US 12,310,669 B2
Systems and methods for positioning an elongate member inside a body
Neal A. Tanner, Burnet, TX (US); Teresa Miller, Palo Alto, CA (US); Christopher M. Sewell, Los Alamos, NM (US); and Sean P. Walker, Mountain View, CA (US)
Assigned to Auris Health, Inc., Santa Clara, CA (US)
Filed by Auris Health, Inc., Redwood City, CA (US)
Filed on Nov. 30, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/538,225.
Application 17/538,225 is a division of application No. 16/746,728, filed on Jan. 17, 2020, granted, now 11,213,356.
Application 16/746,728 is a continuation of application No. 16/165,375, filed on Oct. 19, 2018, granted, now 10,555,780, issued on Feb. 11, 2020.
Application 16/165,375 is a continuation of application No. 14/603,836, filed on Jan. 23, 2015, granted, now 10,130,427, issued on Nov. 20, 2018.
Application 14/603,836 is a continuation of application No. 13/174,536, filed on Jun. 30, 2011, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/482,598, filed on May 4, 2011.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/384,220, filed on Sep. 17, 2010.
Prior Publication US 2022/0168049 A1, Jun. 2, 2022
Int. Cl. A61B 34/30 (2016.01); A61B 6/00 (2006.01); A61B 6/12 (2006.01); A61B 8/00 (2006.01); A61B 8/12 (2006.01); A61B 34/00 (2016.01); A61B 34/20 (2016.01); A61B 34/35 (2016.01); A61B 34/37 (2016.01); A61B 46/10 (2016.01); G06T 19/00 (2011.01); A61B 8/08 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 34/10 (2016.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01)
CPC A61B 34/20 (2016.02) [A61B 6/12 (2013.01); A61B 6/4423 (2013.01); A61B 8/12 (2013.01); A61B 8/4218 (2013.01); A61B 34/30 (2016.02); A61B 34/35 (2016.02); A61B 34/37 (2016.02); A61B 34/71 (2016.02); A61B 34/74 (2016.02); A61B 46/10 (2016.02); G06T 19/00 (2013.01); A61B 6/487 (2013.01); A61B 8/0841 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00991 (2013.01); A61B 2034/102 (2016.02); A61B 34/25 (2016.02); A61B 2034/301 (2016.02); A61B 2034/303 (2016.02); A61B 2034/715 (2016.02); A61B 2034/742 (2016.02); A61B 90/361 (2016.02); G06T 2210/41 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A robotic method, comprising:
positioning a flexible elongated member that has a preformed configuration, wherein a first member is disposed around at least a portion of the flexible elongated member, and wherein the first member includes a first wire for bending the first member or for maintaining the first member in a bent configuration;
releasing at least some tension in the first wire to transition the first member into a relaxed configuration in which the first member is less rigid than the flexible elongate member; and
advancing the first member distally relative to the flexible elongated member while the first member is in the relaxed configuration.