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US 7,803,164 B2Granted
Method for guiding instruments having different sizes
AssigneeMedtronic, Inc.
InventorsFrans L. H. Gielen, Peter Appenrodt, Paulus Cornelis Van Venrooij, Victor Duysens
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and procedure for using the system are disclosed for guiding instruments of varying sizes. The instruments can be guided into various portions of the anatomy for performing a procedure, providing a treatment, measuring a physiological response, or the like. Two or more instruments of varying sizes can be driven or guided relative to one another with the same system.
Claims35
A method of guiding a first instrument and a second instrument relative to a selected portion of an anatomy, comprising:
- providing a guide fixture with a guide section;
- providing a plurality of guide members each defining a plurality of guide depressions;
- moveably attaching the plurality of guide members to the guide section;
- aligning the guide fixture with the selected portion of the anatomy;
- forming a first guide configuration by moving the plurality of guide members from a first position to a second position relative to a fixed point of the guide fixture such that the plurality of guide depressions of each of the plurality of guide members cooperate with a sub-plurality of the plurality of guide depressions of at least another two of the plurality of guide members to form a plurality of first guide areas;
- maneuvering the first instrument relative to the guide section and one of the plurality of first guide areas while the plurality of guide members are in the first guide configuration;
- altering the first guide configuration to form a second guide configuration by moving at least one of the plurality of guide members relative to the guide section such that at least another one of the plurality of first guide areas is at least expanded while the one of the plurality of first guide areas remains unchanged;
- and
- maneuvering the second instrument relative to the at least one expanded first guide area of the second guide configuration.
6 more elements
A method of guiding an instrument relative to a selected portion of an anatomy, comprising:
- providing a drive system having a drive axis;
- supporting the drive system on a support structure relative to the selected portion of the anatomy;
- aligning the drive system with the selected portion of the anatomy;
- providing a guide fixture with a plurality of guide members and a guide section, each of the plurality of guide members defining a plurality of separate guide depressions;
- aligning the guide section with the drive axis;
- moving the plurality of guide members into a first configuration such that the plurality of guide depressions of each of the plurality of guide members cooperate with a sub-plurality of the plurality of guide depressions of at least another two of the plurality of guide members to define a plurality of separate first guide areas, wherein the plurality of first guide areas partially occludes a corresponding plurality of second guide areas defined by the guide section and axially spaced apart from the plurality of guide members;
- moving a sub-plurality of the plurality of guide members into a second configuration allowing unobstructed access to a corresponding sub-plurality of the plurality of second guide areas while maintaining another sub-plurality of the plurality of first guide areas unchanged;
- and
- maneuvering the instrument along the drive axis and through the guide section.
6 more elements
A method of guiding an instrument relative to a selected portion of an anatomy, comprising:
- providing a guide fixture including a guide section and a plurality of separately movable guide members associated therewith, each of the plurality of guide members having a plurality of guide depressions formed on a perimeter thereof;
- moving the plurality of guide members to a first position relative to the guide section such that the plurality of guide depressions of each guide member cooperate with at least a sub-plurality of the plurality of guide depressions of another two of the plurality of guide members to define a plurality of first guide areas, wherein a perimeter of one of the plurality of first guide areas is formed by cooperation of one of the plurality of guide depressions from each of the plurality of guide members and at least a perimeter of another one of the plurality of first guide areas is formed by cooperation of another one of the plurality of depressions from only two adjacent guide members of the plurality of guide members;
- guiding a plurality of first instruments along a plurality of co-linear first instrument axes and through the plurality of first guide areas;
- moving a sub-plurality of the plurality of guide members transverse to the instrument axes to a second position;
- removing one of the plurality of first instruments from one of the plurality of first guide areas that was associated with at least two of the moved sub-plurality of guide members;
- and
- guiding a second instrument along a second instrument axis relative to an instrument axis associated with the one removed instrument of the plurality of first instruments.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.