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:
Apr. 20, 2004
Filed:
Aug. 24, 2001
Steve T. Charles, Germantown, TN (US);
Robert Stoughton, Albuquerque, NM (US);
J. Michael Stuart, Corrales, NM (US);
Larry Bronisz, Los Alamos, NM (US);
MicroDexterity Systems, Inc., Memphis, TN (US);
Abstract
A surgical manipulator ( ) can manipulate a medical tool ( ) with one or more degrees of freedom. In preferred embodiments, the manipulator ( ) is a parallel mechanism including a plurality of arms ( ) pivotally supporting a medical tool ( ), with the orientation of the medical tool ( ) being adjusted by varying the position of joints ( ) mounted on the arms ( ). The motions of the joints ( ) can be controlled such that the tool ( ) is pivoted about a virtual pivot point located within the body wall of a patient ( ). The manipulator ( ) can enhance the dexterity of an operator and enable the operator to perform medical procedures more easily than by hand.