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:
Oct. 29, 2013
Filed:
Nov. 06, 2009
Caitlin Quance Donhowe, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Amir Belson, Los Altos, CA (US);
Kristoffer John Donhowe, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Kenneth Robert Krieg, Fremont, CA (US);
Eric Michael Storne, Menlo Park, CA (US);
Thomas J. Yorkey, San Ramon, CA (US);
Jun Zhang, Union City, CA (US);
Caitlin Quance Donhowe, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Amir Belson, Los Altos, CA (US);
Kristoffer John Donhowe, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Kenneth Robert Krieg, Fremont, CA (US);
Eric Michael Storne, Menlo Park, CA (US);
Thomas J. Yorkey, San Ramon, CA (US);
Jun Zhang, Union City, CA (US);
Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Abstract
Waypoints for a steerable medical device are stored as the steerable medical device is moved within a patient. The stored waypoints are an ordered sequence of locations. The ordered sequence of locations defines a safe path within the patient for moving an articulatable portion of the steerable medical device. The articulatable portion of the steerable medical device is constrained to follow the safe path as the articulatable portion moves within the patient. For example, the articulatable portion of the steerable medical device is constrained to remain within a boundary region enclosing the safe path as the articulatable portion of the steerable medical device follows the safe path.