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US4907973A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Expert system simulator for modeling realistic internal environments and performance

Assignee: A-VIEW Corp
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Filing: 1988-11-14
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Granted: 1990-03-13
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Expires: 2008-11-14
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Abstract

Abstract A medical investigative system in which a person interacts with the system to interject information that is utilized by the system to establish non-restricted environmental modeling of the realities of surrogate conditions to be encountered with invasive or semi-invasive procedures. This is accomplished by video display of simulated internal conditions that appear life-like, as well as by display of monitor data including, for example, blood pressure, respiration, heart beat rate and the like.

Inventors

  • 👤 David C. Hon

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-25 22:22
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B23/00; G09B23/28; G09B23/285

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim 120 words
An investigative medical system comprising: (A) a physical model representing physically and spatially at least that portion of a patient on which a selected medical procedure is to be performed; (B) at least one implement representing a medical procedural tool normally employed in conducting said selected medical procedure; (C) moving means for moving and controlling said implement within said model; (D) first memory means for storing data representing the internal landscape of said at least that portion of said patient; and (E) means interconnected with said moving means and responsive to the position of said implement for producing and displaying a visual presentation of that portion of said internal landscape representing the region adjacent the active portion of said implement.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 120 words
An investigative medical system comprising: (A) a physical model representing physically and spatially at least that portion of a patient on which a selected medical procedure is to be performed; (B) at least one implement representing a medical procedural tool normally employed in conducting said selected medical procedure; (C) moving means for moving and controlling said implement within said model; (D) first memory means for storing data representing the internal landscape of said at least that portion of said patient; and (E) means interconnected with said moving means and responsive to the position of said implement for producing and displaying a visual presentation of that portion of said internal landscape representing the region adjacent the active portion of said implement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 25 words
An investigative medical system according to claim 1 in which said physical model includes physical characteristics-imparting devices to impart realistic physical characteristics to said model.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 32 words
An investigative medical system according to claim 1 in which said physical model includes a plurality of sensors located in predetermined positions within said model to track the position of said implement.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 32 words
An investigative medical system according to claim 2 in which said physical model includes a plurality of sensors located in predetermined positions within said model to track the position of said implement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 16 words
An investigative medical system according to claim 2 in which said physical characteristics-imparting devices include constrictors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 16 words
An investigative medical system according to claim 4 in which said physical characteristics-imparting devices include constrictors.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 16 words
An investigative medical system according to claim 2 in which said physical characteristics-imparting devices include spacers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 16 words
An investigative medical system according to claim 5 in which said physical characteristics-imparting devices include spacers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 16 words
An investigative medical system according to claim 6 in which said physical characteristics-imparting devices include spacers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 15 words
An investigative medical system according to claim 1 in which said tool is a catheter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 15 words
An investigative medical system according to claim 1 in which said tool is an endoscope.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 15 words
An investigative medical system according to claim 4 in which said tool is an catheter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 15 words
An investigative medical system according to claim 4 in which said tool is an endoscope.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 15 words
An investigative medical system according to claim 9 in which said tool is a catheter.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 15 words
An investigative medical system according to claim 9 in which said tool is an endoscope.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 18 words
An investigative medical system according to claim 9 in which said tool is a catheter and an endoscope.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 18 words
An investigative medical system according to claim 1 in which said visual presentation is made on video-like screen.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 18 words
An investigative medical system according to claim 17 in which said video-like screen is a conventional video monitor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 27 words
An investigative medical system according to claim 1 further including performance memory means for storing performance data representing a record of the performance of said medical procedure.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 17 words
An investigative medical system according to claim 19 wherein said performance memory means comprises semiconductor storage means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 17 words
An investigative medical system according to claim 19 wherein said performance memory means comprises a magnetic disc.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 17 words
An investigative medical system according to claim 19 wherein said performance memory means comprises a magnetic tape.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 29 words
An investigative medical system according to claim 1 further including printing means effective, when activated, to print a record of predetermined data representing selected portions of said medical procedure.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 29 words
An investigative medical system according to claim 1 further including idealized performance data storage means for storing idealized performance data representative of the idealized performance of said medical procedure.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 36 words
An investigative medical system according to claim 24 further including means for accessing said idealized performance data and comparing said last mentioned data with data representing actual performance of said medical procedure to obtain comparison data.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 24 words
An investigative medical system according to claim 25 further including translating means for translating said comparison data into perceptible data adapted for visual display.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 18 words
An investigative medical system according to claim 26 further including comparison display means for displaying said perceptible data.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 24 words
An investigative medical system according to claim 26 further including analysis means for analyzing said comparison data and for producing a critique display therefrom.
Claim 30
Independent Claim 167 words
The method of performing a simulated medical procedure comprising the steps of: (A) preparing a physical model representing physically and spatially at least the portion of a patient on which the procedure is to be performed; (B) providing a first data storage means and storing data within first data storage means representing a realistic range of internal landscapes ordinarily encountered in patients for which predetermined medical procedures are ordinarily performed; (C) identifying a pathology or diagnostic region set to be explored; (D) inserting a medical procedural tool within said model; (E) positioning said tool within said model and identifying the position of said tool within said model; (F) accessing said first data storage means in response to the position of said tool within said model to retrieve selected data representing the one of said realistic internal landscapes represented by the position of said tool within said model; (G) translating said selected data into visual form data; and (H) displaying said visual form data in a visual display.
Claim 31
Independent Claim 167 words
The method of performing a simulated medical procedure comprising the steps of: (A) preparing a physical model representing physically and spatially at least the portion of a patient on which the procedure is to be performed; (B) providing a first data storage means and storing data within first data storage means representing a realistic range of internal landscapes ordinarily encountered in patients for which predetermined medical procedures are ordinarily performed; (C) identifying a pathology or diagnostic region set to be explored; (D) inserting a medical procedural tool within said model; (E) positioning said tool within said model and identifying the position of said tool within said model; (F) accessing said first data storage means in response to the position of said tool within said model to retrieve selected data representing the one of said realistic internal landscapes represented by the position of said tool within said model; (G) translating said selected data into visual form data; and (H) displaying said visual form data in a visual display.
Claim 32
Independent Claim 177 words
The method of performing a simulated medical procedure comprising the steps of: (A) preparing a physical model representing physically and spatially at least that portion of a patient on which the procedure is to be performed; (B) providing a first data storage means; (C) storing data within first data storage means representing a realistic range of internal landscapes ordinarily encountered in patients for which predetermined medical procedures are ordinarily performed; (D) identifying a pathology or diagnostic region set to be explored; (E) selecting one of said predetermined medical procedures; (F) inserting a medical procedural tool within said model; (G) positioning said tool within said model; (H) identifying and monitoring the position of said tool within said model; (I) accessing said first data storage means in response to the position of said tool within said model to retrieve selected data representing the one of said realistic internal landscapes represented by the position of said tool within said model; (J) translating said selected data into visual form data; and (K) displaying said visual form data in a visual display.
Claim 33
Independent Claim 177 words
The method of performing a simulated medical procedure comprising the steps of: (A) preparing a physical model representing physically and spatially at least that portion of a patient on which the procedure is to be performed; (B) providing a first data storage means; (C) storing data within first data storage means representing a realistic range of internal landscapes ordinarily encountered in patients for which predetermined medical procedures are ordinarily performed; (D) identifying a pathology or diagnostic region set to be explored; (E) selecting one of said predetermined medical procedures; (F) inserting a medical procedural tool within said model; (G) positioning said tool within said model; (H) identifying and monitoring the position of said tool within said model; (I) accessing said first data storage means in response to the position of said tool within said model to retrieve selected data representing the one of said realistic internal landscapes represented by the position of said tool within said model; (J) translating said selected data into visual form data; and (K) displaying said visual form data in a visual display.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 15 words
A method according to claim 30 further including the step of printing said selected data.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 26 words
A method according to claim 30 further including the step of positioning within said model a plurality of sensors for sensing the position of said tool.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 33 words
A method according to claim 30 further including the step of positioning within said model a plurality of realism-imparting members for imparting to said model realistic feel to the positioning of said tool.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim 25 words
A method according to claim 30 further including the step of storing idealized data representing idealized performance of the selected one of said medical procedures.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim 28 words
A method according to claim 30 further including the step of collecting and storing performance data representative of the actual performance of the selected one of said procedures.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim 28 words
A method according to claim 34 further including the step of collecting and storing performance data representative of the actual performance of the selected one of said procedures.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim 23 words
A method according to claim 36 further including the step of comparing said performance data with said idealized data to produce comparison data.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim 19 words
A method according to claim 37 further including the step of translating said comparison data into visual form data.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim 16 words
A method according to claim 38 further including the step of displaying said visual form data.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim 15 words
A method according to claim 37 further including the step of printing said comparison data.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim 25 words
A method according to claim 35 wherein said step of storing performance data comprises the step of making a permanent record of said performance data.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim 20 words
A method according to claim 37 further including the step of analyzing said comparison data and producing a procedure critique.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4360345A Cited
FR2592514A1 Cited
US4726772A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1993-03-12 1993-09-11 1994-03-13 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1997-03-12 1997-09-11 1998-03-13 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2001-03-12 2001-09-11 2002-03-13 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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