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US 12,622,574 B2Granted
Articulating medical instrument
AssigneeGyrus ACMI, Inc.
InventorsDavid Van Ness, Maria G. Benson, Mayur K. Patel, Ronald Ciulla
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A patterned tube for use with a scope or similar medical device can include at least one flexible section. The at least one flexible section can include a plurality of first cuts having a first thickness, a plurality of second cuts having a second thickness. Particular ones of the plurality of second cuts can be located substantially opposite particular ones of the plurality of first cuts. The at least one flexible section can further include a plurality of bending moment transfer portions. Particular ones of the bending moment transfer portions can be located between particular ones of the first cuts and particular ones of the second cuts.
Claims23
A patterned tube permitting articulation of a medical scope, the patterned tube comprising:
- at least one flexible section in between a proximal end of the patterned tube and a distal end of the patterned tube, the at least one flexible section including:
- multiple first cuts having a first cut thickness, wherein each cut of the multiple first cuts has a bifurcated end bifurcating into two end cut portions;
- multiple second cuts having a second cut thickness, wherein particular ones of the multiple second cuts are located substantially opposite laterally across the patterned tube from particular ones of the multiple first cuts and separated therefrom by switchback members, and wherein each cut of the multiple second cuts has an end portion positioned between the two end cut portions of the bifurcated end of an opposing first cut;
- and
- one or more bending moment transfer members, wherein:
- particular ones of the one or more bending moment transfer members are located between adjacent first cuts and also between adjacent second cuts and connect adjacent switchback members;
- and
- a stiffness of the one or more bending moment transfer members is varied between at least two longitudinally spaced apart bending moment transfer members along a length of the patterned tube.
5 more elements
A patterned tube for permitting articulation of a medical scope, the patterned tube comprising:
- a first flexible section;
- and
- a second flexible section located adjacent to the first flexible section, wherein the first flexible section and the second flexible section include:
- multiple first cuts having a first cut thickness, wherein each cut of the multiple first cuts has a bifurcated end bifurcating into two end cut portions;
- multiple second cuts having a second cut thickness, wherein particular ones of the multiple second cuts are located substantially opposite laterally across the patterned tube from particular ones of the multiple first cuts and separated therefrom by switchback members, and wherein each cut of the multiple second cuts has an end portion positioned between the two end cut portions of the bifurcated end of an opposing first cut;
- and
- one or more bending moment transfer members, wherein:
- particular ones of the one or more bending moment transfer members are located between adjacent first cuts and also between adjacent second cuts and connect adjacent switchback members;
- the one or more bending moment transfer members include a central beam and a circumferential portion extending about an outer circumference of the patterned tube and configured to cooperate in conjunction with each other to transfer a bending moment to a particular switchback member;
- and
- a stiffness of the one or more bending moment transfer members is varied between at least two longitudinally spaced apart bending moment transfer members along a length of the patterned tube.
8 more elements
A patterned deflectable portion of a medical device shaft, the patterned deflectable portion comprising:
- a first flexible section;
- a second flexible section located adjacent to the first flexible section;
- and
- an articulation member attached to an inside portion of the patterned deflectable portion by at least one guide configured to maintain a position of the articulation member along at least one of the first flexible section or the second flexible section and to enable deflection of at least a portion of at least one of the first flexible section or the second flexible section when the articulation member is retracted via a manipulator, wherein the first flexible section and the second flexible section include:
- multiple first cuts having a first cut thickness, wherein each cut of the multiple first cuts has a bifurcated end bifurcating into two end cut portions;
- multiple second cuts having a second cut thickness, wherein particular ones of the multiple second cuts are located substantially opposite laterally across the patterned deflectable portion from particular ones of the multiple first cuts and separated therefrom by switchback members, and wherein each cut of the multiple second cuts has an end portion positioned between the two end cut portions of the bifurcated end of an opposing first cut;
- and
- one or more bending moment transfer members, wherein;
- particular ones of the one or more bending moment transfer members are located between adjacent first cuts and also between adjacent second cuts and connect adjacent switchback members;
- the one or more bending moment transfer members include a central beam and a circumferential portion extending about an outer circumference of the patterned deflectable portion and configured to cooperate in conjunction with each other to transfer a bending moment to a particular switchback member;
- and
- a stiffness of the one or more bending moment transfer members is varied between at least two longitudinally spaced apart bending moment transfer members along a length of the patterned deflectable portion.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.