Patents Examined by Alexandra Newton
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Patent number: 9763565Abstract: A capsule endoscope includes: an imaging unit configured to capture inside of a subject and to generate an image of the inside of the subject; a brightness distribution measurement unit configured to measure a brightness distribution in the image generated by the imaging unit; and an imaging controller configured to switch a frame rate of the imaging unit to a frame rate higher than a reference frame rate when an area having brightness lower than a predetermined value is distributed at a center of the image in the brightness distribution measured by the brightness distribution measurement unit and to switch the frame rate of the imaging unit to a frame rate lower than the reference frame rate when the area having the brightness lower than the predetermined value is distributed outside the center of the image.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2016Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATIONInventor: Masatoshi Homan
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Patent number: 9763563Abstract: A variable direction of view endoscope system including an endoscope having an image receiver with a variable direction of view adjustable over a viewing range bound by a first limit and a second limit and a single button for adjusting the variable direction of view of the image receiver, wherein actuation of the single button advances the variable direction of view sequentially through the viewing range. When the image receiver is at the second limit of the viewing range, actuation of the single button adjusts the image receiver back to the first limit of the viewing range.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2012Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: Karl Storz Imaging, Inc.Inventors: Hans David Hoeg, William S. Schnorr
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Patent number: 9763559Abstract: An endoscope with an instrument housing and with a shaft that is mounted on the distal end of the instrument housing and consists of an outer tube and an inner tube that is mounted at least partly in the outer tube, so that the outer tube and the inner tube are mounted on the instrument housing so that they can move with respect to one another in the axial direction of the shaft. To provide an endoscope that ensures a constantly fluid-tight relative motion of the two shaft tubes with respect to one another, it is proposed with the invention that the outer tube and inner tube should be mounted on the instrument housing so that they are mobile with respect to one another in the axial direction of the shaft by means of at least one flexible membrane.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2010Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Jan Dahmen, Elmar Teichtmann
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Patent number: 9757014Abstract: An endoscope with adjustable viewing angle includes a pivotable prism (to divert light that can pivot around a pivot axis to adjust the viewing angle and a fixed prism to divert light that is diverted by the pivotable prism into a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the endoscope, such that at least either a light outlet surface of the pivotable prism is positioned in a recess of the fixed prism or a light inlet surface of the fixed prism is positioned in a recess of the pivotable prism.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2011Date of Patent: September 12, 2017Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Ulrich Weiger, Doris Leibinger
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Patent number: 9757016Abstract: There is provided a wireless communication system including a wireless capsule including an imaging section, a posture control section, a first wireless communication section which transmits an image captured by the imaging section and receives a control signal for controlling the posture control section, and a power supply section which supplies power to the imaging section and the posture control section, and a wireless terminal apparatus including a second wireless communication section which receives the image transmitted from the first wireless communication section, and transmits the control signal, a display control section which performs a control in a manner that the image is displayed on a display section, a posture detection section which detects a posture of the display section, and a generation section which generates the control signal based on a posture signal detected by the posture detection section.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2014Date of Patent: September 12, 2017Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Takayuki Hirabayashi, Yoichiro Sako, Katsuhiko Nakano
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Patent number: 9750400Abstract: A method and device may control energy consumption of in an in vivo imaging device by determining or estimating an amount of energy needed to capture images at a frame rate until a complete passage of the device through a predetermined region of the gastrointestinal tract, and alter or limit the frame capture rate accordingly.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2014Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: GIVEN IMAGING LTD.Inventors: Semion Khait, Eli Horn, Micha Nisani, Ofra Zinaty
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Patent number: 9723973Abstract: A dual medical endoscope system can be constructed including a first and a second medical endoscope, where the first endoscope comprises an accessory channel with a proximal mounting port providing access thereto, and where the second endoscope comprises a handle body that is securely and removably attached to the proximal mounting port. An endoscope, which may be the second endoscope, can include an elongate, manipulable shaft with a distal-end visualization element and a handle body comprising at least one control surface for manipulating a distal region of the shaft, where the handle body includes a passage through which a length of the shaft is passable, and where the handle body includes a connection structure configured for securely and removably mounting the handle to a channel of another endoscope in a manner axially aligning the passage with the channel to provide a path of communication for the shaft.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2014Date of Patent: August 8, 2017Assignee: Cook Medical Technologies LLCInventors: Travis Dillon, Kenneth C. Kennedy, II
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Patent number: 9717398Abstract: The invention relates to a lighting system for endoscopic examinations having a lighting unit that includes at least two LED elements for illuminating an area of examination that is to be observed by means of an endoscope optic. To create a lighting system for endoscopic examinations that ensures a constantly sufficient illumination of the area of examination, it is proposed according to the invention that the direction of radiation of the lighting unit can be displaced between a direction essentially perpendicular to the direction of observation of the endoscope optic upon insertion into the area of examination and a direction essentially in the direction of observation of the endoscope optic after insertion into the area of examination.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2006Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Klaus M. Irion
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Patent number: 9661996Abstract: A hollow elongated cylinder is disclosed having a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end configured to be removably connectable to a distal end of a syringe. An umbilical is removably inserted within said cylinder and configured for detachable connection to a data processor and a display device having a solid state imaging device disposed on a distal end of the umbilical. A lens system is disposed on a distal end of the solid state imaging device. The umbilical is inserted within the cylinder such that the distal end of the lens system is disposed at approximately the distal end of the cylinder.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2010Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: Sarcos LCInventors: Stephen C. Jacobsen, Fraser M. Smith
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Patent number: 9622648Abstract: An insertion device includes a movement section provided in an inserting section or an attachment unit attached to the inserting section, and moving to cause a propulsive force to act on the inserting section, a holdable grip provided to a proximal direction side with respect to the inserting section, and a driving source driven so as to generate a movement driving force to move the movement section. The insertion device includes a base member to which the grip is abutted, and a coupling member including a driving source-side abutting surface to which an outer peripheral surface of the driving source is abutted, and coupling the driving source to the base member.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2015Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATIONInventor: Kimihiko Naito
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Patent number: 9622649Abstract: An endoscope with a T-shaped flexible circuit board includes: a base mounting frame, a flexible circuit, a photosensitive element, two light emitting elements and a camera. The photosensitive element, the two light emitting elements and the camera are mounted onto the T-shaped flexible circuit board, then the flexible circuit board deforms to fit in the base mounting frame. During assembly, the photosensitive element, the two light emitting elements and the camera are maintained in the same orientation, and the T-shaped flexible circuit can be pushed into the base mounting frame simply by applying a force in a single direction parallel to the orientation direction of the photosensitive element, the two light emitting elements and the camera.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2014Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: AMBU A/SInventor: Rung-De Lin
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Patent number: 9615726Abstract: Provided is a medical instrument which has improved operability of an insertion portion and can guide a distal end of the insertion portion to an intended position. The medical instrument includes: an insertion portion (10) which is inserted into a body cavity; a rotor (11) which is provided in an outer circumferential surface of the insertion portion (10) and has its rotational axis arranged in a direction along an axis of the insertion portion (10); and a rotary drive unit which rotates the rotor (11) around the rotational axis.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2013Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATIONInventor: Hiromu Ikeda
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Patent number: 9603508Abstract: A method for capturing and displaying endoscopic maps is disclosed generally comprising providing an endoscope with a view vector that pivots relative to the longitudinal axis of the endoscope, programming a scan trajectory along which the view vector moves relative to the longitudinal axis of the endoscope to provide a predefined sequence of views of a surface, and capturing a sequence of images corresponding to the predefined sequence of views as the view vector moves along that scan trajectory. A set of configuration coordinates is associated with each of the captured images, and the images and the coordinates associated therewith are used to create a map of the interior surface that is larger than the view attending the view vector.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2008Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: Karl Storz Imaging, Inc.Inventors: Eric Lawrence Hale, Hans David Hoeg, Nathan Jon Schara
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Patent number: 9597113Abstract: An endoscope and shaft system include an access shaft and an endoscope which can be inserted into the access shaft, the proximal end of the access shaft has a grip part, and the endoscope is held in a connecting piece. The connecting piece can be detachably connected to the grip part, and the connecting piece can be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the endoscope relative to the grip part when the connecting piece is connected to the grip part.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2009Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: Richard Wolf GmbHInventors: Eberhard Koerner, Mark Freier
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Patent number: 9596978Abstract: The medical device guidance system include a magnetic guidance device which generates a guidance field in an arbitrary direction to guide a capsular medical device and carry out movement and posture control, a position detection device which detects the present position by a magnetic field generated by the capsular medical device and a position calculating and correcting section which forms an estimation equation of an undesired magnetic field generated from a guidance coil and subtracts an estimation equation result from the detection result of the magnetic field detecting section, according to the present position of the capsular medical device that controls the position and posture by a guidance field relative to the position detection device, and corrects the present position by excluding a desired magnetic field generated from a guidance coil.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2008Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATIONInventors: Atsushi Kimura, Akio Uchiyama
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Patent number: 9591962Abstract: A flexible variable direction of view endoscope with a pivotable view vector and a rotatable distal section.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2007Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: Karl Storz Imaging, Inc.Inventors: Hans David Hoeg, Eric Lawrence Hale, Nathan Jon Schara
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Patent number: 9585813Abstract: A catheter with an imaging assembly is disclosed. The catheter is used with a console for viewing and/or storing images obtained from the catheter. The catheter may be a feeding tube assembly. The imaging assembly on the feeding tube assembly allows a user to confirm placement of the feeding tube assembly in the patient's alimentary canal.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2013Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: Covidien LPInventors: Michael C. Dorsey, Robert Allyn, William J. Byrd, Thomas G. Lewis, Robert B. Gaines, Michael D. Hudspeth, Glen Branconier
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Patent number: 9572482Abstract: An endoscope with a flexible circuit board comprises: a base mounting frame, a flexible circuit, a photosensitive element, a plurality of light emitting elements and a camera. The flexible circuit board, the photosensitive element, the light emitting elements and the camera can be mounted on the mounting frame, and then the mounting frame can be assembled in a pipe to form the endoscope, which greatly improves the ease of assembly, and consequently reducing the labor cost required for assembly. Furthermore, the flexibility of the circuit board reduces the volume of the endoscope and improves applicability.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2012Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: AMBU A/SInventor: Rung-De Lin
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Patent number: 9561045Abstract: The invention provides surgical or diagnostic tools and associated methods that offer improved user control for operating remotely within regions of the body. These tools include a proximally-located actuator for the operation of a distal end effector, as well as proximally-located actuators for articulational and rotational movements of the end effector. Control mechanisms and methods refine operator control of end effector actuation and of these articulational and rotational movements. A rotation lock provides for enablement and disablement of rotatability of the end effector. The tool may also include other features. A multi-state ratchet for end effector actuation provides enablement-disablement options with tactile feedback. A force limiter mechanism protects the end effector and manipulated objects from the harm of potentially excessive force applied by the operator.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2007Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.Inventors: Cameron D. Hinman, David J. Danitz
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Patent number: 9554729Abstract: Visual-assisted guidance of an ultra-thin flexible endoscope to a predetermined region of interest within a lung during a bronchoscopy procedure. The region may be an opacity-identified by non-invasive imaging methods, such as high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) or as a malignant lung mass that was diagnosed in a previous examination. An embedded position sensor on the flexible endoscope indicates the position of the distal tip of the probe in a Cartesian coordinate system during the procedure. A visual display is continually updated, showing the present position and orientation of the marker in a 3-D graphical airway model generated from image reconstruction. The visual display also includes windows depicting a virtual fly-through perspective and real-time video images acquired at the head of the endoscope, which can be stored as data, with an audio or textual account.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2015Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: University of WashingtonInventors: Timothy D. Soper, Robb W. Glenny, Eric J. Seibel