Rotationally balanced slot pattern for flexible shafts

A flexible shaft, comprising:

• a tubular body extending along a central longitudinal axis, the tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end opposite the proximal end;
• and
• a slot defined by the tubular body and extending along a helical path around and along at least a portion of the tubular body between the proximal end and the distal end,
• wherein the helical path extends around the portion of the tubular body for a plurality of rotations,
• wherein the slot defines at least two teeth adjacent one another along a direction parallel to the central longitudinal axis, each tooth of the two teeth having a feature, and
• wherein a line parallel to the central longitudinal axis intersects a different point on each feature of the two teeth.

A modular flexible shaft comprising:

• a tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end opposite the proximal end, the tubular body extending along a central longitudinal axis between the proximal end and the distal end;
• and
• a slot extending along a helical path around and along at least a portion of the tubular body between the proximal end and the distal end;
• and
• a modular connection disposed on the distal end, the modular connection being configured to releasably couple to a modular component,
• wherein the helical path extends around the portion of the tubular body for a plurality of rotations,
• wherein the slot defines at least two teeth adjacent one another along a direction parallel to the central longitudinal axis, each tooth of the two teeth having a feature, and
• wherein a line extending through center points of the features on the two teeth is angularly offset from the central longitudinal axis.