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US 10,039,440 B2Granted
Systems and methods for cleaning a minimally invasive instrument
AssigneeIntuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
InventorsCarolyn M. Fenech, Anoop B. Kowshik, Stephen J. Blumenkranz, Christopher Allenby
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An anatomical probe system comprises an elongated flexible body and an operational component extending within a channel of the flexible body. The system also comprises a support member at a distal end of the elongated flexible body. The support member includes a fluid director adapted to direct a fluid from the channel toward the operational component. The fluid may be automatically directed towards the operational component in response to detecting a material obstruction of an image.
Claims12
An anatomical probe system comprising:
- an elongated flexible body;
- an operational component extending within a channel of the elongated flexible body;
- and
- a support member at a distal end of the elongated flexible body, the support member including:
- a cylindrical distal portion that supports the operational component, the operational component extending within the distal portion,
- a partially cylindrical proximal portion extending proximally from the distal portion, the proximal portion forming an enclosed interior channel having a proximal opening and a distal opening, and wherein an outer radius of the proximal portion is sized to fit within the channel of the elongated flexible body,
- a fluid director adapted to direct a fluid from the distal opening of the interior channel toward an exposed distal end of the operational component, and
- a frame sized and shaped to receive the operational component, wherein a wall of the frame extends proximally from an inner distal face of the support member to form part of the enclosed interior channel.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.