Vision probe and catheter systems
AssigneeIntuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
InventorsCarolyn M. Fenech, Vincent Duindam, Giuseppe Maria Prisco
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A medical system includes a catheter and a vision probe that can be removed from the catheter and replaced with a medical probe. Functionality for the system is divided between the catheter and the vision probe. In particular, the removable vision probe can provide imaging, illumination, irrigation, and suction that may be employed before a medical probe is deployed. The catheter can include actuation and sensing structures that are useful with or necessary for both vision and medical probes. Accordingly, the catheter can maximize available space for probes and still provide all necessary functions for use of a medical probe when the vision probe is removed.
Claims13
A medical system comprising a vision probe that includes:
- a tube containing a plurality of channels including a main channel, one or more oblong channels for irrigation and suction, and one or more auxiliary channels;
- an imaging system extending through the main channel to a distal end of the tube;
- and
- one or more illumination fibers running through respective auxiliary channels in the tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.