Articulation joint manufacturing process and workpiece therefor

Abstract

An articulation joint manufacturing process comprises cutting an elongated tube to form a multiplicity of links wherein adjacent links are connected by a bridge. The method comprises forming a fracturable portion on each bridge and connecting a multiplicity of springs to adjacentts links to form a workpiece. The method further comprises applying a torsional force to the workpiece about its longitudinal axis to fracture each bridge to form an articulation joint comprising a series of links wherein adjacent links are connected by at least one spring. Certain steps are formed by a laser. In one method, the springs are positioned on a mandrel and the springs are welded to the workpiece. The fracturable portion on the bridges may be produced by forming an indentation which may be a score, a perforation, an elongated indentation or an oval shaped indentation.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.