Method of constructing an articulation joint for steerable medical device
AssigneeBoston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
InventorFrancis T. Macnamara
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of constructing an articulation joint includes forming a metallic tube with a number of rings formed therein. Springs may be secured to the inside surface or outside surface of the rings to allow the joint to bend in directions transverse to the axis of the springs. A fixture may be used to hold the springs at the correct position within the tube and the springs may be urged toward the rings or vice versa to obtain a good bond between the springs and the rings.
Claims21
A method of constructing an articulation joint for a steerable medical device, comprising:
- creating a tubular structure including a number of axially aligned rings;
- positioning a number of springs on a fixture;
- inserting the fixture into the tubular structure;
- and
- bonding the springs to adjacent axially aligned rings.
A method of constructing an articulation joint for a steerable medical device, comprising the steps of:
- (a) obtaining a sheet of metal stock;
- (b) forming a pattern of ring segments into the sheet of metal stock;
- (c) forming a tubular structure from the sheet of metal stock;
- (d) attaching a number of springs to the ring segments.
A method of constructing an articulation joint for a steerable medical device, comprising:
- forming a tubular structure including a number of axially aligned rings, each axially aligned ring defining a plurality of slots spaced equidistant around the circumference of the ring;
- placing a plurality of springs into aligned slots of adjacent axially aligned rings;
- and
- securing the springs to the adjacent axially aligned rings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.