Torsion resistant vertebrated probe of simple construction
First Claim
1. A torsion resistant vertebrae assembly having a base end member at one end thereof and an articulating end member on an opposite end thereof, said articulating end member having means to control the position thereof relative to said base end member, said vertebrae assembly comprising:
- a plurality of individual vertebrae adjacent one another, each of said vertebrae adapted to articulate to its adjacent one;
control means for repositioning said articulating end member relative to said base end member, said control means being attached to said articulating end member and being activated on said base end member end of said assembly;
holding means for holding said base end member together with said articulating end member and said plurality of individual vertebrae disposed therebetween, said individual vertebrae operable to articulate one on another as controlled by said control means; and
resilient stiffening means disposed along said individual vertebrae in a manner in which said vertebrae are moveably coupled with said stiffening means whereby as said articulating end member of said assembly is articulated by said control means, said stiffening means provides torsion resistant controlled repositioning of said articulating end member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An inspection instrument has an elongated flexible body which extends between a control assembly at a proximal end and an objective head at a distal end. Fiber optic bundles disposed within the instrument permit the illumination and the imaging of the interior regions of a structure being inspected. An articulating vertebrae assembly and a transitional coupler are disposed proximally of the objective head whereby the objective head is caused to move in an arc when tension is applied to interiorly disposed cables connecting the objective head to the control assembly. The vertebrae assembly is comprised of individual hollow vertebrae which are disposed along and axially aligned by a resilient stiffening member which is fixed at a distal end within the objective head and at a proximal end within the coupler. The member provides flexibility to the vertebrae assembly and, because it has a rectangular cross-sectional area, resists a torsion about its longitudinal axis, thus making the distal end of the instrument torque stable.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A torsion resistant vertebrae assembly having a base end member at one end thereof and an articulating end member on an opposite end thereof, said articulating end member having means to control the position thereof relative to said base end member, said vertebrae assembly comprising:
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a plurality of individual vertebrae adjacent one another, each of said vertebrae adapted to articulate to its adjacent one; control means for repositioning said articulating end member relative to said base end member, said control means being attached to said articulating end member and being activated on said base end member end of said assembly; holding means for holding said base end member together with said articulating end member and said plurality of individual vertebrae disposed therebetween, said individual vertebrae operable to articulate one on another as controlled by said control means; and resilient stiffening means disposed along said individual vertebrae in a manner in which said vertebrae are moveably coupled with said stiffening means whereby as said articulating end member of said assembly is articulated by said control means, said stiffening means provides torsion resistant controlled repositioning of said articulating end member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. In an inspection instrument having a generally cylindrical, elongated flexible body extending between a control assembly at a proximal end thereof and a distal head at a distal end thereof for viewing subject matter to be inspected, and further comprising:
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an articulated vertebrae assembly comprised of a plurality of individual vertebrae, said assembly having a first and a second end, said first end of which is disposed adjacent said distal head, said assembly capable of deflection in at least two discrete directions; a transitional coupler disposed at said second end of said vertebrae assembly for coupling said assembly to said flexible body; a resilient stiffening means disposed along said vertebrae assembly in a manner in which said vertebrae are moveably coupled with said stiffening means; and control means for controlling the position of said objective head disposed through said body, said control means being anchored to said distal head and being activated at said control assembly. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. In an inspection instrument having a generally cylindrical, elongated flexible body extending between a control assembly at a proximal end thereof and a distal head at a distal end thereof for viewing subject matter to be inspected, and further comprising:
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an articulated vertebrae assembly comprised of a plurality of individual vertebrae, said assembly having a first and a second end, said first end of which is disposed adjacent said distal head, said assembly capable of deflection in at least two discrete directions; a transitional coupler disposed at said second end of said vertebrae assembly for coupling said assembly to said flexible body; a resilient stiffening means disposed along said vertebrae assembly in a manner in which said vertebrae are moveably coupled with said stiffening means, wherein said stiffening means comprises; two substantially rectangular members of a given length, width, and thickness, each of said members having a substantially rectangular cross-sectional area; and
wherein said instrument further comprises;control means for controlling the position of said objective head disposed through said body, said control means being anchored to said distal head and being activated at said control assembly. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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26. In an inspection instrument having a generally cylindrical, elongated flexible body extending between a control assembly at a proximal end thereof and a distal head at a distal end thereof for viewing subject matter to be inspected, and further comprising:
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an articulated vertebrae assembly comprised of a plurality of individual vertebrae, said assembly having a first and a second end, said first end of which is disposed adjacent said distal head, said assembly capable of deflection in at least two discrete directions; a transistional coupler disposed at said second end of said vertebrae assembly for coupling said assembly to said flexible body; a resilient stiffening means disposed along said vertebrae assembly in a manner in which said vertebrae are moveably coupled with said stiffening means, said stiffening means having a shape that resists torsion about a longitudinal axis thereof and wherein said shape is a rectangular cross-sectional shape; and control means for controlling the position of said objective head disposed through said body, said control means being anchored to said distal head and being activated at said control assembly.
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27. A torsion resistant vertebrae assembly having a base end member at one end thereof and an articulating end member on an opposite end thereof, said articulating end member having means to control the position thereof relative to said base end member, said vertebrae assembly comprising:
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a plurality of individual vertebrae adjacent one another, each of said vertebrae adapted to articulate to its adjacent one; control means for repositioning said articulating end member relative to said base end member, said control means being attached to said articulating end member and being activated on said base end member end of said assembly; holding means for holding said base end member together with said articulating end member and said plurality of individual vertebrae disposed therebetween, said individual vertebrae being in contact with and operable to articulate relative to one another as controlled by said control means; and a resilient stiffening means disposed along said individual vertebrae in a manner in which said vertebrae are moveably coupled with said stiffening means whereby as said articulating end member of said assembly is articulated by said control means, said stiffening means provides torsion resistant controlled repositioning of said articulating end member.
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Specification