US 11,754,267 B2
Optical alignment system
Adrian Mariampillai, Toronto (CA); Peter Siegler, Toronto (CA); Jean-Francois Paul, Ste-Catherine (CA); Michael Leung, Markham (CA); Beau Anthony Standish, Toronto (CA); and Victor X. D. Yang, North York (CA)
Assigned to 7D SURGICAL INC., Toronto (CA)
Filed by 7D SURGICAL INC., Toronto (CA)
Filed on Dec. 6, 2016, as Appl. No. 15/370,005.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/265,825, filed on Dec. 10, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2017/0167702 A1, Jun. 15, 2017
Int. Cl. A61B 90/35 (2016.01); F21V 21/28 (2006.01); F21S 8/08 (2006.01); F21V 21/108 (2006.01); F21V 9/14 (2006.01); F21S 6/00 (2006.01); H04N 13/254 (2018.01); H04N 13/271 (2018.01); H04N 13/239 (2018.01)
CPC F21V 21/28 (2013.01) [A61B 90/35 (2016.02); F21S 8/08 (2013.01); F21V 9/14 (2013.01); F21V 21/108 (2013.01); F21S 6/004 (2013.01); H04N 13/239 (2018.05); H04N 13/254 (2018.05); H04N 13/271 (2018.05)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An optical alignment system comprising:
an optical payload having a planar distal surface;
a plurality of articulated segments having at least three pivot joints associated therewith, said plurality of articulated segments and pivot joints forming a yoke for controlling the orientation of said optical payload;
wherein said optical payload is mechanically coupled to a distal pivot joint of said pivot joints, said distal pivot joint having a distal pivot axis that is perpendicular to said planar distal surface such that:
said optical payload is axially directed at a distal target when the distal pivot axis of said distal pivot joint is directed toward the distal target; and
said optical payload is rotatable about the distal pivot axis, via the distal pivot joint, in a direction of rotation that is perpendicular to the distal pivot axis, while remaining axially directed at the distal target;
wherein said at least three pivot joints are configured such that, for any given pivot joint, a respective rotation axis associated therewith passes sufficiently close to a respective center of mass of a respective distalward portion of said optical alignment system beyond said given pivot joint, such that a position and orientation of said optical payload is maintained in the absence of external forces; and
wherein a proximal end of said optical alignment system is connectable to a positioning arm for controlling the position of the optical payload such that said distal pivot joint resides remote from the positioning arm.