Remote-controllable, micro-scale device for use in in vivo medical diagnosis and/or treatment
US6240312A · kind A · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 23, 1998 |
| Grant date | May 29, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 23, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S128/903
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Remote-controllable, micro-scale, robotic device for use in diagnosing and/or treating abnormalities inside a human body in vivo. The device has a length from 0.1 mm to 10 mm and can be introduced into the body either from natural body openings or by injection into the blood stream. Once inside the body, the device can be guided to different locations in the body by an outside operator using radio controls and computer software. 2-dimensional image information and spectroscopic information (e.g., fluorescence, absorption, elastic scattering, Raman, etc.) gathered by the device inside the body are transmitted by video and radio signals to a computer located externally relative to the body. The transmitted information is processed, analyzed and displayed by the external computer for use by the outside operator. The outside operator can then make a diagnosis and, if applicable, instruct the device to render a treatment on the examined area. Such treatments include the ablation of tissue using lasers or the like and the binding of ruptured tissues together using chemical glue, UV cured epoxy materials or photochemical or photo-ionization techniques using near-infrared light to weld tis…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.