subject invention provides a surgical instrument support assembly which includes an enclosure defining an opening; a light transmissive pane located at least partially across the opening and defining a support surface; and, a light source located inside the enclosure for generating light to be transmitted through the light transmissive pane. A sterilizable light transmissive surgical instrument support may be also provided to be disposed over at least a portion of the light transmissive pane. Advantageously, with the subject invention, an assembly is provided which includes a sterilized surface for supporting surgical instruments which is backlit. With this arrangement, surgical instruments may be supported and illuminated from beneath to aid a medical practitioner in identifying the surgical instruments.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a National Stage Application under 35 U.S.C. §371 of PCT International Application No. PCT/US2013/028161, filed Feb. 28, 2013, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/604,161, filed Feb. 28, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to surgical instrument support assemblies and, more particularly, surgical instrument support assemblies which include backlighting. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Surgical instrument support assemblies are known in the prior art. These assemblies are used to support, in sterilized conditions, various surgical instruments during a procedure or operation. Many settings for such surgical procedures or operations may be purposefully dimly lit around the patient. As such, the surgical instrument tray or table may be also dimly lit. In this environment, medical professionals may have difficulty identifying proper instrumentation for use. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The subject invention provides a surgical instrument support assembly which includes an enclosure defining an opening; a light transmissive pane located at least partially across the opening and defining a support surface; and, a light source located inside the enclosure for generating light to be transmitted through the light transmissive pane. A sterilizable light transmissive surgical instrument support may be also provided to be disposed over at least a portion of the light transmissive pane. Advantageously, with the subject invention, an assembly is provided which includes a sterilized surface for supporting surgical instruments which is backlit. With this arrangement, surgical instruments may be supported and illuminated from beneath to aid a medical practitioner in identifying the surgical instruments. 
         [0005]    These and other features of the invention will be better understood through a study of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a surgical instrument support assembly formed in accordance with the subject invention in the form of a cart; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a surgical instrument support assembly formed in accordance with the subject invention in the form of a cabinet; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a schematic of a surgical instrument support assembly formed in accordance with the subject invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of demarcated regions and areas of color for locating surgical instruments in accordance with the subject invention; and, 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a surgical instrument support assembly formed in accordance with the subject invention in the form of a self-contained unit for mounting onto a support surface. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    With reference to the Figures, a surgical instrument support assembly is shown and generally designated with the reference numeral  10 . The surgical instrument support assembly  10  generally includes an enclosure  12 , having an opening  14  defined therein; a light transmissive pane  16  located at least partially across the opening  14  and defining a support surface  18 ; and, one or more light sources  20  located inside the enclosure  12  configured to generate light to be transmitted through the light transmissive pane  16 . The surgical instrument support assembly  10  advantageously may provide backlighting to a plurality of surgical instruments as further described below. 
         [0012]    The enclosure  12  is a generally frame- or box-shaped construction which defines an interior volume  22  adjacent to the opening  14 . The enclosure  12  also includes a plurality of sidewalls  24  which perimetrically bound the interior volume  22 . The sidewalls  24  may be separate components which are fastened together or may be integrally formed together. The sidewalls  24  preferably are arranged in a rectangular configuration, but may be arranged to form other shapes such as a different polygonal shape, an ellipse, or an irregular shape. Preferably, a base  26  extends between the sidewalls  24  and encloses the interior volume  22  from the bottom. 
         [0013]    The enclosure  12  may be provided as part of a cart ( FIG. 1 ), where one or more legs  28  may be provided to support the enclosure  12  with wheels  30  being optionally provided for permitting rolling movement of the enclosure  12 . The legs  28  may be removably attachable to permit shipping or use of the enclosure  12  therewithout. Alternatively, the enclosure  12  may be formed as part of a cabinet or other article of furniture or equipment ( FIG. 2 ), which may be stationary or moveable. Also, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the enclosure  12  may be a self-contained unit for mounting onto a cabinet, table or other support surface. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the enclosure  12  is formed of robust construction and may be formed of thermoplastic and/or metallic material, such as stainless steel. Preferably, all joints and other points of connection defined on the enclosure  12  are provided to be liquid tight. 
         [0015]    The opening  14  is defined with sufficiently large area so as to cover a suitable working area for supporting surgical instruments. The light transmissive pane  16  extends at least partially across the opening  14  and may completely span the opening  14 . In this manner, as discussed below, light generated within the enclosure  12  may be transmitted through the light transmissive pane  16  via the opening  14 . One or more additional panels  16 ′ ( FIG. 5 ) may be provided with the assembly  10  to cover portions of the opening  14  adjacent to the light transmissive pane  16 . The one or more panels  16 ′ may define one or more support surfaces  18 ′ that are coextensive with the support surface  18 . 
         [0016]    The light transmissive pane  16  may be transparent or translucent. Preferably, the light transmissive pane  16  is light diffusive so as to diffuse light transmitted thereonto over an area of the light transmissive pane  16 . Also, the light transmissive pane  16  may be formed of glass and/or polymeric material. It is preferred that the light transmissive pane  16  be fixed to the enclosure  12 . Any mode of fixation known to those skilled in the art may be used including permanent or releasable fixation, e.g., snap-on or clamp-type fixation. With releasable fixation, the light transmissive pane  16  may be removable from the enclosure  12  so as to permit maintenance and sterilization of the light transmissive pane  16  separate from the enclosure  12 . The panels  16 ′ may be formed to be light transmissive or opaque. 
         [0017]    The light sources  20  may be of any known type including being incandescent, LED, halogen and/or fluorescent. In addition, it is preferred that the light sources  20  generate white light, but other colors are also possible. Preferably, the light sources  20  include reflectors  32  for focusing generated light towards the light transmissive pane  16 . The reflectors  32  need not be used, but this may result in less efficient operation of the assembly  10 . 
         [0018]    The light sources  20  are positioned within the enclosure  12  so as to provide a relatively even backlighting throughout all or a portion of the light transmissive pane  16 . In addition, one or more controls  34  may be provided for permitting turning on/off the light sources  20  (e.g., switch  34 A), and controlling the intensity of the light sources  20  (e.g., a dimmer  34 B, which may be in the form of a rheostat). The controls  34  may be configured to permit control over individual units of the light sources  20 , one or more subsets of the light sources  20 , and/or control over all of the light sources  20  globally. The controls  34  may be configured to be controlled by various modes, such as, by voice control, hand control, foot pedals, and so forth. 
         [0019]    The surgical instrument support assembly  10  provides not only backlighting, but must also provide a sterile surface for supporting surgical instruments. With reference to  FIG. 3 , the support surfaces  18 ,  18 ′ of the light transmissive pane  16  and the panels  16 ′ may be sterilized, such as by chemical sterilization and/or other modes of sterilization. In consideration of the electrical components within the enclosure  12 , the light transmissive pane  16  and the panels  16 ′ may be formed to be removable from the enclosure  12  so as to permit sterilization of the light transmissive pane  16  and the panels  16 ′, particularly the support surfaces  18 ,  18 ′, separate from the enclosure  12  such as by known techniques, including, but not limited to, chemical cleaning, autoclaving, gamma radiation exposure, and/or exposure to ethylene oxide (EtO). Any known releaseable fasteners may be provided to permit releasable mounting of the light transmissive pane  16  and the panels  16 ′ to the enclosure  12 . In this manner, a plurality of surgical instruments  36  may be directly placed on the support surface  18  in a sterile state in preparation for a surgical procedure. Activation of the light sources  20  provides backlighting to the surgical instruments  36  atop the support surface  18  during a procedure. Contents of the enclosure  12 , including the light sources  20 , may be formed to be removable to permit sterilization of the enclosure  12 . Known arrangements may be used to permit such removability. 
         [0020]    In an alternative version, a sterile surgical instrument barrier may be placed atop the light transmissive pane  16  to support the surgical instruments  36 . Here, sterilization of the light transmissive pane  16  may be avoided, depending on the circumstances. As shown in  FIG. 3 , sterile surgical drape  38  or sterile tray  40  may be provided to rest on the support surface  18  and to extend across at least a portion of the light transmissive pane  16 . Portions of the surgical drape  38  and the tray  40  (such as all or part of bottom  41 ) are preferably formed to be light transmissive so as to permit transmission of light therethrough which radiates from the light transmissive pane  16 . Transmission of light through the surgical drape  38  or the tray  40  provides backlighting to the surgical instruments  36 . 
         [0021]    Where the support surface  18  is to be utilized as the sterile support surface for the surgical instruments, the light transmissive pane  16  is preferably a seamless single pane having no internal seams. Alternatively, the light transmissive pane  16  may be formed by a plurality of joined sub-components; it is preferred that any seams formed between joined pieces be located outside of a target area for supporting the surgical instruments. If concerns exist over avoiding seams between components, the light transmissive pane  16  and the panels  16 ′ may be fixed to the enclosure  12  within fixation configured to engage a bottom or side portion of the light transmissive pane  16  and the panels  16 ′—i.e., not the support surfaces  18 ,  18 ′—particularly where the support surfaces  18 ,  18 ′ are utilized as a sterile support surface for the surgical instruments. For example, adhesive or mechanical fasteners may be used which engage the light transmissive pane  16  and the panels  16 ′ below the support surfaces  18 ,  18 ′. 
         [0022]    As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, certain portions of the light transmissive pane  16 , the surgical drape  38 , or the tray  40  may be demarcated by regions  42  and/or by areas of color  44 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , with these regions or areas being light transmissive. With backlighting of the regions  42  or the areas of color  44 , locations for particular surgical instruments, or groups of surgical instruments, may be designated. This not only assists in locating surgical instruments during a procedure but may also help in checking for a full complement of surgical instruments prior to a procedure.