Variable direction of view instrument with on-board actuators
US7896803B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 13, 2006 |
| Grant date | Mar 1, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 5, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B1/00183
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A viewing instrument with a variable direction of view is disclosed generally comprising an outer instrument shaft, such as endoscope shaft, with a viewing element at its distal end, and an inner drive shaft within the outer shaft for moving the viewing element in order to change the direction of the view vector. First and second on-board actuators, such as motors, are arranged in the proximal portion of the instrument for rotating the outer and inner shaft, respectively, in order to rotate the viewing element through two degrees of freedom. In certain embodiments, the axes of the shafts are coincident, and the viewing element rotates about a rotational axis substantially perpendicular to shaft axes. In some embodiments, the axes of the motors are substantially parallel.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.