LOCKABLE SUPPORT ASSEMBLY AND METHOD
First Claim
1. A support assembly for an elongate instrument portion having a changeable longitudinal axis, the support assembly comprising:
- a. a proximal tubular structure having a distal interface and a longitudinal axis;
b. a distal tubular structure having a proximal interface and a longitudinal axis, and being sequentially and lockably coupled to the proximal tubular structure through engagement of the interfaces such that the longitudinal axes of the tubular structures and elongate instrument portion are substantially aligned;
wherein at least one of the tubular structures comprises a deflectable spring member biased to maintain a first positional locking status of the proximal tubular structure relative to the distal tubular structure, and wherein upon application of a deflecting load to the spring member, a second positional locking status is achieved.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Assemblies and methods related to controllably lockable support structures are described. An assembly may comprise an interface defined by two adjacent tubular structures whereby the adjacent structures may be spatially locked and unlocked relative to each other with application of a load. The tubular structures may comprise one or more spring members configured to deflect with application of a load greater than a preconfigured threshold, thereby causing a locking state of the interface to change from a first locking state to a second locking state. Embodiments are described wherein such load may be a tensile and/or compressive load. Various embodiments are described wherein an interface may be locked without application of a load and unlocked upon application of the requisite load, or locked only after application of a load.
114 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A support assembly for an elongate instrument portion having a changeable longitudinal axis, the support assembly comprising:
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a. a proximal tubular structure having a distal interface and a longitudinal axis; b. a distal tubular structure having a proximal interface and a longitudinal axis, and being sequentially and lockably coupled to the proximal tubular structure through engagement of the interfaces such that the longitudinal axes of the tubular structures and elongate instrument portion are substantially aligned; wherein at least one of the tubular structures comprises a deflectable spring member biased to maintain a first positional locking status of the proximal tubular structure relative to the distal tubular structure, and wherein upon application of a deflecting load to the spring member, a second positional locking status is achieved. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for positioning one or more elongate medical instruments, comprising:
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a. inserting into a patient a first elongate instrument comprising a series of independently lockably coupled tubular structures defining a working lumen through the series, wherein an interface defined between each of the independently lockably coupled tubular structures has a locked and an unlocked locking state, and wherein switching between these states may be controlled remotely by an operator; b. changing at least one of the interfaces from an unlocked state to a locked state; and c. inserting a second elongate instrument through the working lumen of the series of independently lockably coupled tubular structures to expose a distal end of the second elongate instrument to a desired anatomical location within the patient. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of minimally invasive treatment delivery, comprising:
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a. inserting an elongate body into a patient body while the elongate body is in an unlocked state; b. advancing the elongate body such that a first portion of the elongate body assumes a first curvature, while a second portion of the elongate body assumes a second curvature; c. placing the first portion and second portion in a locked state, such that first portion maintains the first curvature, and the second portion maintains the second curvature; and d. delivering a medical instrument through a distal portion of the elongate body. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification