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. 06, 2001
Filed:
Dec. 30, 1998
John Kerin, North Adelaide, AU;
Charles Milo, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
Julian N. Nikolchev, Portola Valley, CA (US);
James Doty, Larkspur, CA (US);
Dai T. Ton, San Jose, CA (US);
Richard Hill, Berkeley, CA (US);
Marc Schraner, Pacifica, CA (US);
Tom Kramer, San Carlos, CA (US);
Conceptus, Inc., San Carlos, CA (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for imaging a narrow body lumen, the method comprising maintaining separation between a distal end of an optical viewing scope and a lumen wall with a spacing structure which extends distally from the distal end of an access catheter. Optional spacing structures include distal cages and a guidewire which is fixed to and extends distally from the access catheter body. The invention is beneficial during either retrograde imaging of the fallopian tube, and also allows antigrade imaging and advancing the access catheter and scope under the direction of the image provided, as it prevents the tubal wall from coming into such close proximity to a falloposcope as to produce “white-out” on the imaging monitor.