Patent US5941251A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5941251A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Systems for locating and guiding operative elements within interior body regions
Assignee: EP Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1996-11-08
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Granted: 1999-08-24
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Expires: 2016-11-08
Abstract
Abstract Systems and methods for locating an operative element within an interior body space use a locating probe, which includes at least one transmitting element to transmit an electric waveform output within at least a portion of the space. The systems and methods also use a sensing element, which is adapted to be carried by the operative element to sense a local electric waveform within the space. A processing element coupled to the sensing element generates a processed output that locates the sensing element relative to the locating probe based, at least in part, upon a differential comparison of the waveform output and the sensed local waveform.
Inventors
- 👤 Dorin Panescu
- 👤 James G Whayne
- 👤 David K Swanson
- 👤 David McGee
- 👤 David F. Dueiri
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 22:37
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/0059; A61B5/0062; A61B5/0066; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1492; A61B34/00; A61B34/20; A61B5/06; A61B5/24; A61B5/25; A61B5/279; A61B5/28; A61B5/283; A61B5/287; A61B5/68; A61B5/6846; A61B5/6847; A61B5/6852; A61B5/6853; A61B5/6858; A61B8/00; A61B8/12; A61B8/44; A61B8/4444; A61B8/4461; A61B90/00; A61B90/36; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/06; A61B18/18; A61B18/1815; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00292; A61B2017/003; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00107; A61B2018/00148; A61B2018/0016; A61B2018/00214; A61B2018/00636; A61B2018/00696; A61B2018/0075; A61B2018/00755; A61B2018/00773; A61B2018/00839; A61B2018/00875; A61B2034/2046; A61B2034/2051; A61B2034/2072; A61B90/37; A61B2090/378; A61B2090/3782; A61B90/39; A61B2090/3954; A61B2090/3958; A61B2562/00; A61B2562/04; A61B2562/043; A61B2562/046; A61B2562/08; A61B8/4483; A61B8/4488
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A system for locating an operative element within an interior body space comprising a locating probe including at least one transmitting element to transmit an electric waveform output within at least a portion of the space, a sensing element adapted to be carried by the operative element to sense a local electric waveform within the space, and a processing element coupled to the sensing element to generate a processed output that locates the sensing element relative to the locating probe based, at least in part, upon a differential comparison of the waveform output and the sensed local waveform.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
98 words
A system for locating an operative element within an interior body space comprising a locating probe including at least one transmitting element to transmit an electric waveform output within at least a portion of the space, a sensing element adapted to be carried by the operative element to sense a local electric waveform within the space, and a processing element coupled to the sensing element to generate a processed output that locates the sensing element relative to the locating probe based, at least in part, upon a differential comparison of the waveform output and the sensed local waveform.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
82 words
A system for locating an operative element within an interior body space, comprising; a locating probe including at least one transmitting element to generate an electric waveform in the space, the locating probe carrying a return element comprising a return path for the electric waveform, and a sensing element adapted to be carried by the operative element to sense spatial variations in the electric waveform, wherein the locating probe and sensing element are configured for being coupled to a common processing element.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
82 words
A system for locating an operative element within an interior body space, comprising; a locating probe including at least one transmitting element to generate an electric waveform in the space, the locating probe carrying a return element comprising a return path for the electric waveform, and a sensing element adapted to be carried by the operative element to sense spatial variations in the electric waveform, wherein the locating probe and sensing element are configured for being coupled to a common processing element.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
131 words
A system for locating an operative element within an interior body space, comprising; a first locating probe including at least one transmitting element to generate a first electric waveform in the space, the first locating probe including a return path for the first electric waveform, a second locating probe including at least one transmitting element to generate a second electric waveform in the space that, at least in part, intersects the first electric waveform, the second locating probe including a return path for the second electric waveform, a sensing element adapted to be carried by the operative element to sense spatial variations in the intersecting first and second electric waveforms, wherein the first locating probe, second locating probe and sensing element are configured to be coupled to a common processing element.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
131 words
A system for locating an operative element within an interior body space, comprising; a first locating probe including at least one transmitting element to generate a first electric waveform in the space, the first locating probe including a return path for the first electric waveform, a second locating probe including at least one transmitting element to generate a second electric waveform in the space that, at least in part, intersects the first electric waveform, the second locating probe including a return path for the second electric waveform, a sensing element adapted to be carried by the operative element to sense spatial variations in the intersecting first and second electric waveforms, wherein the first locating probe, second locating probe and sensing element are configured to be coupled to a common processing element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
61 words
A system according to claim 3 and further including a processing element coupled to the at least one transmitting elements of the first and second locating probes and the sensing element to generate a position-indicating output that locates the sensing element relative to the first and second locating probes based, at least in part, upon analysis of the sensed spatial variations.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system according to claim 3, wherein the first and second probes are in a spaced apart unattached condition.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system according to claim 3, wherein the sensing element includes a first and a second electrode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
82 words
A system according to claim 6, further including a processing element coupled to the at least one transmitting elements of the first and second locating probes and the sensing element to generate a position-indicating output that locates the first electrode relative to the first and second locating probes based, at least in part, upon analysis of the sensed spatial variations and that derives an orientation-indicating output for the operative element based, at least in part, upon electrical sensing by the second electrode.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
113 words
A system for locating an operative element within an interior body space comprising a locating probe including at least one transmitting element to generate an electric waveform in the space and at least one element spaced from the at least one transmitting element comprising a return path for the electric waveform, a sensing element adapted to be carried by the operative element to sense phase of the electric waveform within the space, and a processing element coupled to the at least one transmitting element and the sensing element to generate a position-indicating output that locates the sensing element in the space relative to the locating probe based upon analysis of the sensed phase.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
113 words
A system for locating an operative element within an interior body space comprising a locating probe including at least one transmitting element to generate an electric waveform in the space and at least one element spaced from the at least one transmitting element comprising a return path for the electric waveform, a sensing element adapted to be carried by the operative element to sense phase of the electric waveform within the space, and a processing element coupled to the at least one transmitting element and the sensing element to generate a position-indicating output that locates the sensing element in the space relative to the locating probe based upon analysis of the sensed phase.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
134 words
A system for locating an operative element within an interior body space, comprising: a first and second locating probes each including at least one transmitting element to generate, respectively, first and second electric waveforms in the space and at least one element spaced from the at least one transmitting element comprising a return path for the electric waveform, a sensing element adapted to be carried by the operative element to sense phase of the electric waveform within the space, and a processing element coupled to the at least one transmitting element of each of the respective first and second locating probes and the sensing element to generate a position-indicating output that locates the sensing element in the space relative to the respective first and second locating probes based upon analysis of the sensed phase.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
134 words
A system for locating an operative element within an interior body space, comprising: a first and second locating probes each including at least one transmitting element to generate, respectively, first and second electric waveforms in the space and at least one element spaced from the at least one transmitting element comprising a return path for the electric waveform, a sensing element adapted to be carried by the operative element to sense phase of the electric waveform within the space, and a processing element coupled to the at least one transmitting element of each of the respective first and second locating probes and the sensing element to generate a position-indicating output that locates the sensing element in the space relative to the respective first and second locating probes based upon analysis of the sensed phase.
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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) | 2002-08-23 | 2003-02-22 | 2003-08-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-08-23 | 2007-02-22 | 2007-08-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-08-23 | 2011-02-22 | 2011-08-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |