Shape-transferring cannula system and method of use
AssigneeIntuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
InventorJaime S. VARGAS
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A rigidizable medical device comprising a rigidizable element actuatable between a first state and a second state, wherein the rigidizable element is flexible in the first state and rigid in the second state. The rigidizable medical device further comprises a passive element coupled to the rigidizable element and extending parallel to the rigidizable element, wherein the passive element is more rigid than the rigidizable element in the first state of the rigidizable element and is more flexible than the rigidizable element in the second state of the rigidizable element. The rigidizable and passive elements are configured to slide longitudinally relative to one another.
Claims5
A rigidizable medical device comprising:
- a rigidizable element actuatable between a first state and a second state, wherein the rigidizable element is flexible in the first state and rigid in the second state;
- and
- a passive element coupled to the rigidizable element and extending parallel to the rigidizable element, wherein the passive element is more rigid than the rigidizable element in the first state of the rigidizable element and is more flexible than the rigidizable element in the second state of the rigidizable element, and
- wherein the rigidizable and passive elements are configured to slide longitudinally relative to one another.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.