Articulating torqueable hollow device
AssigneeBoston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
InventorsIsaac Ostrovsky, Jozef Slanda, Jeff Bean
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An articulating mechanism for use in a medical device, such as an endoscope or a catheter, includes a series of stacked links disposed adjacent to one another and movable with respect to each other. Each link includes a front face tapered to a pair of pivot points and a rear face defining a wedge shaped recess for receiving the pivot points of the adjacent link. Pull-wires provide tension and hold the staked links together while also allowing for controlled bending of the distal portion by movement of one or more of the pull-wires.
Claims20
An articulation mechanism for use in a medical device, comprising;
- a series of stacked links disposed adjacent to one another and movable with respect to each other, each link extending along a longitudinal link axis and including a front face defining a pair of pivot points and a rear face defining a wedge shaped recess for receiving the pivot points of the adjacent link, the wedge shaped recess and pivot points being aligned circumferentially, the rear face including a rear face flat surface extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal link axis, and wherein a substantially flat wedge surface extends from the rear face flat surface to a rear vertex;
- and
- at least one pull-wire for providing tension to the articulation mechanism and holding the adjacent links together, wherein the front face further includes a pair of oppositely arranged engagement surfaces which bisect the entirety of the front face, wherein each engagement surface includes a tapered section tapering proximally away from the pair of pivot points to a position on the engagement surface farthest from the pivot point.
An articulation mechanism for use in a medical device, comprising:
- a series of stacked links disposed adjacent to one another and movable with respect to each other, each link extending along a longitudinal link axis and including a circumferential wall forming a central inner lumen, a front face defining a pair of pivot points, and a rear face defining a wedge shaped recess for receiving the pivot points of the adjacent link, the wedge shaped recess and pivot points being aligned circumferentially, the rear face including a rear face flat surface extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal link axis, and wherein a substantially flat wedge surface extends from the rear face flat surface to a rear vertex;
- at least one pull-wire for providing tension to the articulation mechanism and holding the adjacent links together, wherein the front face further includes a pair of oppositely arranged engagement surfaces which bisect the entirety of the front face, wherein each engagement surface includes a tapered section tapering proximally away from the pair of pivot points to a position on the engagement surface farthest from the pivot point;
- and
- the circumferential wall including a plurality of channels and channel walls, the channel walls having a curved portion protruding into the central inner lumen.
An articulation mechanism for use in a medical device, comprising:
- a series of stacked links disposed adjacent to one another and movable with respect to each other, each link extending along a longitudinal link axis and including a thin wall profile, a front face defining a pair of pivot points, and a rear face defining a wedge shaped recess for receiving the pivot points of the adjacent link, the wedge shaped recess and pivot points being aligned circumferentially, and the rear face including a rear face flat surface extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal link axis, and wherein a substantially flat wedge surface extends from the rear face flat surface to a rear vertex;
- and
- at least one pull-wire for providing tension to the articulation mechanism and holding the adjacent links together, wherein the front face further includes a pair of oppositely arranged engagement surfaces which bisect the entirety of the front face, wherein each engagement surface includes a tapered section tapering proximally away from the pair of pivot points to a position on the engagement surface farthest from the pivot point.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.