# US 11,998,176 B2 · Systems and methods for cleaning a minimally invasive instrument > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,998,176 B2 - Document ID: US11998176B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/562,431 - Filed: 2021-12-27 - Published: 2022-04-21 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2012-06-11 - Assignees: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. - Applicants: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. - Inventors: Carolyn M. Fenech; Christopher B. Allenby; Stephen J. Blumenkranz; Anoop B. Kowshik - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11998176B2 ## CPC - A61B 1/126: {provided with means for cleaning in-use} - A61B 1/00006: {of control signals} - A61B 1/00009: {of image signals during a use of endoscope} - A61B 1/00091: {Nozzles} - A61B 1/015: Control of fluid supply or evacuation - A61B 17/00234: {for minimally invasive surgery (A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence)} - A61M 1/85: {with gas or fluid supply means, e.g. for supplying rinsing fluids or anticoagulants (for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92, A61M1/94; combined with tracheal tubes A61M16/0463; dental instruments with combined rinsing and aspirating A61C17/0208)} - A61M 3/0279: {Cannula; Nozzles; Tips; their connection means} - A61M 13/003: {Blowing gases other than for carrying powders, e.g. for inflating, dilating or rinsing} - A61B 1/00154: {using guiding arrangements for insertion} - A61B 34/30: Surgical robots - A61M 2202/0225: Carbon oxides, e.g. Carbon dioxide - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract An elongate flexible instrument includes an elongate flexible instrument, an image capture instrument, and at least one heat transfer element. The elongate flexible instrument defines an internal channel. The internal channel is configured to receive a fluid from a fluid source. The image capture instrument is disposed within the internal channel in a distal portion of the elongate flexible instrument. The at least one heat transfer element is configured to transfer heat from the image capture instrument to the fluid. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An elongate flexible instrument, comprising: an elongate flexible body defining an internal channel, the internal channel configured to receive a fluid from a fluid source; an image capture instrument disposed in a path of the fluid within the internal channel in a distal portion of the elongate flexible instrument; and at least one heat transfer element configured to transfer heat from the image capture instrument to the fluid, wherein an image signal processor of the image capture instrument is disposed against a wall of the image capture instrument and the at least one heat transfer element is mounted to an external surface of the wall opposite the image signal processor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The elongate flexible instrument of claim 1, wherein the at least one heat transfer element is mounted to an external surface of the image capture instrument. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The elongate flexible instrument of claim 1, wherein the at least one heat transfer element is integrated into an exterior surface of the image capture element. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The elongate flexible instrument of claim 1, wherein the internal channel directs the fluid across a surface of the heat transfer element and through an opening in a distal end of the elongate flexible instrument. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The elongate flexible instrument of claim 4, wherein the internal channel is configured to direct the fluid over a portion of the image capture instrument exposed to an exterior of the elongate flexible instrument. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The elongate flexible instrument of claim 5, further comprising a deflector element at the distal portion of the elongate flexible instrument, wherein the deflector element is configured to direct the fluid across a lens of the image capture instrument. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The elongate flexible instrument of claim 5, wherein the elongate flexible instrument is configured to route the fluid across the heat transfer element to cool at least a portion of the image capture instrument, across a lens of the image capture instrument to remove debris, and to a surgical site to provide insufflation, irrigation of the surgical site, or to deliver a therapeutic agent. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The elongate flexible instrument of claim 4, wherein the fluid comprises an insufflation gas. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The elongate flexible instrument of claim 4, wherein the fluid comprises a liquid. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) The elongate flexible instrument of claim 4, wherein the heat transfer element extends into a flow path of the fluid from the internal channel to the opening. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The elongate flexible instrument of claim 1, wherein the at least one heat transfer element includes at least one of a heat spreader, a heat sink, or a heat pipe. ### Claim 12 An elongate flexible instrument, comprising: an elongate flexible body defining an internal channel, the internal channel configured to receive a fluid from a fluid source; an image capture instrument disposed in a path of the fluid within the internal channel in a distal portion of the elongate flexible instrument; and at least one heat transfer element configured to transfer heat from the image capture instrument to the fluid, wherein a cooling fluid is supplied to the heat transfer element via a cooling fluid channel positioned within the internal channel, and wherein the cooling fluid channel separates the cooling fluid from the fluid received from the fluid source. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The elongate flexible instrument of claim 12, wherein the image capture instrument includes an image signal processor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The elongate flexible instrument of claim 13, wherein the image signal processor is disposed against a wall of the image capture instrument and the at least one heat transfer element is mounted to an external surface of the wall opposite the image signal processor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The elongate flexible instrument of claim 13, wherein the image signal processor is positioned against a proximal end portion of the image capture instrument. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The elongate flexible instrument of claim 12, wherein the cooling fluid channel is in fluid communication with the heat transfer element. ### Claim 17 A method for cooling a component of an elongate flexible instrument, comprising: providing fluid from a fluid source into an internal channel of the elongate flexible instrument; directing the fluid across an external surface of a heat transfer element secured to an image capture instrument disposed in a path of the fluid within the internal channel in a distal portion of the elongate flexible instrument, wherein an image signal processor of the image capture instrument is disposed against a wall of the image capture instrument and the heat transfer element is mounted to an external surface of the wall opposite the image signal processor; and transferring heat from the heat transfer element to the fluid. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising: cleaning a lens of the image capture instrument by directing the fluid through an opening in a distal end of the elongate flexible instrument.