# US 11,304,594 B2 · Articulating medical device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,304,594 B2 - Document ID: US11304594B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/419,723 - Filed: 2017-01-30 - Published: 2017-08-03 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2016-01-29 - Assignees: Meditrina, Inc. - Applicants: Cirrus Technologies KFT - Inventors: Tamas J. Truckai - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11304594B2 ## CPC - A61B 1/018: for receiving instruments - A61B 1/00103: {designed for single use} - A61B 1/00135: {Oversleeves mounted on the endoscope prior to insertion} - A61B 1/00154: {using guiding arrangements for insertion} - A61B 1/0016: {using motor drive units} - A61B 1/0052: {Constructional details of control elements, e.g. handles} - A61B 1/0055: {Constructional details of insertion parts, e.g. vertebral elements} - A61B 1/0057: {Constructional details of force transmission elements, e.g. control wires} - A61M 25/0138: {having flexible regions as a result of weakened outer material, e.g. slots, slits, cuts, joints or coils} - A61M 25/0147: {with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires} - A61M 25/0136: {Handles therefor} - A61M 25/0158: {with magnetic or electrical means, e.g. by using piezo materials, electroactive polymers, magnetic materials or by heating of shape memory materials} - A61M 2025/0003: {having an additional lumen transmitting fluid pressure to the outside for measurement} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract Devices for use with introducers, endoscopes and catheters, where the devices relate to an articulating mechanism that allows a working end of a medical device to be steerable in order to access or visualize targeted sites in the interior of a patient's body. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An articulating mechanism for use in a medical device having a handle with a drive unit, the articulating mechanism comprising: an elongated sleeve extending from the handle about an axis and having a distal end and a distal slotted articulation portion; and a tensioning sleeve extending from the handle and having a distal end and an interior channel extending therethrough, the tensioning sleeve having a proximal portion configured to receive a force from the drive unit to cause movement of the proximal portion relative to the handle, the tensioning sleeve located adjacent to the elongated sleeve, where the distal end of the elongated sleeve and the distal end of the tensioning sleeve are coupled at a coupling portion to prevent relative movement of the tensioning sleeve and elongated sleeve at the coupling portion but to allow relative movement of a remaining portion of the tensioning sleeve and elongated sleeve in response to movement of the proximal portion to articulate the distal slotted articulation portion to permit articulation of the elongated sleeve and tensioning sleeve at the coupling portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The articulating mechanism of claim 1 where a proximal end of the elongated sleeve and a proximal end of the tensioning sleeve are carried in a handle and the handle includes an actuation mechanism that when moved causes relative axial movement between the elongated sleeve and the tensioning sleeve. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The articulating mechanism of claim 2 wherein the actuation mechanism comprises a motor drive unit operatively coupled to at least one of the elongated sleeve and the tensioning sleeve. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The articulating mechanism of claim 3 wherein the motor drive unit has a gear that engages the tensioning sleeve configured to provide axial movement. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The articulating mechanism of claim 3 wherein the motor drive unit has at least one gear that engages the elongated sleeve and the tensioning sleeve configured to provide relative axial movement therebetween. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The articulating mechanism of claim 1 further comprising an endoscopic device coupled to the elongated sleeve. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The articulating mechanism of claim 6 wherein the endoscopic device is removable from the elongated sleeve. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The articulating mechanism of claim 1 wherein the elongated sleeve has an open working channel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The articulating mechanism of claim 1 further comprising an endoscopic device coupled to the tensioning sleeve. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The articulating mechanism of claim 9 where the endoscopic device is removable from the tensioning sleeve. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The articulating mechanism of claim 1 wherein the tensioning sleeve has an open working channel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 3) The articulating mechanism of claim 3 wherein the motor drive unit has a first motor for axial movement of the elongated sleeve and a second motor for axial movement of the tensioning sleeve. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The articulating mechanism of claim 1 further comprising an EMI shielding layer surrounding the articulating mechanism. ### Claim 14 An articulating medical device, comprising: a handle; a first elongated sleeve with a distal end having a first slotted articulating portion, the first elongated sleeve extending from the handle; a second elongated sleeve with a distal end having a second slotted articulating portion, the second elongated extending from the handle, wherein a distal end of the first elongated sleeve is affixed to a distal end of the second elongated sleeve at a coupled portion to prevent relative movement of the first elongated sleeve and second elongated sleeve at the coupled portion; and an actuation mechanism coupled to the handle, where the actuation mechanism moves the first elongated sleeve and the second elongated sleeve at a proximal region relative to one another to thereby cooperatively articulate distal ends of the first elongated sleeve and second elongated sleeve. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The articulating mechanism of claim 14 wherein each of the first elongated sleeve and the second elongated sleeve have an open-ended or closed end interior channel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The articulating mechanism of claim 13 wherein at least one of the first elongated sleeve and the second elongated sleeve has an open-ended end interior channel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The articulating medical device of claim 14 further comprising an image sensor carried in a distal end of the first elongated sleeve. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The articulating medical device of claim 14 further comprising an EMI shielding layer surrounding at least the first elongated sleeve and the second elongated sleeve.