Patent · US Expired

Omni-directional precision instrument platform

US5961527A · kind A · utility

74Cited by
7References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 21, 1997
Grant dateOct 5, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 21, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61N2005/1012
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An apparatus for supporting and facilitating accurate positioning, both linearly and angularly of a medical device such as an ultrasound probe, a medical instrument or an imaging device. The apparatus is capable of both gross and precise omni-directional movements with the medical device attached, while remaining connected to stationary objects such as a portable floor stand and/or operating table. After gross manual placement and approximate positioning, the fine tune mechanism of the attached medical device is locked in positioned and secured to two fixed points. Exact positioning is then achieved by the precision movements which are available in all three linear directions and rotational axes. By this arrangement which allows preattachment of the medical device or instrument (i.e., an ultrasound probe) to the apparatus prior to positioning in the patient, quicker, more accurate and more reproducible medical device positioning and placement are achieved.

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