Adjustable-bending stiffness steerable needle, buckling-preventing steerable needle, and steerable needle system including same

Abstract

Disclosed herein are an adjustable-bending stiffness steerable needle, a buckling-preventing steerable needle, and a steerable needle system including the same. The adjustable-bending stiffness steerable needle includes a cylindrical core wire, a tip portion, a needle shaft, a compression spring, and a rigid shaft. The tip portion has a bevel shape, and is connected to the front end of the core wire. The needle shaft is disposed such that one end thereof is separable from the tip portion and the needle shaft surrounds the core wire. The compression spring is fastened to the other end of the needle shaft, and is configured such that the core wire passes therethrough. The rigid shaft is connected to the core wire having passed through the compression spring, and is also connected to the compression spring. The needle shaft includes a plurality of hollow tube elements that is separable from each other.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.