US5879306A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Infrared system for visualizing body members
Assignee: Stryker Corp
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Filing: 1996-11-13
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Granted: 1999-03-09
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Expires: 2016-11-13
Abstract
Abstract 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.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark G. Fontenot
- 👤 Richard Feinberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 23:50
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/0059; A61B5/0082; A61B5/0084; A61B5/0086; A61B1/00; A61B1/313; A61B1/3132
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of illuminating a precise location of a body part to be subjected to a surgical procedure comprising the steps of inserting a catheter into the body part to at least the location, of the procedure, inserting into the catheter an infrared light conducting member to emit infrared light to a region limited to immediately adjacent the location at which surgery is to occur, connecting the member to a source of infrared light, and detecting the location of the infrared light emitted by said member.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of illuminating a precise location of a body part to be subjected to a surgical procedure comprising the steps of inserting a catheter into the body part to at least the location, of the procedure, inserting into the catheter an infrared light conducting member to emit infrared light to a region limited to immediately adjacent the location at which surgery is to occur, connecting the member to a source of infrared light, and detecting the location of the infrared light emitted by said member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the catheter is a balloon catheter further comprising inflating the balloon catheter to assist in the process of locating the balloon.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of defining precisely the location of a procedure to be conducted on a member of a body of a living or previously living creature comprising the steps of inserting into the body an infrared emitting fiber that emits infrared over an area approximately that of the area of the procedure, attaching the fiber to a source of infrared light energy, locating the fiber such as to illuminate with infrared light energy emitted from the fiber substantially only the precise location of the member at which a procedure is to be conducted, and determining the location of emission of the infrared light energy from the member.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of defining precisely the location of a procedure to be conducted on a member of a body of a living or previously living creature comprising the steps of inserting into the body an infrared emitting fiber that emits infrared over an area approximately that of the area of the procedure, attaching the fiber to a source of infrared light energy, locating the fiber such as to illuminate with infrared light energy emitted from the fiber substantially only the precise location of the member at which a procedure is to be conducted, and determining the location of emission of the infrared light energy from the member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 3 further comprising the step of including in the fiber an X-ray opaque material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method according to claim 4 further comprising employing X-ray detecting equipment to locate the X-ray opaque material, and maneuvering the fiber to position the X-ray opaque material in a position to cause the infrared emitting region of the fiber to be located at the precise location.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 3 further comprising the steps of inserting a catheter into the member to be subjected to a procedure, and inserting the fiber into the catheter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
A method according to claim 3 further comprising the steps of inserting a balloon catheter into the member that is to be subjected to a procedure, locating the balloon generally in the region of the procedure, inserting the fiber into the catheter, inflating the balloon, and locating the fiber so as to emit infrared light energy at the precise location of the procedure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 3 further comprising the steps of inserting an infrared light conductor and emitter into a body to illuminate such body immediately adjacent a surgical site.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
108 words
Apparatus for precisely locating a surgical site comprising, an infrared conducting fiber having an end region for emitting a narrow beam of infrared light, a source of infrared light connected to supply infrared light to said fiber, a catheter for insertion into a body structure to have a surgical procedure performed thereon at a precise location of the body, means for inserting said fiber into said catheter and locating the end region of said fiber to cause the narrow beam of infrared to be directed substantially only at the precise location of the surgery, and means for detecting the precise location of the infrared emitted by said fiber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
108 words
Apparatus for precisely locating a surgical site comprising, an infrared conducting fiber having an end region for emitting a narrow beam of infrared light, a source of infrared light connected to supply infrared light to said fiber, a catheter for insertion into a body structure to have a surgical procedure performed thereon at a precise location of the body, means for inserting said fiber into said catheter and locating the end region of said fiber to cause the narrow beam of infrared to be directed substantially only at the precise location of the surgery, and means for detecting the precise location of the infrared emitted by said fiber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 9 further comprising viewing the surgical site with a camera sensitive to both infrared light energy and visible light energy.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising a source of white light devoid of infrared light directed into the surgical site, and a camera for viewing said white and infrared light.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising a guide wire adapted to be inserted into the body to the location to be subject to a surgical procedure, and means for guiding the fiber along said guide wire.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising an X-ray blocking material at a predetermined location in said fiber, and means for determining the location of said blocking material in said fiber.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
53 words
An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said catheter is a balloon catheter, means for locating the balloon at a location including the region to be subjected to a surgical procedure, means for inflating said balloon, and means for locating the infrared emitting region of said fiber in the region of the balloon.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said body is a blood vessel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
85 words
Apparatus for precisely locating a surgical site comprising, an infrared conducting fiber having an end region for emitting infrared light over a narrow region, a source of infrared light connected to supply infrared light to said fiber, a catheter for insertion into a body structure to have a surgical procedure performed thereon at a precise location of the body, means for locating the end region of said fiber at said precise location, and means for detecting the location of the infrared emitted by said fiber.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
85 words
Apparatus for precisely locating a surgical site comprising, an infrared conducting fiber having an end region for emitting infrared light over a narrow region, a source of infrared light connected to supply infrared light to said fiber, a catheter for insertion into a body structure to have a surgical procedure performed thereon at a precise location of the body, means for locating the end region of said fiber at said precise location, and means for detecting the location of the infrared emitted by said fiber.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-03-08 | 2002-09-07 | 2003-03-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-03-08 | 2006-09-07 | 2007-03-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-03-08 | 2010-09-07 | 2011-03-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |