Patent US4993404A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4993404A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fluoroscopy switching device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1989-06-26
•
Granted: 1991-02-19
•
Expires: 2009-06-26
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method is disclosed for preventing accidental overradiation of a patient in surgical procedures involving both fluoroscopy and endoscopy. Video outputs from the fluoroscope and endoscope are connected to a switching device. The physician uses the switching device to select from between the endoscope video output and the fluoroscope video output for viewing on a video monitor. When the endoscope video output is selected for viewing, the switching device automatically deactivates the X-ray generator of the fluoroscope. When the switching device is actuated to select the fluoroscope video signal for viewing on the monitor, the switching device automatically reactivates the X-ray generator. In this manner, overradiation of the patient during periods when the fluoroscope is not being used is avoided.
Inventors
- 👤 Timothy G. Lane
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:21
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/30; H04N5/32; A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/04; A61B1/042; A61B6/00; A61B6/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
An apparatus for performing a surgical procedure involving endoscopy and fluoroscopy, comprising: a switching device having a video output for connection to a video monitor; an endoscope having a video output connected to said switching device; a fluoroscope having an X-ray generator, said fluoroscope further having video output connected to said switch device; said switching device being operable to select from between said video output from said endoscope and said video output from said fluoroscope for output to said video monitor; and means operative concurrently with selection by said switching device of said video output from said endoscope for deactivating said X-ray generator of said fluroscope.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
106 words
An apparatus for performing a surgical procedure involving endoscopy and fluoroscopy, comprising: a switching device having a video output for connection to a video monitor; an endoscope having a video output connected to said switching device; a fluoroscope having an X-ray generator, said fluoroscope further having video output connected to said switch device; said switching device being operable to select from between said video output from said endoscope and said video output from said fluoroscope for output to said video monitor; and means operative concurrently with selection by said switching device of said video output from said endoscope for deactivating said X-ray generator of said fluroscope.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means operative concurrently with selection by said switching device of said video output from said fluoroscope for activating said X-ray generator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said switching device comprises a foot-operated switching device.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
145 words
An apparatus for performing a surgical procedure involving endoscopy and fluoroscopy, comprising: a switching device having a video output for connection to a video monitor; an endoscope having a video output connected to said switching device; a fluoroscope having an X-ray generator, said fluoroscope further having a video output connected to said switching device; said switching device being operable to select from between said video output from said endoscope and said video output from said fluoroscope for output to said video monitor; and control means operatively associated with said X-ray generator and said switching device and operative to select from between a first mode in which said fluoroscope video output is selected by said switching device and said X-ray generator is enabled, and a second mode in which said fluoroscope video output is not selected by said switching device and said X-ray generator is disabled.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
145 words
An apparatus for performing a surgical procedure involving endoscopy and fluoroscopy, comprising: a switching device having a video output for connection to a video monitor; an endoscope having a video output connected to said switching device; a fluoroscope having an X-ray generator, said fluoroscope further having a video output connected to said switching device; said switching device being operable to select from between said video output from said endoscope and said video output from said fluoroscope for output to said video monitor; and control means operatively associated with said X-ray generator and said switching device and operative to select from between a first mode in which said fluoroscope video output is selected by said switching device and said X-ray generator is enabled, and a second mode in which said fluoroscope video output is not selected by said switching device and said X-ray generator is disabled.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said switching device comprises a foot-operated switching device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
83 words
A switching device for use with an endoscope and a fluoroscope having an X-ray generator, comprising: a video output for connection to a video monitor; a pair of video inputs for receiving video signals from said endoscope and said fluoroscope; means for selecting from between said pair of video inputs for output to said video monitor; and means operative concurrently with selection of said video output from said endoscope for output to said video monitor for deactivating said X-ray generator of said fluoroscope.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
83 words
A switching device for use with an endoscope and a fluoroscope having an X-ray generator, comprising: a video output for connection to a video monitor; a pair of video inputs for receiving video signals from said endoscope and said fluoroscope; means for selecting from between said pair of video inputs for output to said video monitor; and means operative concurrently with selection of said video output from said endoscope for output to said video monitor for deactivating said X-ray generator of said fluoroscope.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising means responsive to selection of said video output from said fluoroscope for activating said X-ray generator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said switching device comprises a foot-operated switching device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
76 words
A switching device for use with a pair of video devices generating video signals, comprising: a video output for connection to a video monitor; a pair of video inputs for receiving video signals from said pair of video devices; means for selecting from between said pair of video inputs for output to said video monitor; and means responsive to selection of the video input from one of said devices for disabling the other of said devices.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
76 words
A switching device for use with a pair of video devices generating video signals, comprising: a video output for connection to a video monitor; a pair of video inputs for receiving video signals from said pair of video devices; means for selecting from between said pair of video inputs for output to said video monitor; and means responsive to selection of the video input from one of said devices for disabling the other of said devices.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The switching device of claim 9, further comprising means responsive to the selection of the video input from said other of said devices for enabling said other of said devices.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
72 words
A method for preventing the accidental overradiation of a patient during a surgical procedure involving endoscopy and fluoroscopy, comprising the steps of: selecting from between a video signal from an endoscope and a video signal from a fluoroscope having an X-ray generator for viewing on a single video monitor; and concurrently with selection of said video signal from said endoscope for viewing on said monitor, disabling said X-ray generator of said fluoroscope.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
72 words
A method for preventing the accidental overradiation of a patient during a surgical procedure involving endoscopy and fluoroscopy, comprising the steps of: selecting from between a video signal from an endoscope and a video signal from a fluoroscope having an X-ray generator for viewing on a single video monitor; and concurrently with selection of said video signal from said endoscope for viewing on said monitor, disabling said X-ray generator of said fluoroscope.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 11, comprising the further step of enabling said X-ray generator of said fluoroscope responsive to selection of said video signal from said fluoroscope.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3448606A
Cited
US3675020A
Cited
US3622785A
Cited
US3919467A
Cited
US4037107A
Cited
US4058833A
Cited
US4131797A
Cited
US4349750A
Cited
US4358855A
Cited
US4413352A
Cited
US4383328A
Cited
EP0056235A2
Cited
US4569334A
Cited
US4504858A
Cited
US4658413A
Cited
US4677477A
Cited
JPS6388797A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-02-18 | 1994-08-20 | 1995-02-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-02-18 | 1998-08-20 | 1999-02-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-02-18 | 2002-08-20 | 2003-02-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |