Medical instrument guidance apparatus and method
US5782842A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 16, 1996 |
| Grant date | Jul 21, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 16, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2090/366
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A device for marking a planned guide path of a medical instrument such as a puncture needle is disclosed. The device incorporates two sources of electromagnetic radiation, such as lasers, which produce two light rays. The intersecting line of the light rays marks the guide path for the puncture needle. Deviations of the angle position of the puncture needle from the planned guide path are visible by examining the reflection of the light from the puncture needle. Different colors of light may be used with the light rays being formed in a fan-shape in a common plane. In this manner, the color of the reflected light on the surface of the puncture needle changes depending on whether the puncture needle is located at the intersection of the light rays.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.