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. 10, 1999
Filed:
Apr. 10, 1998
Philip R Lichtman, Newton, MA (US);
Koichiro Hori, Framingham, MA (US);
Vista Medical Technologies, Inc., Carlsbad, CA (US);
Abstract
A device carries first and second units in aligned end-to-end disposition at a distal end of a shaft and provides structure for moving the second of the units into position alongside the first of the units. The device comprises a base portion to which a proximal end of the shaft is fixed, the first unit being fixed to a distal end of the shaft. A rod extends lengthwise through the shaft and a portion of the first unit, and is off-set from an axis of the shaft and fixed to the second unit removed from an axis of the second unit. Mounted on the base portion is an operating mechanism for effecting rotational movement of the rod to effect rotational movement of the second unit to a position removed from alignment with the first unit, and for effecting axial movement of the rod to effect axial movement of the second unit into the position alongside the first unit, said operating mechanism comprising a gear clutch mechanism for shifting movement of said rod from a rotational mode to an axial translational mode, and back again to said rotational mode.