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US 2011/0087071 A1Published application
Articulation sheath for flexible instruments
AssigneeIntuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
InventorsDAVID J. DANITZ, Cameron D. Hinman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A sheath useful for remote steering, guidance and/or manipulation of a flexible instrument, including e.g. an endoscope, received through the sheath.
Claims16
A sheath for delivery and navigation of a flexible instrument, the sheath comprising:
- an elongate shaft;
- proximal and distal sections having multiple pairs of links, each link of each pair being maintained in a spaced apart relationship relative to the other link of the pair;
- one or more sets of cables, with each set connecting the links of a discrete pair, such that movements of one link of a pair causes corresponding relative movement of the other link of the pair;
- a lumen extending at least partially through the shaft and opening through the distal end of the distal section;
- and
- an inlet port located between the proximal and distal sections, the inlet port in communication with the lumen, the lumen and inlet port configured for receipt and passage of a flexible instrument.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.