Ken P Cheng

US Patent:

54475171, Sep 5, 1995

Filed:

Nov 28, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/345550

Inventors:

Mark E. Steen - Chino Hills CA
Ken T. Cheng - Irvine CA

Assignee:

Keratron Group - Newport Beach CA

International Classification:

A61B 1732

US Classification:

606167

Abstract:

An apparatus and method for zeroing, calibrating and setting a surgical knife. The surgical knife includes a blade that has a tip which can move relative to a footplate that extends from the body of the knife. The apparatus includes a calibration housing that is coupled to a surgical microscope. The calibration housing has a transparent sleeve coupled to a holder, which are both adapted to receive and support the surgical knife. The calibration housing is constructed so that the knife and sleeve are in the line of sight of the microscope. The knife typically has a sensor that can sense the position of the blade tip relative to the footplate. The sensor provides an output signal to a visual display which converts the signal to a visual readout. The visual display also has an input device that allows the surgeon to zero the visual display. To calibrate the knife, the surgeon inserts the knife into the calibration housing until the footplate is parallel with a marking on the sleeve.

US Patent:

53235436, Jun 28, 1994

Filed:

Sep 29, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/953489

Inventors:

Mark E. Steen - Chino Hills CA
Ken T. Cheng - Irvine CA

Assignee:

Keratron Group - Newport Beach CA

International Classification:

B27G 2300

US Classification:

33626

Abstract:

An apparatus and method for zeroing, calibrating and setting a surgical knife. The surgical knife includes a blade that has a tip which can move relative to a footplate that extends from the body of the knife. The apparatus includes a calibration housing that is coupled to a surgical microscope. The calibration housing has a transparent sleeve coupled to a holder, which are both adapted to receive and support the surgical knife. The calibration housing is constructed so that the knife and sleeve are in the line of sight of the microscope. The knife typically has a sensor that can sense the position of the blade tip relative to the footplate. The sensor provides an output signal to a visual display which converts the signal to a visual readout. The visual display also has an input device that allows the surgeon to zero the visual display. To calibrate the knife, the surgeon inserts the knife into the calibration housing until the footplate is parallel with a marking on the sleeve.