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:
Mar. 03, 1998
Filed:
Mar. 06, 1997
Joseph P Fitch, Livermore, CA (US);
Karla Hagans, Livermore, CA (US);
Robert Clough, Danville, CA (US);
Dennis L Matthews, Moss Beach, CA (US);
Abraham P Lee, Walnut Creek, CA (US);
Peter A Krulevitch, Los Altos, CA (US);
William J Benett, Livermore, CA (US);
Luiz Da Silva, Danville, CA (US);
Peter M Celliers, Berkeley, CA (US);
The Regents of the University of California, Oakland, CA (US);
Abstract
A micro-mechanical system for medical procedures is constructed in the basic form of a catheter having a distal end for insertion into and manipulation within a body and a near end providing for a user to control the manipulation of the distal end within the body. A fiberoptic cable is disposed within the catheter and having a distal end proximate to the distal end of the catheter and a near end for external coupling of laser light energy. A microgripper is attached to the distal end of the catheter and providing for the gripping or releasing of an object within the body. A laser-light-to-mechanical-power converter is connected to receive laser light from the distal end of the fiberoptic cable and connected to mechanically actuate the microgripper.