Low capacitance endoscopic system
AssigneeIntuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
InventorsDominique BRICHARD, Peter M. HERZLINGER, David D. SCOTT, Klaus ZIETLOW
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Abstract
An endoscopic system can include an endoscope shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, and an electrically active sensor system including at least one sensor mounted proximate the distal end and positioned to sense at least one characteristic of an environment in which the distal end is located. The capacitance of the sensor system relative to earth ground maintains current leakage to a level that meets a cardiac float rating.
Claims19
An endoscopic system comprising:
- an endoscope shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;
- and
- an electrically active sensor system comprising a sensor mounted proximate the distal end and positioned to sense at least one characteristic of an environment in which the distal end is located,
- wherein the capacitance of the sensor system relative to earth ground maintains current leakage to a level that meets requirements of a cardiac float rating.
A method for sensing information at a remote surgical site via an endoscopic system, the method comprising:
- at a remote surgical site, sensing a characteristic of the remote surgical site via a sensor disposed proximate a distal end of an endoscope shaft;
- during the sensing, transmitting power to the sensor via a power transmission line from a ground-referenced power source;
- during the sensing, transmitting data signals to the sensor via a data signal transmission line from a processing circuit at a proximate end of the endoscopic shaft;
- in response to electromagnetic interference proximate the remote surgical site, substantially equalizing induced voltages level changes in the data signal transmission line and the power transmission;
- and
- maintaining current leakage from one or more applied parts of the endoscopic system at a level that meets requirements of a cardiac float rating.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.