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:
Jun. 13, 2006
Filed:
Mar. 15, 2002
Gary L. Long, Mariemont, OH (US);
David Stefanchik, Mason, OH (US);
David S. Little, Cincinnati, OH (US);
James A. Craft, Lexington, KY (US);
Gary L. Long, Mariemont, OH (US);
David Stefanchik, Mason, OH (US);
David S. Little, Cincinnati, OH (US);
James A. Craft, Lexington, KY (US);
Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc., Cincinnati, OH (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for guiding an instrument inserted through an endoscope's instrument channel is provided. The apparatus can attach to an endoscope to guide the position of the end of the instrument, such as by constraining the instrument to bend in a predetermined manner, or otherwise guide the distal end of the instrument extending from the distal end of the instrument channel. The apparatus can be used to assist in positioning the instrument to perform useful work on tissue adjacent the perimeter of the endoscope. The apparatus can also be used to provide cooperation between instruments inserted either through or alongside the endoscope.