Endoscopic device having ultrasonic positioning
US7344493B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 31, 2001 |
| Grant date | Mar 18, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 14, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2017/2905
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An endoscopic device includes ultrasonic emitters, receivers, and reflectors for the precise alignment of parts of an endoscope relative to each other. The methods for determining the relative position of two parts of the endoscope are based on measuring the distance between them based on the use of one or more transducers or arrays of transducers functioning as transmitters of ultrasonic signals and one or more transducers or arrays of transducers functioning as receivers of the ultrasonic signals. In preferred embodiments of the invention, at least one of the receivers is replaced by a reflector and at least one of the transmitters also functions as a receiver.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.