Patent ID: 8317693

Claim:
An illuminated retractor system, said retractor system comprising: a retractor blade; and a blade insert illuminator engaged with the retractor blade, wherein the blade insert illuminator is formed primarly of a cylic olefin polymer, wherein the blade insert illuminator comprises a light input end near a proximal end of the blade insert illuminator, a light output end near a distal end of the blade insert illuminator, and a light conducting portion therebetween, and wherein the blade insert illuminator is an optical waveguide and light is conducted from the light input end through the light conducting portion to the light output end by total internal reflection, and wherein the blade insert illuminator comprises a light input portion having an input dead zone where total internal reflection does not occur, and an input collar connected to the illuminator blade in the input dead zone, the collar surrounding the light input portion and forming an input air gap therebetween and circumferentially therearound.