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:
Dec. 06, 2016
Filed:
Jul. 08, 2009
David Miller, Cupertino, CA (US);
Vahid Saadat, Atherton, CA (US);
Zachary J. Malchano, San Francisco, CA (US);
Ruey-feng Peh, Mountain View, CA (US);
Aseem K. Thakur, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Chris A. Rothe, San Mateo, CA (US);
Edmund Tam, Mountain View, CA (US);
David Miller, Cupertino, CA (US);
Vahid Saadat, Atherton, CA (US);
Zachary J. Malchano, San Francisco, CA (US);
Ruey-Feng Peh, Mountain View, CA (US);
Aseem K. Thakur, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Chris A. Rothe, San Mateo, CA (US);
Edmund Tam, Mountain View, CA (US);
Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for efficient purging from an imaging hood are described which facilitate the visualization of tissue regions through a clear fluid. Such a system may include an imaging hood having one or more layers covering the distal opening and defines one or more apertures which control the infusion and controlled retention of the clearing fluid into the hood. In this manner, the amount of clearing fluid may be limited and the clarity of the imaging of the underlying tissue through the fluid within the hood may be maintained for relatively longer periods of time by inhibiting, delaying, or preventing the infusion of surrounding blood into the viewing field. The aperture size may be controlled to decrease or increase through selective inflation of the membrane or other mechanisms.