The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 09, 2018
Filed:
Jul. 27, 2009
Lex P. Jansen, Pleasanton, CA (US);
Singfatt Chin, Pleasanton, CA (US);
John T. to, Newark, CA (US);
Lex P. Jansen, Pleasanton, CA (US);
Singfatt Chin, Pleasanton, CA (US);
John T. To, Newark, CA (US);
Expanding Innovations, Inc., Mountain View, CA (US);
Abstract
Systems and methods for accessing the spine include tissue penetrating members with direct visualization capability that may be used to form an access pathway to a targeted treatment site. The direct visualization capability, which may be provided by fiberoptic illumination and imaging components, may be use to visualize the tissue as the access pathway is formed by the tissue penetrating member. The tissue penetrating members include catheters and cannulas with sharpened tips with integrated fiberoptic components and/or channels in which a fiberscope or miniscope may be inserted. Apertures and/or transparent materials are provided to permit imaging of tissue about the distal end of the tissue penetrating member.