US5517997A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Transillumination of body members for protection during body invasive procedures
Assignee: Stryker Corp
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Filing: 1994-09-15
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Granted: 1996-05-21
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Expires: 2014-09-15
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method for protecting a body member from damage during a body intrusive procedure in a region adjacent the body member to be protected includes a source of infrared energy introduced into a light guide that is introduced into the body member to be protected; a source of visible light is introduced into the region, this latter source being pulsed at the frame rate of a monitor energized by an infrared sensitive video camera that receives light from such region, the camera being sensitive to infrared energy as well as visible light. In another embodiment of the invention both sources are pulsed in alternation so that the images produced by the different sources are basically emphasized in alternation. A signal source for producing audible and/or visual signals may be provided with a light guide to view the region under investigation. The signal source may be synchronized with the infrared source to protect against false signals produced by the visual light.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark G. Fontenot
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 08:11
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/0059; A61B5/0082; A61B5/0084; A61B5/0086; A61B5/06; A61B5/065; A61B90/00; A61B90/36; A61B17/00; A61B17/32; A61B17/320016; A61B17/34; A61B17/3417; A61B17/3421; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022; A61B2017/00057; A61B2017/00115; A61B2017/00119; A61B5/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
An apparatus for reducing the danger of damage to a body member located in a region of an intrusive procedure in a body in which the body member is located comprising, a fiber optic light guide insertable into the body member to be protected, a source of infrared energy having means for introducing such energy into said light guide, said light guide having a region for emitting said infrared energy along axes transverse to said light guide, a source of visible light energy, means for introducing said visible light energy into said region of said light guide, means for pulsing at least one of said sources of light energy, and means for locating said body member by detecting said infrared energy.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
121 words
An apparatus for reducing the danger of damage to a body member located in a region of an intrusive procedure in a body in which the body member is located comprising, a fiber optic light guide insertable into the body member to be protected, a source of infrared energy having means for introducing such energy into said light guide, said light guide having a region for emitting said infrared energy along axes transverse to said light guide, a source of visible light energy, means for introducing said visible light energy into said region of said light guide, means for pulsing at least one of said sources of light energy, and means for locating said body member by detecting said infrared energy.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising means for energizing said sources in alternation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a signal device for stimulating a human sensory response, said signal device having a probe insertable into the body adjacent an operation site for transmitting infrared light energy emitted from said light guide to said signal device, and means for rendering said signal device operative only when said infrared energy source is energized.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said signal device includes means for producing an audible sound.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a camera responsive to infrared energy, a light guide for directing energy from said sources to said camera.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said camera is a video camera, and a scanning monitor for receiving signals from said video camera and displaying said signals on the screen of the monitor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising means for pulsing said sources on and off in alternation, and means for synchronizing the pulsing of said sources with the scan of said monitor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising means for operating said monitor on the NTSC system and images produced when each said source is energized are displayed alternately by the scans of said monitor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising means for operating said monitor on the PAL system and images produced when each said source is energized are displayed alternately by said monitor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising means for operating said monitor on the SECAM system and images produced when each said source is energized are displayed by said monitor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a camera responsive to infrared energy, means for directing infrared energy to said camera, said means for directing infrared energy further directing visible light reflected from said region to said camera.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus according to claim 11 further comprising means for energizing said sources alternately and successively.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said means for detecting infrared energy produces a sound upon detection of such energy.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a camera responsive to light energy, a light guide for directing energy from said sources to said camera.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a sleeve disposable about a surgical instrument to be inserted into said region and insertable therewith, said sleeve having means for securing said means for locating said body member to such instrument for insertion into such region with such instrument.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a signal device for stimulating a human sensory response, said signal device having a probe insertable into the body adjacent an operation site for transmitting light energy to said signal device.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
112 words
An apparatus for reducing the danger of damage to a body member located in a region of an intrusive procedure in a body in which the body member is located comprising, a fiber optic light guide insertable into the body member to be protected, a source of infrared light energy having means for introducing such energy into said light guide, said light guide having a region for emitting said infrared energy along axes transverse to said light guide, a source of visible light, means for introducing said visible light into said region, means for pulsing said source of light energy, and means for locating said body member by detecting said light energy.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
112 words
An apparatus for reducing the danger of damage to a body member located in a region of an intrusive procedure in a body in which the body member is located comprising, a fiber optic light guide insertable into the body member to be protected, a source of infrared light energy having means for introducing such energy into said light guide, said light guide having a region for emitting said infrared energy along axes transverse to said light guide, a source of visible light, means for introducing said visible light into said region, means for pulsing said source of light energy, and means for locating said body member by detecting said light energy.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
73 words
An article of commerce comprising a light guide insertable into a cavity in an animal, said light guide having means to emit light from a predetermined region thereof, a source of light having means for directing light into said light guide, a light detector capable of detecting light emitted by said light guide, and said light detector having means for indicating the proximity of said means for emitting light to said light guide.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
73 words
An article of commerce comprising a light guide insertable into a cavity in an animal, said light guide having means to emit light from a predetermined region thereof, a source of light having means for directing light into said light guide, a light detector capable of detecting light emitted by said light guide, and said light detector having means for indicating the proximity of said means for emitting light to said light guide.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
An article of commerce according to claim 18 wherein said source emits infrared energy, and wherein said light detector comprises a camera sensitive to infrared energy.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
113 words
The method of locating or reducing the danger during surgery or other invasion of a body of causing injury to body members into which a catheter is insertable comprising the steps of inserting a catheter into the body member, inserting an elongated infrared light guide having a region that emits such light into the catheter, directing infrared light energy into the light guide, directing visible light into a region adjacent the body member, pulsing the infrared light energy and the visible light in alternation, and indicating the proximity of an ongoing surgical procedure to the body member by determining the intensity of the infrared radiation exiting the body member at the surgical site.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
113 words
The method of locating or reducing the danger during surgery or other invasion of a body of causing injury to body members into which a catheter is insertable comprising the steps of inserting a catheter into the body member, inserting an elongated infrared light guide having a region that emits such light into the catheter, directing infrared light energy into the light guide, directing visible light into a region adjacent the body member, pulsing the infrared light energy and the visible light in alternation, and indicating the proximity of an ongoing surgical procedure to the body member by determining the intensity of the infrared radiation exiting the body member at the surgical site.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-05-21 | 1999-11-20 | 2000-05-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-05-21 | 2003-11-20 | 2004-05-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-05-21 | 2007-11-20 | 2008-05-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |