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Endoscopy system

  • US 9,492,061 B2
  • Filed: 07/10/2006
  • Issued: 11/15/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2005
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An endoscopy system comprising:

  • an endo-robot configured for in vivo navigation in an anatomical lumen of a patient;

    an extracorporeal magnet system that generates a temporally variable and spatially non-homogenous magnetic field that interacts with the endo-robot to move said endo-robot in said anatomical lumen;

    a patient positioning system comprising a patient bed configured to receive the patient thereon while said endo-robot is in said anatomical lumen, said patient bed having a longitudinal axis and being operable to execute at least one movement, and comprising a first supporting shell, and wherein said patient bed comprises a second supporting shell with said first supporting shell being supported by an air cushion in said second supporting shell and tilting on said air cushion relative to said second supporting shell, as said at least one movement;

    an obstacle detector that detects obstacles to the movement of the endo-robot in the anatomical lumen, said obstacle detector generating a detector signal upon said endo-robot encountering an obstacle to the movement of the endo-robot in the anatomical lumen; and

    a control unit configured to automatically operate said extracorporeal magnetic system and said patient positioning system, and being automatically supplied with said detector signal, said control unit being configured, upon said detector signal indicating that said endo-robot has encountered an obstacle, to automatically cause said patient positioning system to execute said at least one movement to assist said endo-robot in overcoming said obstacle and to avoid said magnetic field generated by said extracorporeal magnet system from having to move the endo-robot, by virtue of the magnetic field itself, to overcome said obstacle.

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