Steerable surgical access devices and methods

A surgical device, comprising:

• a steering segment having an outer sheath disposed over a steering platform, the steering platform being bendable and having
• a proximal base ring,
• a distal end ring,
• a plurality of separate links located between the proximal base ring and the distal end ring, each of the links in the form of a ring, wherein the links are arranged consecutively along a length of the steering segment between the base ring and the end ring so as to define an inner lumen extending through the base ring, the end ring, and the links, and
• a plurality of flexible connector elements, at least two of the connector elements connecting adjacent links such that each of the links has at least two connector elements connected thereto.

A surgical device, comprising:

• a bendable steering platform configured to receive a distal end of a bendable surgical instrument disposed in a central passageway of the steering platform, the steering platform having
• a proximal base link having a distal side with at least two opposed concave end surfaces and at least two convex end surfaces,
• a distal end link having a proximal side with at least two opposed concave end surfaces and at least two opposed convex end surfaces,
• a plurality of intermediate links located between the proximal base link and the distal end link, each of the intermediate links having a proximal side with at least two opposed concave surfaces and at least two convex surfaces and a distal side with at least two opposed concave surfaces and at least two convex surfaces, wherein the base link, the end link, and the intermediate links are linearly arranged, and
• a plurality of flexible connector elements, at least two of the connector elements connecting adjacent links.

A surgical method, comprising:

• introducing a surgical instrument having a steering segment at a distal end thereof into a patient, the steering segment including
• a plurality of links each having first and second holes formed in a wall thereof,
• a plurality of axially aligned flexible connector elements each having first bores formed therethrough, at least two of the plurality of connector elements connecting adjacent ones of the plurality of links such that the bores of the connector elements align with the first holes of the links,
• a first actuating cable extending through each of the bores and the first holes, and
• a second actuating cable extending through each of the second holes;
• actuating at least one of the actuating cables to bend the steering segment and the distal end of the surgical instrument.