Articulating shaft
AssigneeSurgical Solutions LLC
InventorThomas Weisel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An articulating shaft includes an outer tubular member having a longitudinal axis and portions defining a slot. An inner tubular member is disposed within the outer member and movable about the axis of the outer member. A wedge carried by the inner member is movable within the slot in an interference fit with the slot portions to articulate the outer member. In an associated method, the inner member can be turned in a first direction to bend the outer member in an associated second direction, and the inner member can be turned in a third direction to move the outer member in an associated fourth direction.
Claims19
An articulating shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end being bendable by operation of the proximal end, comprising:
- an outer member having an axis extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the outer member having a configuration of a tube with a first longitudinal side and a second longitudinal side;
- portions of the first longitudinal side define a slot having a first end and a second end wider than the first end;
- an inner member disposed within the outer member;
- a wedge carried by the inner member and movable within the slot between the first end of the slot and the second end of the slot;
- the inner member being operable at the proximal end to move the wedge within the slot and toward the first end of the slot, to bend the outer tube away from the first longitudinal side and toward the second longitudinal side.
An articulating shaft having a proximal end a distal end, the distal end being bendable by operation of the proximal end, the shaft comprising:
- an outer tubular member having a longitudinal axis;
- an inner tubular member disposed within the outer member and movable about the axis of the outer member;
- one of the inner tubular member and outer tubular member including portions defining a slot;
- and
- a wedge carried by the other of the inner tubular member and the outer tubular member, the wedge being movable within the slot in an interference fit with the slot portions to bend the outer member in a direction.
A method for articulating a shaft having a longitudinal configuration with a proximal end and a distal end, the method including the steps of:
- providing a first member with a slot;
- providing a second member with a wedge;
- mounting the second member relative to the first member with the wedge disposed in the slot;
- turning the second member relative to the first member in a first direction to bend the first member in a second direction;
- and
- turning the second member relative to the first member in a third direction to bend the first member in a fourth direction.
An articulating shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, comprising:
- a first member movable with one of a slot pattern and a wedge mechanism;
- a second member movable with the other of the slot pattern and the wedge mechanism;
- and
- the wedge mechanism being movable in the slot pattern by operation of the proximal end of the shaft to bend the distal end of the shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.