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:
Jul. 15, 1997
Filed:
Jun. 07, 1995
James R Matey, Mercerville, NJ (US);
John G Aceti, Cranbury, NJ (US);
Timothy A Pletcher, East Hampton, NJ (US);
David Sarnoff Research Center, Inc., Princeton, NJ (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method for controlling an instrument is provided. The device may be a cutting tool for use in surgery, or other type of device applied to transform a specific object located in a defined area. The apparatus comprises a marker having a predetermined color. The marker is applied to the specific device or tool to form a marked device. An imager generates video signals representing a color image of the defined area. A color detector processes the imager signals to detect a range of colors in the image represented by the imager signals. The range of colors includes the predetermined color. The color detector provides an output signal representing instances of signals in the detected color range. A detection mechanism processes the output signal of the color detector to provide an indication of whether the detected instances represented by the output signal conform to the marked device. A control mechanism disables the marked device if the detected instances do not conform to the marked device, in response to the indication provided by the detection mechanism.