IP Library Granted Patent US 9,351,644
Granted Patent B2
US 9,351,644 · App. 14/704,363 · Granted May 31, 2016

Medical systems and methods

Inventors: Werner Nahm (Buehlerzell, DE); Roland Guckler (Aalen-Dewangen, DE); Thomas Holzhauer (Essingen, DE)
Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
A61B5/0071A61B5/02014A61B5/0275
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,351,644
App. No.
14/704,363
Granted
May 31, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

This disclosure generally relates to medical systems and methods. In one aspect of the invention, a method includes determining a fluorescent light intensity at one or more points on each of multiple recorded images, and producing an image based on the determined fluorescent light intensity at the one or more points.

Claims (47)

1. A method, comprising:

recording a first plurality of images of a plurality of points of at least one blood vessel, each of the first plurality of images comprising fluorescent light intensity information at each of the plurality of points of the at least one blood vessel;

for each of the plurality of points of the at least one blood vessel, analyzing the first plurality of recorded images to determine a fluorescent light intensity at the point over a first period of time; and

for each of the plurality of points of the at least one blood vessel, displaying a first image that represents the fluorescent light intensity at the point over the first period of time.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one blood vessel comprises multiple blood vessels.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising, after displaying the first image:

recording a second plurality of images of the plurality of points of the multiple blood vessels, each of the second plurality of images comprising fluorescent light intensity information at each of the plurality of points of the multiple blood vessels;

for each of the plurality of points of the multiple blood vessels, analyzing the second plurality of recorded images to determine a fluorescent light intensity at the point over a second period of time; and

for each of the plurality of points of the multiple blood vessels, displaying a second image that represents the fluorescent light intensity at the point over the second period of time.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising simultaneously displaying the first and second images.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the first and second images are displayed in a side-by-side fashion.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising repairing an aneurysm at the multiple blood vessels.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

before recording the first plurality of images, injecting a fluorescent dye into the multiple blood vessels;

after injecting the fluorescent dye into the multiple blood vessels, applying a clip to the aneurysm to clamp off the aneurysm; and

after applying the clip to the aneurysm, capturing the second set of images.

8. The method of claim 3 , further comprising repairing an aneurysm at the multiple blood vessels.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first image is displayed before repairing the aneurysm at the multiple blood vessels, and the second image is displayed after repairing the aneurysm at the multiple blood vessels.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

before recording the first plurality of images, injecting a fluorescent dye into the multiple blood vessels;

after injecting the fluorescent dye into the multiple blood vessels, applying a clip to the aneurysm to clamp off the aneurysm; and

after applying the clip to the aneurysm, capturing the second set of images.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

before recording the first plurality of images, injecting a fluorescent dye into the multiple blood vessels;

after displaying the first image, applying a clip to the aneurysm to clamp off the aneurysm; and

after applying the clip to the aneurysm, capturing the second set of images.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, after displaying the first image:

recording a second plurality of images of the plurality of points of the at least one blood vessel, each of the second plurality of images comprising fluorescent light intensity information at each of the plurality of points of the at least one blood vessel;

for each of the plurality of points of the at least one blood vessel, analyzing the second plurality of recorded images to determine a fluorescent light intensity at the point over a second period of time; and

for each of the plurality of points of the at least one blood vessel, displaying a second image that represents the fluorescent light intensity at the point over the second period of time.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising simultaneously displaying the first and second images.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first and second images are displayed in a side-by-side fashion.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising repairing an aneurysm at the at least one blood vessel.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

before recording the first plurality of images, injecting a fluorescent dye into the at least one blood vessel;

after injecting the fluorescent dye into the at least one blood vessel, applying a clip to the aneurysm to clamp off the aneurysm; and

after applying the clip to the aneurysm, capturing the second set of images.

17. The method of claim 12 , further comprising repairing an aneurysm at the at least one blood vessel.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the first image is displayed before repairing the aneurysm at the at least one blood vessel, and the second image is displayed after repairing the aneurysm at the at least one blood vessel.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:

before recording the first plurality of images, injecting a fluorescent dye into the at least one blood vessel;

after injecting the fluorescent dye into the at least one blood vessel, applying a clip to the aneurysm to clamp off the aneurysm; and

after applying the clip to the aneurysm, capturing the second set of images.

20. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

before recording the first plurality of images, injecting a fluorescent dye into the at least one blood vessel;

after injecting the fluorescent dye into the at least one blood vessel, applying a clip to the aneurysm to clamp off the aneurysm; and

after applying the clip to the aneurysm, capturing the second set of images.

Assignments (2)
MERGER Recorded May 11, 2015
From: CARL ZEISS SURGICAL GMBH
To: CARL ZEISS MEDITEC AG
Reel/Frame 035635/0050 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 7, 2015
From: NAHM, WERNER; GUCKLER, ROLAND; HOLZHAUER, THOMAS
To: CARL ZEISS SURGICAL GMBH
Reel/Frame 035584/0492 →
Continuity (4)
Division 13411973 · Mar 5, 2012
Continuation 12331874 · Dec 10, 2008
Provisional Application 61191748 · Sep 11, 2008
Related Publication 20150230710A1 · Aug 20, 2015