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:
Aug. 18, 1998
Filed:
Nov. 03, 1995
Neville Hogan, Sudbury, MA (US);
Hermano Igo Krebs, Somerville, MA (US);
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA (US);
Abstract
A robotic device for use in conjunction with an imaging system and an imaging method is provided. The robotic device can provide mechanical measurements within the imaging system, and can also control the mechanical environment within the imaging system. An end effector of the robotic device engages a body segment of the patient. In addition, position and force sensors are associated with the robotic device such that the position and forces applied to the end effector can be sensed/measured and recorded, while images are obtained. In addition, the robotic device includes actuators to move the end effector to a desired position, and/or to provide a force to a body segment of a patient by way of the end effector. In a particularly preferred form, structural, sensory, and actuator components of the robotic device are magneto-translucent, such that the robotic device can control and/or provide measured information regarding the mechanical environment within a magnetic resonance imaging system.