Patent US6695774B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6695774B2
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Apparatus and method for controlling endoscopic instruments
Assignee: EndActive Inc
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Filing: 2001-12-31
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Granted: 2004-02-24
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Expires: 2021-12-31
Abstract
Abstract A control and indicator apparatus for a variable direction-of-operation endoscopic instrument comprises a handle, a coinciding pointer, and a linking system connecting the handle to the endoscopic instrument. The handle affords the user intuitive and integrated control of the available degrees of freedom and the pointer conveys to the user the direction and orientation of the endoscopic working vector by shadowing its movement.
Inventors
- 👤 Eric L. Hale
- 👤 Nathan J. Schara
- 👤 Hans D. Høeg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 22:20
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/00147; A61B1/00002; A61B1/00039; A61B1/00042; A61B1/00163; A61B1/00174; A61B1/00179
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
An apparatus for aiding in the interpretation and control of a variable direction-of-view endoscopic visualization instrument comprising at least two degrees of freedom, wherein said endosoopic visualization instrument has a distal working vector and a working orientation about said working vector, said apparatus comprising: a handle for controlling the direction of said working vector of said endoscopic visualization instrument; a pointer that indicates a direction, wherein said pointer coincides with said handle; a feature on said handle that indicates a rotational orientation about said direction of said pointer; a first linking system connecting said pointer to said endoscopic visualization instrument, wherein said direction of said pointer corresponds to said direction of said working vector, and wherein changes to said direction of said pointer are equivalent to changes to said direction of said working vector; and a second linking system connecting said handle to said endoscopic instrument, wherein said rotational orientation of said feature corresponds to said working orientation, and wherein changes to said rotational orientation of said feature are equivalent to changes to said working orientation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
176 words
An apparatus for aiding in the interpretation and control of a variable direction-of-view endoscopic visualization instrument comprising at least two degrees of freedom, wherein said endosoopic visualization instrument has a distal working vector and a working orientation about said working vector, said apparatus comprising: a handle for controlling the direction of said working vector of said endoscopic visualization instrument; a pointer that indicates a direction, wherein said pointer coincides with said handle; a feature on said handle that indicates a rotational orientation about said direction of said pointer; a first linking system connecting said pointer to said endoscopic visualization instrument, wherein said direction of said pointer corresponds to said direction of said working vector, and wherein changes to said direction of said pointer are equivalent to changes to said direction of said working vector; and a second linking system connecting said handle to said endoscopic instrument, wherein said rotational orientation of said feature corresponds to said working orientation, and wherein changes to said rotational orientation of said feature are equivalent to changes to said working orientation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first linking system is mechanical.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first linking system is electro-mechanical.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second linking system is mechanical.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second linking system is electro-mechanical.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said working orientation of said endoscopic visualization instrument can be adjusted using said handle.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
152 words
An apparatus for aiding in the interpretation of a variable direction-of-view endoscopic visualization instrument comprising at least two degrees of freedom, wherein said endoscopic visualization instrument has a distal working vector and a working orientation about said working vector, said apparatus comprising: a pointer that indicates a direction; a feature on said pointer that indicates a rotational orientation about said direction of said pointer; a first linking system connecting said pointer to said endoscopic visualization instrument, wherein said direction of said pointer corresponds to said direction of said working vector, and wherein changes to said direction of said pointer are equivalent to changes to said direction of said working vector; and a second linking system connecting said feature to said endoscopic instrument, wherein said rotational orientation of said feature corresponds to said working orientation, and wherein changes to said rotational orientation of said feature are equivalent to changes to said working orientation.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
152 words
An apparatus for aiding in the interpretation of a variable direction-of-view endoscopic visualization instrument comprising at least two degrees of freedom, wherein said endoscopic visualization instrument has a distal working vector and a working orientation about said working vector, said apparatus comprising: a pointer that indicates a direction; a feature on said pointer that indicates a rotational orientation about said direction of said pointer; a first linking system connecting said pointer to said endoscopic visualization instrument, wherein said direction of said pointer corresponds to said direction of said working vector, and wherein changes to said direction of said pointer are equivalent to changes to said direction of said working vector; and a second linking system connecting said feature to said endoscopic instrument, wherein said rotational orientation of said feature corresponds to said working orientation, and wherein changes to said rotational orientation of said feature are equivalent to changes to said working orientation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said first linking system is mechanical.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said first linking system is electro-mechanical.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said second linking system is mechanical.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said second linking system is electro mechanical.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
200 words
An apparatus for aiding in the interpretation and control of a variable direction-of-view endoscopic visualization instrument comprising at least two degrees of freedom, wherein said endoscopic visualization instrument has a distal working vector and a working orientation about said working vector, said apparatus comprising: an input means for controlling the direction of said working vector of said endoscopic visualization instrument; a first indicating means for indicating a direction, wherein first indicating means coincides with said input means; a second indicating means on said input means for indicating a rotational orientation about said direction of said first indicating means; a first linking means for connecting said first indicating means to said endoscopic visualization instrument, wherein said direction of said first indicating means corresponds to said direction of said working vector, and wherein changes to said direction of said first indicating means are equivalent to changes to said direction of said working vector, and a second linking means for connecting said second indicating means to said endoscopic instrument, wherein said rotational orientation of said second indicating means corresponds to said working orientation, and wherein changes to said rotational orientation of said second indicating means are equivalent to changes to said working orientation.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
200 words
An apparatus for aiding in the interpretation and control of a variable direction-of-view endoscopic visualization instrument comprising at least two degrees of freedom, wherein said endoscopic visualization instrument has a distal working vector and a working orientation about said working vector, said apparatus comprising: an input means for controlling the direction of said working vector of said endoscopic visualization instrument; a first indicating means for indicating a direction, wherein first indicating means coincides with said input means; a second indicating means on said input means for indicating a rotational orientation about said direction of said first indicating means; a first linking means for connecting said first indicating means to said endoscopic visualization instrument, wherein said direction of said first indicating means corresponds to said direction of said working vector, and wherein changes to said direction of said first indicating means are equivalent to changes to said direction of said working vector, and a second linking means for connecting said second indicating means to said endoscopic instrument, wherein said rotational orientation of said second indicating means corresponds to said working orientation, and wherein changes to said rotational orientation of said second indicating means are equivalent to changes to said working orientation.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
174 words
An apparatus for aiding in the interpretation of a variable direction-of-view endoscopic visualization instrument comprising at least two degrees of freedom, wherein said endoscopic visualization instrument has a distal working vector and a working orientation about said working vector, said apparatus comprising: a first indicating means for indicating a direction; a second indicating means on said first indicating means for indicating a rotational orientation about said direction of said first indicating means; a first linking means for connecting said first indicating means to said endoscopic visualization instrument, wherein said direction of said first indicating means corresponds to said direction of said working vector, and wherein changes to said direction of said first indicating means are equivalent to changes to said direction of said working vector; and a second linking means for connecting said second indicating means to said endoscopic instrument, wherein said rotational orientation of said second indicating means corresponds to said working orientation, and wherein changes to said rotational orientation of said second indicating means are equivalent to changes to said working orientation.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
174 words
An apparatus for aiding in the interpretation of a variable direction-of-view endoscopic visualization instrument comprising at least two degrees of freedom, wherein said endoscopic visualization instrument has a distal working vector and a working orientation about said working vector, said apparatus comprising: a first indicating means for indicating a direction; a second indicating means on said first indicating means for indicating a rotational orientation about said direction of said first indicating means; a first linking means for connecting said first indicating means to said endoscopic visualization instrument, wherein said direction of said first indicating means corresponds to said direction of said working vector, and wherein changes to said direction of said first indicating means are equivalent to changes to said direction of said working vector; and a second linking means for connecting said second indicating means to said endoscopic instrument, wherein said rotational orientation of said second indicating means corresponds to said working orientation, and wherein changes to said rotational orientation of said second indicating means are equivalent to changes to said working orientation.
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