System for controlling an instrument using shape sensors
First Claim
1. A system for controlling movement of a remotely controlled steerable instrument, the system comprising:
- a flexible instrument comprising a steerable distal portion and a passive proximal portion, the steerable distal portion configured to articulate to change a shape of the steerable distal portion;
a shape sensing device comprising an optical fiber that spirals around the steerable distal portion, the optical fiber being configured to provide a signal indicative of the shape of the steerable distal portion; and
a controller in signal communication with the optical fiber, wherein the controller is logically coupled to the flexible instrument and is configured to output a control signal to articulate the steerable distal portion of the flexible instrument in response to receiving at least the signal from the optical fiber.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for controlling movement of a remotely controlled steerable instrument comprises a flexible instrument. The flexible instrument comprises a steerable distal portion and a passive proximal portion. The steerable distal portion is configured to articulate to change a shape of the steerable distal portion. The system further comprises a shape sensing device comprising an optical fiber that spirals around the steerable distal portion. The optical fiber is configured to provide a signal indicative of the shape of the steerable distal portion. The system further comprises a controller in signal communication with the optical fiber. The controller is logically coupled to the flexible instrument and is configured to output a control signal to articulate the steerable distal portion of the flexible instrument in response to receiving at least the signal from the optical fiber.
30 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for controlling movement of a remotely controlled steerable instrument, the system comprising:
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a flexible instrument comprising a steerable distal portion and a passive proximal portion, the steerable distal portion configured to articulate to change a shape of the steerable distal portion; a shape sensing device comprising an optical fiber that spirals around the steerable distal portion, the optical fiber being configured to provide a signal indicative of the shape of the steerable distal portion; and a controller in signal communication with the optical fiber, wherein the controller is logically coupled to the flexible instrument and is configured to output a control signal to articulate the steerable distal portion of the flexible instrument in response to receiving at least the signal from the optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for controlling movement of a remotely controlled steerable instrument, the system comprising:
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a flexible instrument comprising a steerable distal portion and a passive proximal portion, the steerable distal portion configured to articulate to change a shape of the steerable distal portion; a shape sensing device comprising an optical fiber that spirals around the steerable distal portion, the optical fiber being configured to provide a signal indicative of the shape of the steerable distal portion; a first orientation indicator disposed at a first position along the flexible instrument, the first orientation indicator securing a portion of the optical fiber in the first position; and a controller in signal communication with the optical fiber to receive the signal indicative of the shape of the steerable distal portion, the controller configured to perform an integration process to reconstruct the shape of the optical fiber to determine the shape of the steerable distal portion. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of controlling movement of a flexible instrument having a steerable distal portion and a passive proximal portion, the method comprising:
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receiving an optical signal from a shape sensing device comprising an optical fiber that spirals around at least the steerable distal portion, the optical signal being indicative of a shape of at least the steerable distal portion; and moving the flexible instrument in response to receiving the optical signal from the optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification