Patents Examined by Shawna J. Shaw
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Patent number: 6837883Abstract: Improved robotic surgical systems, devices, and methods often include a first assembly with a surgical end effector supported and manipulated relative to a first base by a first robotic linkage, while a second surgical end effector manipulated and supported relative to a second, independent base by a second robotic linkage. One or more of these robotic assemblies may be moved relative to the other. To coordinate the end effector movements with those of input devices being manipulated by a surgeon relative to a display of a surgical worksite, the processor deriving the commands for movement of the robotic linkages may make use of a signal indicating a relative orientation of the bases of the robotic arm assemblies. Surprisingly, the robotic arm assemblies may not transmit signals to the processor indicating a relative translational position of the bases.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2001Date of Patent: January 4, 2005Assignee: Intuitive Surgical, Inc.Inventors: Frederic H. Moll, David J. Rosa, Andris D. Ramans, Stephen J. Blumenkranz, Gary S. Guthart, Gunter D. Niemeyer, William C. Nowlin, J. Kenneth Salisbury, Jr., Michael J. Tierney, David S. Mintz
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Patent number: 6834202Abstract: A blood flow measuring apparatus includes a system control unit that sends outputs for controlling the start and end of the measurement to optimum gain calculation units, which calculate the optimum gains of photomultipliers for receiving the light reflected from the eye fundus and the system control unit controls whether the optimum gains are outputted or not. Also, the optimum gain calculation units respectively supply the system control unit with outputs for monitoring whether the setting of the optimum gain has been completed or not, whereby the system control unit discriminates whether the photomultipliers have been set at the optimum gains.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2001Date of Patent: December 21, 2004Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shigeaki Ono
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Patent number: 6823207Abstract: A medical diagnostic imaging system includes an X-ray source and X-ray detector, sensors tracking a position of at least one of a surgical instrument and the X-ray detector, and an integrated imaging and navigation workstation. The integrated imaging and navigation workstation includes at least one processor executing fluoroscopic imaging based on an output of the X-ray detector and navigation tracking of positions of a surgical instrument and positions of an X-ray detector with respect to a coordinate system. The integrated imaging and navigation workstation also includes an input receiving surgical instrument tracking signals from the sensors, an input receiving detector tracking signals from the sensors, and a display for displaying fluoroscopic images with a displayed instrument superimposed. In particular, one or more relations of the displayed instrument with respect to the fluoroscopic image (e.g., coordinate location and rotation) corresponds to the relation of the surgical instrument to the patient.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2000Date of Patent: November 23, 2004Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLCInventors: Vernon Thomas Jensen, Gregory Scott Lloyd, Larry E. Harrawood, Barry Keith Hanover
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Patent number: 6810278Abstract: A system for constructing image slices through a selected object, the system comprising an identifiable fiducial reference in a fixed position relative to the selected object, wherein the fiducial reference comprises at least two identifiable reference markers. A source of radiation is provided for irradiating the selected object and the fiducial reference to form a projected image of the selected object and the fiducial reference which is recorded by a recording medium.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2001Date of Patent: October 26, 2004Assignee: Wake Forest UniversityInventors: Richard L. Webber, Roger A. Horton
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Patent number: 6807440Abstract: The present invention relates to a reinforced magnetic resonance imaging catheter. The catheter comprises an elongated body having at least one lumen extending therethrough. The elongated body also includes a proximal end, a distal end, and circumference, a longitudinal axis running between the proximal and distal ends, and a coaxial layer that incorporates at least one elongated ceramic member. An antenna is operably disposed proximate the distal end the elongated body.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2001Date of Patent: October 19, 2004Assignee: SciMed Life Systems, Inc.Inventor: Jan Weber
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Patent number: 6804546Abstract: A dose of a contrast agent (44) is administered to the patient (42). A magnetic resonance is excited by an RF pulse (200) in a region of interest of the patient (42). An echo-planar imaging (EPI) readout waveform is implemented a preselected duration after the excitation to generate T2 or T2* weighted data. During the preselected duration, another echo planar readout waveform is implemented to generate T1 or proton density weighted data. The data is reconstructed (56) to generate a T2 or T2* weighted image and a T1 weighted image. The T1 and T2 or T2* weighted images are combined (62) to generate a contrast enhanced image.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2001Date of Patent: October 12, 2004Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V.Inventors: Michael R. Thompson, Dee H. Wu, Wayne R. Dannels, Christopher K. Anand
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Patent number: 6804547Abstract: The invention is directed to a medical therapeutic and/or diagnostic apparatus having a function unit (1) and a position detecting device (5). A further detecting device (7) is mounted so as to be fixed in position and orientation and is separated from the position detecting device (5) by a signal path. The position detecting device (5) operates together with the additional detecting device (7). The position detecting device (5) can be changed during operation with respect to position and orientation relative to the function unit (1).Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2001Date of Patent: October 12, 2004Assignee: Carl-Zeiss-StiftungInventors: Martin Pelzer, Walter Neubrandt, Joachim Luber, Arvids Mackevics
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Patent number: 6796945Abstract: An intravascular imaging guidewire is provided that can accomplish longitudinal translation of an imaging plane allowing imaging of an axial length of a region of interest without moving the guidewire. The imaging guidewire comprises a body in the form of a flexible elongate tubular member. An elongate flexible imaging core is slidably received within the body. The imaging core includes a shaft having an imaging device mounted on its distal end. The body and the imaging core are cooperatively constructed to enable axial translation of the imaging core and imaging device relative to the body. The body has a substantially transparent portion extending an axial length over which axially translatable imaging may be performed. The imaging guidewire has a maximum diameter over its entire length sized to be received within a guidewire lumen of an intravascular catheter.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2002Date of Patent: September 28, 2004Assignee: SciMed Life Systems, Inc.Inventors: William Martin Belef, Anthony J. Pantages, Lawrence D. Wasicek
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Patent number: 6782285Abstract: A system for medical detection and treatment comprising a number of treatment and/or detection devices which exchange data with each other within the context of a medical treatment, in particular a surgical or radiotherapeutic and/or radiosurgical operation, wherein the data are exchanged via radio interfaces in and/or on the devices.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2001Date of Patent: August 24, 2004Assignee: BrainLAB AGInventors: Rainer Birkenbach, Günter Müller
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Patent number: 6763259Abstract: An OCT-supported surgical system includes an OCT module that includes a surface scanner, the position of which can be sensed by a position sensing unit, and an evaluation and display unit, which is connected to the OCT module and to the position sensing unit in order to be able to correlate a tissue-differentiated tomogram of a specimen sensed by the OCT module with preoperatively produced specimen data.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2000Date of Patent: July 13, 2004Assignee: Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung (DE)Inventors: Christoph Hauger, Joachim Luber, Michael Kaschke, Margit Krause-Bonte
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Patent number: 6757557Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for locating the position, preferably in three dimensions, of a sensor by generating magnetic fields which are detected at the sensor. The magnetic fields are generated from a plurality of locations and, in one embodiment of the invention, enable both the orientation and location of a single coil sensor to be determined. The present invention thus finds application in many areas where the use of prior art sensors comprising two or more mutually perpendicular coils is inappropriate.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 1999Date of Patent: June 29, 2004Assignee: British TelecommunicationsInventors: John Stuart Bladen, Alan Patrick Anderson
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Patent number: 6751497Abstract: An infrared (IR) thermometer for performing temperature measurement of an object without having contact with the object. The IR thermometer comprises at least one IR sensing element which, upon exposure to IR radiation, produces a response. The IR sensing element comprises a flat themistor flake supported by a substrate. The IR thermometer further comprises a processing circuit which analyzes the response to predict the steady-state response of the at least one IR sensing element and temperature of the object. In one embodiment, the processing circuit may obtain two or more responses separated by a predetermined period of time to predict temperature of the object. The processing circuit may also associate reference data in its prediction algorithm.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2002Date of Patent: June 15, 2004Assignee: Advanced Monitors Corp.Inventor: Jacob Fraden
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Patent number: 6745067Abstract: A system is provided for marking on a recording medium (36), such as a label, the location of imaged tissue with respect to an exposed surface of the tissue (34). Tissue is imaged by a microscope (11) capable of imaging sections of the tissue below the exposed tissue surface through optics. A ring (32) applied to the surface of the tissue stabilizes the tissue to the optics and localizes a portion of the tissue surface through an aperture in the ring. An actuator (38) is connected to both the ring and the microscope for moving the ring to adjust the position of the tissue with respect to the optics, thereby allowing an operator of the system to survey different images of tissue sections with the microscope.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2001Date of Patent: June 1, 2004Assignee: Lucid, Inc.Inventors: James M. Zavislan, Roger J. Greenwald
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Patent number: 6728567Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for the construction and/or use of multidimensional fields that can be used for high-resolution detection and characterization of features within objects. The multidimensional field is constructed from data that is collected by an array of radiation detectors that substantially surround the object under study. The detected radiation is produced by an array of radiation sources and is subsequently scattered, reflected, transmitted, or diffracted by the object under study and any features within the object under study. In particular embodiments of the invention, the radiation that is used is ultrasonic radiation and the object under study is human or animal tissue or an organ. In this case, the invention permits the detection and identification of cancer by an intelligently trained evaluation system.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2001Date of Patent: April 27, 2004Assignee: Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer InstituteInventors: John D. G. Rather, H. John Caulfield, Richard D. Doolittle, Peter J. Littrup, Glenn W. Zeiders
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Patent number: 6725080Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for use within an image-guided surgical navigation system for facilitating the combined positioning and orientation of multiple surgical implements. A tool guide having multiple cannulas is tracked by a surgical navigation system in real time. Position data of the tool guide is registered and combined with pre-acquired images by the navigation computer. Concurrent graphical representations of the plurality of cannulas are superimposed over the images and displayed. The display allows the surgeon to place the tool guide into the patient's body and position and orient the plurality of cannulas which are then used to place each of the implements.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2001Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Surgical Navigation Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Anthony J. Melkent, David M. Kahler
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Patent number: 6725087Abstract: A method and apparatus for imaging the internal structure of biological tissue from a remote location using electrical impedance tomography. The method and apparatus accomplish this by separating the functions of data acquisition from those of processing and imaging, and by connecting the data acquisition, processing and imaging components through a communications network, thus permitting the data acquisition, processing and imaging functions to be carried out at disparate locations within said network.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2000Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Telectroscan, Inc.Inventors: Boris Rubinsky, David Otten
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Patent number: 6721588Abstract: An MR scanner with a setting mechanism for patient-dependent control of the radio-frequency fields and magnetic fields for adhering to individual SAR and dB/dt limits, has an optical measuring device containing a distance sensor for determining the surface of a patient and for determining a setting signal for the setting mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2002Date of Patent: April 13, 2004Assignee: Siemens AktiengesellschaftInventor: Matthias Drobnitzky
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Patent number: 6711429Abstract: A system and method of displaying at least one point-of-interest of a body during an intra-body medical procedure. The method is effected by (a) establishing a location of the body; (b) establishing a location of an imaging instrument being for imaging at least a portion of the body; (c) defining at least one projection plane being in relation to a projection plane of the imaging instrument; (d) acquiring at least one point-of-interest of the body; and (c) projection said at least one point-of-interest on said at least one projection plane; such that, in course of the procedure, the locations of the body and the imaging instrument are known, thereby the at least one point-of-interest is projectable on the at least one projection plane even in cases whereby a relative location of the body and the imaging instrument are changed.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2000Date of Patent: March 23, 2004Assignee: Super Dimension Ltd.Inventors: Pinhas Gilboa, David Tolkowsky, David Hollander
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Patent number: 6711430Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods of performing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in awake animals. The invention utilizes head and body restrainers to position an awake animal relative to a radio frequency dual coil system operating in a high field magnetic resonance imaging system to provide images of high resolution without motion artifact.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2000Date of Patent: March 23, 2004Assignee: Insight Neuroimaging Systems, Inc.Inventors: Craig F. Ferris, Jean A King, Arthur C. Allard, Reinhold Ludwig, Gene Bogdanov
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Patent number: 6708053Abstract: The present invention provides methods for determining brain functioning in an individual by measuring the amount of either N-acetylaspartate or choline in an individual's brain. The present invention also provides methods for determining a change in an individual's brain functioning due to a change in the concentration of N-acetylaspartate or choline in the individual's brain.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2000Date of Patent: March 16, 2004Assignee: Science and Technology Corp. @ UNMInventors: William M. Brooks, Rex Jung, Seth David Friedman, Helen Petropoulos, Ronald A. Yeo, Wilmer L. Sibbitt