Active cannula for bio-sensing and surgical intervention
US8152756B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 15, 2006 |
| Grant date | Apr 10, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 25, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61M2025/0161
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Disclosed is a surgical needle, or active cannula, that is capable of following a complex path through cavities and tissue within a patient's anatomy. The needle has a plurality of overlapping flexible tubes, each of which has a pre-formed curvature and a pre-determined flexibility. Each of the plurality of flexible tubes is selected based on their respective preformed curvature and flexibility so that a given overlap configuration causes the combination of overlapping flexible tubes to form a predetermined shape that substantially matches a desired path through the anatomy. By individually controlling the translation and angular orientation of each of the flexible tubes, the surgical needle may be guided through the anatomy according to the desired path.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.