Patent · US Expired

Laser guided alignment apparatus for medical procedures

US5598269A · kind A · utility

99Cited by
17References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 12, 1994
Grant dateJan 28, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 12, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B2018/2025
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A portable laser guided alignment apparatus includes a laser line beam source and a laser fan beam source, with the line beam being in the same plane as the fan beam. The apparatus further includes mechanisms for adjusting the angle of the fan beam relative to a vertical reference plane and for adjusting the angle of the line beam within the plane of the fan beam. Additionally, measurement devices are included to measure the angle of the fan beam relative to the vertical reference plane, and to measure the angle of the line beam relative to a vertical reference line within the fan beam plane. The apparatus provides precise alignment for biopsy tools and other instruments used in standard biopsies, discolysis, stereotaxis, and other medical procedures wherein highly accurate positioning and insertion of instruments into a patient are required.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.