Robotic endoscope
AssigneeSciMed Life Systems, Inc.
InventorLucien Alfred Couvillon, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An endoscope is provided which comprises an elongated body adapted for insertion into a body lumen, and a plurality of electrically controlled actuators associated with the body which are controllable to impart an orientation to the body that is complimentary to the natural orientation of the lumen into which the endoscope is inserted.
Claims45
An endoscope comprising an elongated body adapted for insertion into a lumen, said elongated body further comprising (a) a tubular structural member and (b) electrically controlled electroactive polymer actuators that are controllable to impart a desired orientation to said body, wherein a plurality of said actuators are disposed upon a first flexible sheet and wherein a plurality of said actuators are disposed upon a second flexible sheet.
An endoscope comprising an elongated body adapted for insertion into a lumen, said elongated body further comprising (a) a tubular structural member, (b) electrically controlled electroactive polymer actuators that are controllable to impart a desired orientation to said body, wherein a plurality of said actuators are disposed upon a first flexible sheet, and (c) sensors disposed on a second flexible sheet that are adapted to provide feedback regarding the orientation of the elongated body.
An endoscope, comprising:
- an elongated body adapted for insertion into an a lumen, said elongated body further comprising (a) a tubular structural member and (b) a plurality of electrically controlled electroactive polymer actuators associated with said body, said actuators being controllable to impart a desired orientation to said body that reflects the natural orientation of the lumen into which the endoscope is inserted, wherein a plurality of said actuators are disposed upon a first flexible sheet which is disposed inside said tubular structural member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.