Steerable cannula
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An article of manufacture comprising:
- (a) an elongated tube having an internal lumen, a peripheral wall, and including a hollow, bendable distal segment;
(b) an elastic member engaging the distal segment of the tube, the elastic member having (i) a bent shape and (ii) a substantially straight shape, the elastic member being sufficiently stiff to cause the distal segment to bend when the elastic member is in its bent shape; and
(c) straightening means capable of preventing the elastic member from bending;
wherein the straightening means and the elastic member are capable of relative axial movement, and wherein such relative axial movement disengages at least part of the elastic member from the straightening means, thereby transforming the elastic member from one shape to another for correspondingly bending or unbending the distal segment of the tube.
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Abstract
A device suitable for insertion into a mammalian body comprises an elongated tube or cannula, an elastic member for bending the cannula, and a straightener preventing the elastic member from bending the cannula. The straightener and elastic member are capable of relative axial movement, so that the straightener can be positioned to prevent or allow the elastic from bending the cannula. Preferably the elastic member is formed from a superelastic shape-memory alloy. Other versions of the device without a straightener are described.
425 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An article of manufacture comprising:
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(a) an elongated tube having an internal lumen, a peripheral wall, and including a hollow, bendable distal segment; (b) an elastic member engaging the distal segment of the tube, the elastic member having (i) a bent shape and (ii) a substantially straight shape, the elastic member being sufficiently stiff to cause the distal segment to bend when the elastic member is in its bent shape; and (c) straightening means capable of preventing the elastic member from bending; wherein the straightening means and the elastic member are capable of relative axial movement, and wherein such relative axial movement disengages at least part of the elastic member from the straightening means, thereby transforming the elastic member from one shape to another for correspondingly bending or unbending the distal segment of the tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15)
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5. An article of manufacture comprising;
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(a) an elongated tube having an internal lumen, a peripheral wall, and including a hollow, bendable distal segment; (b) an elastic member positioned inside the lumen of the tube and engaging the distal segment of the tube, the elastic member having (i) a bent shape and (ii) a substantially straight shape, the elastic member being sufficiently stiff to cause the distal segment to bend when the elastic member is in its bent shape (c) straightening means capable of preventing the elastic member from bending which is tubular and around elastic member. wherein the straightening means and the elastic member are capable of relative axial movement, and wherein such relative axial movement transforms the elastic member from one shape to another for correspondingly bending or unbending the distal segment of the tube.
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13. A device suitable for insertion into a mammalian body comprising:
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(a) a cannula having an internal lumen, a peripheral wall, and a hollow, bendable distal segment; (b) an elastic member inside the cannula and axially slidable therein between a first position proximate to the distal segment and a second position remote from the distal segment, the elastic member having a bent shape and being sufficiently stiff to cause the distal segment to bend when the elastic member is in its bent shape, the elastic member being capable of being deformed into a substantially straight shape; (c) a tubular, substantially straight stiffener within the cannula, the straightener having an internal lumen sized to receive the elastic member, the straightener being located remote from the distal segment of the cannula and being sufficiently stiff to transform the elastic member to its substantially straight shape; and (d) means for moving the elastic member axially in the cannula between its first and second position, the elastic member in its first position bending the distal segment of the cannula and in its second position being within the straightener and thus substantially straight, thereby correspondingly bending and unbending the distal segment of the cannula. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification