Steerable segmented endoscope and method of insertion

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United States of America Patent

PATENT NO 6610007
SERIAL NO

09969927

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ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)

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Abstract

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A steerable endoscope has an elongated body with a selectively steerable distal portion and an automatically controlled proximal portion. The endoscope body is inserted into a patient and the selectively steerable distal portion is used to select a desired path within the patient's body. When the endoscope body is advanced, an electronic motion controller operates the automatically controlled proximal portion to assume the selected curve of the selectively steerable distal portion. Another desired path is selected with the selectively steerable distal portion and the endoscope body is advanced again. As the endoscope body is further advanced, the selected curves propagate proximally along the endoscope body, and when the endoscope body is withdrawn proximally, the selected curves propagate distally along the endoscope body. This creates a serpentine motion in the endoscope body allowing it to negotiate tortuous curves along a desired path through or around and between organs within the body.

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Patent Owner(s)

  • INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.

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Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Belson, Amir Cupertino, CA 243 23999
Frey, Paul DeWitt Redwood City, CA 9 808
Mcelhaney, Christine Wei Hsien San Carlos, CA 6 625
Milroy, James Craig Palo Alto, CA 10 647
Ohline, Robert Matthew Redwood City, CA 30 1460
Tartaglia, Joseph M Morgan Hill, CA 59 15790

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