Medical therapeutic and/or diagnostic appliance with a sterilizable position sensing attachment

US5891020A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Carl Zeiss Stiftung · DE

Inventors

• Joachim Luber · Oberkochen, DE
• Ulrich Lemcke · Heidenheim, DE
• Christian Duschek · Heubach, DE
• Arvids Mackevics · Aalen, DE
• Hartmut Gartner · Oberkochen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 11, 1996
• Grant date: Apr 6, 1999
• Expiry date: Oct 11, 2016

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B2090/3983
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A medical therapeutic and/or diagnostic appliance includes an arrangement that senses a position and attitude at any given time, and that includes a first sensing unit on the therapeutic and/or diagnostic appliance and a second sensing unit having a fixed location and attitude and arranged to be separated from the first sensing unit by a signal path. The first sensing unit is constructed, for reasons of sterilization and of position sensing, as an attachment that can be detached from the medical therapeutic and/or diagnostic appliance when in use. A coupling device is provided on the medical therapeutic and/or diagnostic appliance for installation of the attachment over a sterilizing sheath surrounding the therapeutic and/or diagnostic appliance.