US 11,684,251 B2
Multifunctional visualization instrument with orientation control
Derek Scot Tata, Loveland, CO (US); Craig Allen Patton, Boulder, CO (US); and Peter Douglas Colin Inglis, Boulder, CO (US)
Assigned to Covidien AG
Filed by Coviden AG, Neuhausen am Rheinfall (CH)
Filed on Feb. 26, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/802,242.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/812,678, filed on Mar. 1, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2020/0275824 A1, Sep. 3, 2020
Int. Cl. A61B 1/267 (2006.01); A61B 1/005 (2006.01); A61B 1/05 (2006.01); A61B 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 1/267 (2013.01) [A61B 1/0004 (2022.02); A61B 1/00045 (2013.01); A61B 1/0052 (2013.01); A61B 1/000094 (2022.02); A61B 1/05 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A steerable introducer system, comprising:
a laryngoscope comprising:
a handle comprising a proximal end and a distal end;
a display screen on the handle;
a laryngoscope camera at the distal end of the handle;
a processor within the laryngoscope; and
a steering input located on the handle or the display screen; and
an introducer coupled to the handle and comprising:
an introducer camera;
a distal steerable portion that is steerable based on the steering input;
an orientation sensor within the distal steerable portion of the introducer;
wherein the processor within the laryngoscope is programmed to execute instructions for:
receiving, from the orientation sensor, an orientation signal indicating an orientation of a distal end of the introducer; and
receiving from the steering input a steering command in a first reference frame, and mapping the steering command from the first reference frame to a second reference frame oriented to the distal end of the introducer based on the orientation signal.