Actuating elements for bending medical devices
AssigneesStryker Corporation, Stryker European Operations Limited
InventorClay W. Northrop
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Abstract
A medical device includes: an elongated tube having a wall defining a lumen for the elongated tube, wherein the wall of the elongated tube comprises a first opening; and a first actuating element coupled directly or indirectly to the wall of the elongated tube; wherein at least a part of the first actuating element and the first opening of the wall are located at a same longitudinal position with respect to a longitudinal axis of the elongated tube; and wherein the first actuating element is configured to change size to induce stress and/or displacement at the wall of the elongated tube to cause the elongated tube to bend.
Claims20
A medical device, comprising:
- an elongated tube having a wall, wherein the wall of the elongated tube comprises a first opening, the first opening being a cutout;
- a first structural member, wherein at least a part of the first structural member has a side interfacing the first opening;
- and
- a first actuating element actuatable to induce stress and/or displacement at the first structural member to cause the elongated tube to bend;
- wherein the first actuating element is configured to apply a force to the first structural member in a direction that is non-parallel to a longitudinal axis of the elongated tube, and wherein the first actuating element has a surface configured to apply the force to the first structural member in the direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.