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Segmented instrument having braking capabilities

  • US 10,512,392 B2
  • Filed: 02/06/2009
  • Issued: 12/24/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2008
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A segmented instrument having braking capabilities, comprising:

  • an elongate body defining a central lumen extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the elongate body, the central lumen being sized to receive and advance a surgical instrument through the elongate body to a location beyond the distal end of the elongate body, the elongate body comprising;

    a plurality of links disposed in series along an axial direction of the elongate body, the plurality of links comprising a pair of adjacent links having opposing arcuate mating surfaces;

    an arm pivotably coupling the pair of adjacent links in the plurality of links to one another via a pin joint at each link of the pair of adjacent links; and

    a brake assembly coupled to each link in the pair of adjacent links and positioned-between the pair of adjacent links, wherein the brake assembly comprises a first component and a second component disposed consecutively in the axial direction, each of the first component and the second component comprising an aperture through which the arm extends, the first component having a first surface configured to mate with the arcuate mating surface of one of the pair of adjacent links and the second component having a second surface configured to mate with the arcuate mating surface of the other of the pair of adjacent links, the first and second components being configured to move relative to each other in a first state of the brake assembly and being configured to engage each other to prevent each link of the pair of adjacent links from moving relative to each other in a second state of the brake assembly, andwherein the brake assembly is placed in the second state by a force applied along an axial direction of the pair of adjacent links.

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