# US 11,432,880 B2 · Docking device for optical shape sensing launch fixtures

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 11,432,880 B2
- Document ID: US11432880B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/252,920
- Filed: 2019-01-21
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Granted: 2022-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2013-09-30
- Assignees: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
- Applicants: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
- Inventors: David Paul Noonan; Molly Flexman; Bharat Ramachandran; Merel Danielle Leistikow
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11432880B2

## CPC

- A61B 34/20: Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
- A61B 90/57: Accessory clamps
- A61B 90/98: using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
- G02B 6/3624: {Fibre head, e.g. fibre probe termination (optical details of light guide terminations G02B6/241; reshaping of light guides G02B6/2552; optical details of coupling light into or out of fibre end G02B6/262)}
- G02B 6/44528: {Patch-cords; Connector arrangements in the system or in the box (routing arrangements H04Q1/00)}
- A61B 2034/2061: {using shape-sensors, e.g. fiber shape sensors with Bragg gratings}
- A61B 2090/571: {for clamping a support arm to a bed or other supports}
- A61B 2560/0456: Apparatus provided with a docking unit
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## Abstract

One or more launch fixture (650)s for optical shape sensing (OSS), the one launch fixture (650) or each launch fixture (650) being configured to receive and secure an optical fiber within a flexible OSS enabled instrument. A docking device (670) is provided for securing the launch fixture (650)(s) onto a launch fixture base (660). The docking device (670) may include one or more launch fixture (650) slots on one side of the docking device (670), or one or more launch fixture (650) slots on each of two opposing sides of the docking device (670).

## Claims

### Claim 1

An optical shape sensing (OSS) system, comprising:
a plurality of launch fixtures comprising a plurality of docking interfaces, respectively, wherein each launch fixture is configured to receive and secure an optical fiber within a flexible OSS enabled instrument;
a launch fixture base configured to be connected to a support structure; and
a docking device comprising a plurality of launch fixture slots configured to receive the docking interfaces of the plurality of launch fixtures, respectively, thereby securing the plurality of launch fixtures onto the launch fixture base, wherein the launch fixture slots are slanted at an angle relative to a main axis of the support structure that reduces mechanical constraints on the optical fibers.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of launch fixture slots are symmetrically arranged on one side of the docking device.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1,
wherein the docking device has a plurality of sides; and
wherein the docking device includes the launch fixture slots arranged on one side of the docking device.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the docking device includes the launch fixture slots symmetrically arranged on the one side of the docking device.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1,
wherein the docking device has a plurality of sides; and
wherein the docking device includes the launch fixture slots arranged on two opposing sides of the docking device.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system as recited in claim 5, wherein the docking device includes the launch fixture slots symmetrically arranged on the two opposing sides of the docking device.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of launch fixtures include identifications associated with types of the flexible OSS enabled instruments, respectively.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of launch fixtures include identifications associated with virtual representations of the flexible OSS enable instruments, respectively.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:
a sterile drape arranged between the docking device and the launch fixture base when the docking device is securing the plurality of launch fixtures onto the launch fixture base.