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US 11,445,902 B2Granted
Arthroscopic system
AssigneePsip2 LLC
InventorTheodore R. Kucklick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An arthroscope having an elongated core with a square radial cross section.
Claims18
An endoscope, comprising:
- a metal sheath having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis, the proximal end being designed for mechanical connection to an endoscope handle, the distal end being closed with a transparent window;
- a core within the sheath, the core having two parallel elongated segments, a transverse segment, and two hinges connecting the transverse segment between the two elongated segments, the elongated segments being designed to carry both tension and compression for longitudinal motion of one of the elongated segments relative to the other, the transverse segment lying within the sheath at or near the distal end of the sheath;
- an imaging chip fitted on the transverse segment and having an imaging surface arranged in a viewing direction of the endoscope, the transverse segment being hinged between the elongated segments such that longitudinal motion of the one elongated segment relative to the other changes the angle of the imaging chip through the window relative to the longitudinal axis of the sheath.
A method comprising the step of:
- through a portal into a human surgical patient, inserting an endoscope, the endoscope comprising:
- a metal sheath having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis, the proximal end being designed for mechanical connection to an endoscope handle, the distal end being closed with a transparent window;
- a core within the sheath, the core having two parallel elongated segments, a transverse segment, and two hinges connecting the transverse segment between the two elongated segments, the elongated segments being designed to carry both tension and compression for longitudinal motion of one of the elongated segments relative to the other, the transverse segment lying within the sheath at or near the distal end of the sheath;
- an imaging chip fitted on the transverse segment and having an imaging surface arranged in a viewing direction of the endoscope, the transverse segment being hinged between the elongated segments such that longitudinal motion of the one elongated segment relative to the other changes the angle of the imaging chip through the window relative to the longitudinal axis of the sheath.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.