Automated surgical system and apparatus
First Claim
1. A surgical method, comprising the steps of:
- inserting a flexible tubular instrument into a blood vessel of a patient located in a surgical operating area, said instrument being provided with operating means for removing a blockage in said blood vessel;
obtaining a video image of structure inside said blood vessel via an X-ray or fluoroscopic device also located at least partially in said operating area;
transmitting a video signal encoding said video image to a remote location removed from said operating area and beyond a range of X-ray penetration from said X-ray or fluoroscopic device;
receiving actuator control signals from said remote location; and
automatically shifting said instrument longitudinally relative to said blood vessel to change a degree of insertion of said instrument into said blood vessel in response to the received actuator control signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical system comprises an endoscopic instrument, a camera on the endoscopic instrument for obtaining video images of internal body tissues inside a patient'"'"'s body via the endoscopic instrument, and a transmitter operatively connected to the camera for transmitting, over a telecommunications link to a remote location beyond a range of direct visual contact with the patient'"'"'s body, a video signal encoding the video image. A receiver is provided for receiving actuator control signals from the remote location via the telecommunications link. The receiver feeds the signals to a robot actuator mechanism for controlling that mechanism to operate a surgical instrument insertable into the patient'"'"'s body.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A surgical method, comprising the steps of:
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inserting a flexible tubular instrument into a blood vessel of a patient located in a surgical operating area, said instrument being provided with operating means for removing a blockage in said blood vessel; obtaining a video image of structure inside said blood vessel via an X-ray or fluoroscopic device also located at least partially in said operating area; transmitting a video signal encoding said video image to a remote location removed from said operating area and beyond a range of X-ray penetration from said X-ray or fluoroscopic device; receiving actuator control signals from said remote location; and automatically shifting said instrument longitudinally relative to said blood vessel to change a degree of insertion of said instrument into said blood vessel in response to the received actuator control signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A surgical system comprising:
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an angioplastic operating instrument including a flexible tubular member insertable into a blood vessel of patient located in a surgical operating area, said instrument further including means for removing a blockage in said blood vessel; electromagnetic imaging means including an X-ray or fluoroscopic device also located at least partially in said operating area for generating a video image of structure inside said blood vessel; transmission means operatively connected to said imaging means for transmitting, to a remote location removed from said operating area and beyond a range of X-ray penetration from said X-ray or fluoroscopic device, a video signal encoding said video image; receiver means at said operating area for receiving actuator control signals from said remote location; and robot actuator means operatively connected to said instrument and said receiver means for shifting said instrument longitudinally relative to said blood vessel to change a degree of insertion of said instrument into said blood vessel in response to the actuator control signals received by said receiver means from said remote location. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A surgical system comprising:
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an angioplastic operating instrument including a flexible tubular member insertable into a blood vessel of a patient located in a surgical operating area, said instrument further including means for removing a blockage in said blood vessel; electromagnetic imaging means including an X-ray or fluoroscopic device also located at least partially in said operating area for generating a video image of structure inside said blood vessel; transmission means operatively connected to said imaging means for transmitting, to a remote location removed from said operating area and beyond a range of X-ray penetration from said X-ray or fluoroscopic device, a video signal encoding said video image; receiver means at said operating area for receiving actuator control signals from said remote location; robot actuator means operatively connected to said instrument and said receiver means for shifting said tubular member longitudinally relative to said blood vessel to change the degree of insertion of said instrument into said blood vessel in response to said control signals; means operatively connected to said instrument and said receiver means for injecting a radiographic fluid into said vessel via said instrument in response to a signal received by said receiver means from said remote location; and means operatively connected to said instrument and said receiver means for automatically actuating said means for removing in response to a signal received by said receiver means from said remote location.
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Specification