Invasive probe system
First Claim
1. A radially compact signal-carrying position control cable for an invasive probe head, the cable comprising:
- a. a tubular housing defining the outer diameter of the control cable, the cable having a longitudinal centerline;
b. at least two longitudinally extending control wires grouped together and positioned within said housing proximate said centerline and configured for relative longitudinal movement with respect to each other and said housing;
c. longitudinal extending signal-carrying means surrounding said grouped control wires and disposed between said housing and said control wires; and
d. means for reducing friction during relative longitudinal movement between said control wires and said signal-carrying means.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An invasive probe system has a hand-held, electrically powered controller acting through a position control cable having a vertebrae-type articulation assembly for connecting to a probe head. The control cable has four control wires in a PTFE multichannel lumen positioned proximate the cable centerline with coaxial signal carriers surrounding the grouped control wires. The articulation assembly includes a plurality of integrally formed vertebrae member units pivotably interconnected by ball and socket snap-fit elements on each unit. Microswitches in the hand-held controller control lead screw-equipped servo motors to actuate rack-type linear drives for the control wires, allowing single hand probe head positioning.
159 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A radially compact signal-carrying position control cable for an invasive probe head, the cable comprising:
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a. a tubular housing defining the outer diameter of the control cable, the cable having a longitudinal centerline; b. at least two longitudinally extending control wires grouped together and positioned within said housing proximate said centerline and configured for relative longitudinal movement with respect to each other and said housing; c. longitudinal extending signal-carrying means surrounding said grouped control wires and disposed between said housing and said control wires; and d. means for reducing friction during relative longitudinal movement between said control wires and said signal-carrying means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A bite-resistant, radially compact signal-carrying position control cable for an invasive probe head, the cable comprising:
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a. a tubular housing defining the outer diameter of the control cable, the cable having a longitudinal centerline, said housing being formed of a first resiliently deformable material; b. longitudinally extending control wires means positioned within said housing proximate said centerline; and c. longitudinal extending signal-carrying means disposed between said housing and said control wire means, said signal-carrying means including a plurality of signal carrier members separated from one another by insulation, said insulation being formed of a second resiliently deformable material. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A hand-held system for supporting an invasive probe head comprising:
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a probe head position control cable assembly including a position control cable having a longitudinal centerline and opposing ends, articulation means at one of said opposing cable ends adapted for interconnecting to the probe head, and at least two control wires positioned proximate said centerline, said at least two control wires being operatively connected to said articulation means; and a hand-held, electrically powered controller operatively connected to the other of said opposing cable ends for effecting relative movement of said at least two control wires for actuating said articulation means through said control cable, said controller including control means operable by the thumb or finger of the hand holding said controller. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification