US 12,133,631 B2
Off-axis visualization systems
Vahid Saadat, Atherton, CA (US); Ruey-Feng Peh, Singapore (SG); Chris A. Rothe, San Mateo, CA (US); and Edmund Tam, Mountain View, CA (US)
Assigned to INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC., Sunnyvale, CA (US)
Filed by INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC., Sunnyvale, CA (US)
Filed on Dec. 6, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/076,251.
Application 18/076,251 is a continuation of application No. 16/902,915, filed on Jun. 16, 2020, granted, now 11,559,188.
Application 16/902,915 is a continuation of application No. 16/523,725, filed on Jul. 26, 2019, abandoned.
Application 16/523,725 is a continuation of application No. 14/959,109, filed on Dec. 4, 2015, granted, now 10,390,685, issued on Aug. 27, 2019.
Application 14/959,109 is a continuation of application No. 11/961,995, filed on Dec. 20, 2007, granted, now 9,226,648, issued on Jan. 5, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/871,415, filed on Dec. 21, 2006.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/871,424, filed on Dec. 21, 2006.
Prior Publication US 2023/0107726 A1, Apr. 6, 2023
Int. Cl. A61B 1/00 (2006.01); A61B 1/005 (2006.01); A61B 1/015 (2006.01); A61B 1/018 (2006.01); A61B 1/04 (2006.01); A61B 5/00 (2006.01); A61B 5/02 (2006.01); A61B 18/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 1/005 (2013.01) [A61B 1/0008 (2013.01); A61B 1/00082 (2013.01); A61B 1/00085 (2013.01); A61B 1/00089 (2013.01); A61B 1/00096 (2013.01); A61B 1/00135 (2013.01); A61B 1/00154 (2013.01); A61B 1/015 (2013.01); A61B 1/018 (2013.01); A61B 1/04 (2013.01); A61B 5/02007 (2013.01); A61B 5/6882 (2013.01); A61B 5/0031 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00577 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for visualizing a tissue region of interest, comprising:
an imaging element configured to visualize tissue;
a sheath including a channel configured to receive the imaging element, the imaging element being positionable along a central longitudinal axis of the sheath and positionable in an off-axis position relative to the central longitudinal axis, wherein the sheath comprises a flexible section defining at least a portion of the channel; and
a dilator configured to advance through the channel to force the imaging element into the off-axis position, wherein the dilator is configured to cause the imaging element to bulge the flexible section as the dilator is advanced through the channel.