Endoscope bending members

A method for manufacturing a bending member for an endoscope, the method comprising:

• laser cutting an elongated tube comprising a lumen extending therethrough;
• forming a plurality of bending segments along the elongated tube from said laser cutting of the elongated tube, the bending segments successively and rotatably connected to each other along a longitudinal axis through the lumen such that the bending member is bendable;
• and
• forming each bending segment of the plurality of bending segments from said laser cutting of the elongated tube, each bending segment comprising:
• a pair of proximal arcuate extensions extending proximally from the bending segment;
• a proximal stopper element circumferentially offset about the longitudinal axis from the pair of proximal arcuate extensions;
• and
• a distal pivot extension extending distally from the bending segment;
• and
• a distal stopper element circumferentially offset about the longitudinal axis from the distal pivot extension,
• wherein a first bending segment is engaged with a proximally adjacent bending segment and a distally adjacent bending segment, such that:
• the pair of proximal arcuate extensions of the first bending segment are engaged around the distal pivot extension of the proximally adjacent bending segment, such that the first and proximally adjacent bending segments are rotatable about a proximal bending axis through the distal pivot extension of the proximally adjacent bending segment;
• the pair of proximal arcuate extensions of the distally adjacent bending segment are engaged around the distal pivot extension of the first bending segment, such that the first and distally adjacent bending segments are rotatable about a distal bending axis through the distal pivot extension of the first bending segment;
• the proximal element of the first bending segment is engaged with the distal stopper element of the proximally adjacent bending segment to resist rotation of the first and proximally adjacent bending segments about the longitudinal axis;
• and
• the proximal stopper element of the distally adjacent bending segment is engaged with the distal stopper element of the first bending segment to resist rotation of the first and distally adjacent bending segments about the longitudinal axis;
• and
• wherein bending segments are rotatable with respect to each other about the respective bending axes to thereby bend the bending member, the bending axes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

A bending member for an endoscope, the bending member comprising:

• a lumen extending therethrough;
• a plurality of bending segments successively and rotatably connected to each other along a longitudinal axis through the lumen such that the bending member is bendable;
• and
• each bending segment comprising:
• a proximal pivot extension extending proximally from the bending segment;
• a pair of proximal arcuate extensions extending proximally from the bending segment, the proximal pivot extension disposed between the pair of proximal arcuate extensions;
• an inner pair of distal arcuate extensions extending distally from the bending segment;
• and
• an outer pair of distal arcuate extensions extending distally from the bending segment, the inner pair of distal arcuate extensions disposed between the outer pair of distal arcuate extensions,
• wherein a first bending segment is engaged with a proximally adjacent bending segment and a distally adjacent bending segment, such that:
• the inner pair of distal arcuate extensions of the first bending segment are engaged around the proximal pivot extension of the distally adjacent bending segment, the pair of proximal arcuate extensions of the distally adjacent bending segment are engaged around the inner pair of distal arcuate extensions of the first bending segment, and the outer pair of distal arcuate extensions of the first bending segment are engaged around the pair of proximal arcuate extensions of the distally adjacent bending segment, such that the first and distally adjacent bending segments are rotatable about a distal bending axis through the proximal pivot extension of the distally adjacent bending segment;
• and
• the inner pair of distal arcuate extensions of the proximally adjacent bending segment are engaged around the proximal pivot extension of the first bending segment, the pair of proximal arcuate extensions of the first bending segment are engaged around the inner pair of distal arcuate extensions of the proximally adjacent bending segment, and the outer pair of distal arcuate extensions of the proximally adjacent bending segment are engaged around the pair of proximal arcuate extensions of the first bending segment, such that the first and proximally adjacent bending segments are rotatable about a proximal bending axis through the proximal pivot extension of the first bending segment;
• and
• wherein bending segments are rotatable with respect to each other about the respective bending axes to thereby bend the bending member, the bending axes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

A method for manufacturing a bending member for an endoscope, the method comprising:

• laser cutting an elongated tube comprising a lumen extending therethrough;
• forming a plurality of bending segments along the elongated tube from said laser cutting of the elongated tube, the bending segments successively and rotatably connected to each other along a longitudinal axis through the lumen such that the bending member is bendable;
• and
• forming each bending segment of the plurality of bending segments from said laser cutting of the elongated tube, each bending segment comprising:
• a proximal pivot extension extending proximally from the bending segment;
• a pair of proximal arcuate extensions extending proximally from the bending segment, the proximal pivot extension disposed between the pair of proximal arcuate extensions;
• an inner pair of distal arcuate extensions extending distally from the bending segment;
• and
• an outer pair of distal arcuate extensions extending distally from the bending segment, the inner pair of distal arcuate extensions disposed between the outer pair of distal arcuate extensions,
• wherein a first bending segment is engaged with a proximally adjacent bending segment and a distally adjacent bending segment, such that:
• the inner pair of distal arcuate extensions of the first bending segment are engaged around the proximal pivot extension of the distally adjacent bending segment, the pair of proximal arcuate extensions of the distally adjacent bending segment are engaged around the inner pair of distal arcuate extensions of the first bending segment, and the outer pair of distal arcuate extensions of the first bending segment are engaged around the pair of proximal arcuate extensions of the distally adjacent bending segment, such that the first and distally adjacent bending segments are rotatable about a distal bending axis through the proximal pivot extension of the distally adjacent bending segment;
• and
• the inner pair of distal arcuate extensions of the proximally adjacent bending segment are engaged around the proximal pivot extension of the first bending segment, the pair of proximal arcuate extensions of the first bending segment are engaged around the inner pair of distal arcuate extensions of the proximally adjacent bending segment, and the outer pair of distal arcuate extensions of the proximally adjacent bending segment are engaged around the pair of proximal arcuate extensions of the first bending segment, such that the first and proximally adjacent bending segments are rotatable about a proximal bending axis through the proximal pivot extension of the first bending segment;
• and
• wherein bending segments are rotatable with respect to each other about the respective bending axes to thereby bend the bending member, the bending axes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.