Surgical manipulator
First Claim
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1. A surgical manipulator, comprising:
- an outer tube having an axis extending between a distal end and a proximal end of the outer tube;
first and second sidewalls included in the outer tube and extending axially in proximity to the distal end of the outer tube, the first sidewall being weakened relative to the second sidewall;
a handle assembly coupled to the proximal end of the outer tube;
an actuator disposed interiorly of the outer tube and having properties for transmitting compressive stresses and tensile stresses;
means coupling the actuator distally of the sidewalls; and
means included in the handle assembly for causing the actuator to apply a tensile stress to the coupling means to bend the outer tube toward the first sidewall and for causing the actuator to apply a compressive stress to the coupling means to bend the outer tube toward the second sidewall.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical manipulator includes an outer tube having an axis extending between distal and proximal ends of the tube. A pair of sidewalls extend axially of the outer tube at the distal end, one of the sidewalls being weakened relative to the other sidewall. An actuator disposed interiorly of the outer tube has a fixed relationship with the outer tube distally of the sidewalls and extends proximally to a handle assembly at the proximate end of the outer tube. A finger tab in the handle assembly is operable to apply compressive stress to the actuator to bend the outer tube toward the one sidewall.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A surgical manipulator, comprising:
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an outer tube having an axis extending between a distal end and a proximal end of the outer tube; first and second sidewalls included in the outer tube and extending axially in proximity to the distal end of the outer tube, the first sidewall being weakened relative to the second sidewall; a handle assembly coupled to the proximal end of the outer tube; an actuator disposed interiorly of the outer tube and having properties for transmitting compressive stresses and tensile stresses; means coupling the actuator distally of the sidewalls; and means included in the handle assembly for causing the actuator to apply a tensile stress to the coupling means to bend the outer tube toward the first sidewall and for causing the actuator to apply a compressive stress to the coupling means to bend the outer tube toward the second sidewall. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A surgical manipulator, comprising
an outer tube having an axis extending between a distal end and a proximal end of the outer tube; -
first and second sidewalls included in the outer tube and extending axially in proximity to the distal end of the outer tube; the distal end of the outer tube being biased to form a first curve extending in a first direction toward the first sidewall; a handle assembly coupled to the proximate end of the outer tube; an actuator disposed interiorly of the outer tube and having a fixed relationship with the outer tube distally of the first curve, the actuator having properties for transmitting a tensile stress; and means included in the handle assembly for applying a tensile stress to the actuator to bend the outer tube to form a second curve extending in a second direction toward the second sidewall. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A surgical manipulator, comprising:
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an outer tube having an axis extending between a distal end and a proximal end of the outer tube; first and second sidewalls included in the outer tube and extending axially in proximity to the distal end of the outer tube, the first sidewall being weakened relative to the second sidewall; first portions of the first sidewall defining a first void; second portions of the first sidewall defining a second void disposed proximally of the first void; means for compressing the second sidewall to form a curve at the distal end of the outer tube; and the first portions of the first sidewall having particular properties relative to the second portions of the first sidewall which are variable to control the shape of the curve at the distal end of the outer tube. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification