Self-contained sterilizable surgical system
First Claim
1. A surgical system, comprising:
- a shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, an interior of the shaft having a fluid-tight seal from the environment at each of the distal end and the proximal end so as to be sterilizable for re-use, the shaft including first and second steering cables;
a power module including a coupling having first and second connectors, the first and second connectors rotatable in relation to the coupling and connected to the first and second steering cables of the shaft, the power module including selectively engageable first and second steering motors operably coupled to the first and second connectors, respectively, the first and second steering motors secured to a movable carriage that is movable from a first position to a second position for selectively engaging the first and second motors to selectively rotate at least one of the first and second connectors for steering at least a portion of the shaft;
an image capture device configured to receive image data from the distal end of the shaft; and
a light-emitting diode configured to provide light at the distal end of the shaft,wherein the image capture device and the light-emitting diode are mounted to the distal end of the shaft and fluid-tightly sealed from the environment by the shaft so as to be sterilizable for re-use.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A self-contained surgical, e.g., endoscope, system. The surgical, e.g., endoscope, system may include a sterilizable shaft having a light source and/or an image capture device mounted at the distal end of the shaft or connected to the distal end of the shaft by fiber optics. The light source is a light emitting diode or an array of light emitting diodes, and may have its own power source located at the distal end of the shaft. The shaft includes a working channel, an irrigation/aspiration channel, and an electric cable. The shaft is coupled at its proximal end to a control module having a video processor and an integrally-mounted display screen for displaying image data from the image capture device. The control module may also include an irrigation/aspiration system, a control unit, and a controller. The control module is coupled to a power module. The power module includes steering motors connected to steering cables in the shaft. In addition, the power module includes drive motors and a power source.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A surgical system, comprising:
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a shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, an interior of the shaft having a fluid-tight seal from the environment at each of the distal end and the proximal end so as to be sterilizable for re-use, the shaft including first and second steering cables; a power module including a coupling having first and second connectors, the first and second connectors rotatable in relation to the coupling and connected to the first and second steering cables of the shaft, the power module including selectively engageable first and second steering motors operably coupled to the first and second connectors, respectively, the first and second steering motors secured to a movable carriage that is movable from a first position to a second position for selectively engaging the first and second motors to selectively rotate at least one of the first and second connectors for steering at least a portion of the shaft; an image capture device configured to receive image data from the distal end of the shaft; and a light-emitting diode configured to provide light at the distal end of the shaft, wherein the image capture device and the light-emitting diode are mounted to the distal end of the shaft and fluid-tightly sealed from the environment by the shaft so as to be sterilizable for re-use. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification