Device for the controlled translational displacement of an elongate element

A device for controlled translational displacement, and optionally rotational displacement, of an elongated element that terminates in a frontal functional end, in particular an instrument or a tool that is designed to be brought to an internal site in a patient, more particularly an exploratory instrument or a surgical tool placed in a catheter or in an operating channel or working channel of a flexible endoscope, whereby said device comprises:

• a linear actuator (5) that acts at the rear end of the elongated element (2) that is located opposite the frontal functional end and outside of the patient,
• said actuator (5) comprising a direct-drive electromagnetic linear motor that comprises a tubular movable shaft (6) that moves in translation relative to a stator and that drives the elongated element (2) which extends through the linear motor (5), and
• wherein the rear end (3′) of the elongated element (2) comprises a portion (7) that makes possible the manual manipulation in translation and/or in rotation of the elongated element (2),
• wherein the tubular movable shaft (6), forming the rotor of the linear motor (5), consists either of i) a hollow tube provided with permanent magnets and through which magnets the elongated element (2) passes, whereby the elongated element is made integral by magnetization or by tightening with said shaft, or ii) a part (2′) of the elongated element (2) integrating a number of permanent magnets in series, and
• wherein the rear end portion (7) of the elongated element (2) extends beyond the linear motor (5), and beyond the tubular movable shaft (6), and is provided with at least one element (8, 8′) for direct manual manipulation of the elongated element (2) by a human operator of the device, the direct manual manipulation being by the human operator acting directly on the at least one element (8, 8′) for direct manual manipulation of the elongated element (2) by the human operator without power assistance.