Inspection instrument fexible shaft having deflection compensation means
AssigneeCircon Corporation
InventorJohn L. Wardle
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An inspection instrument for accessing a target area has a shaft with a structural core of flexible material. The core has sufficient rigidity to provide a continuous frame for the shaft, but also allows the shaft to be flexible for deflection. The core has a conduit means which passes through the core along a non-straight path to act as a deflection compensation means for conduit means deformation during shaft bending or deflection.
Claims18
An instrument of a generally tubular flexible shape for accessing a target area, the instrument having a proximal region thereof, a distal region thereof, and a shaft therebetween, said shaft comprising:
- structural core means of a substantially flexible material with a first longitudinal axis and a first pre-determined length, said core means comprising a channel means at least partially offset from said first longitudinal axis and having a second pre-determined length;
- and
- deflection compensation means to compensate for channel means deformation in said core caused by shaft deflection.
A method of manufacturing a core for use in an instrument of a generally tubular flexible shape for accessing a target area, the method comprising the steps of:
- forming a flexible structural core of a resilient material having a first longitudinal axis and a first pre-determined length, said core comprising a first channel means at least partially offset from said first longitudinal axis;
- and
- twisting said core about said first longitudinal axis to thereby spiral said first channel means.
A method of manufacturing a shaft for use in an instrument of a generally tubular flexible shape for accessing a target area, the method comprising the steps of:
- forming a flexible structural core of a resilient material having a first longitudinal axis and a first pre-determined length, said core comprising a first channel means at least partially offset from said first longitudinal axis and having a first cross-sectional position on said core at a first longitudinal position and a second cross-sectional position on said core at a second longitudinal position;
- and
- positioning a distal end deflection means in said channel means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.