Surgical instrument with steerable distal end
First Claim
1. A medical instrument with a steerable distal end, comprising:
- a. a handle for actuating the instrument, said handle being capable of having attached thereto a plurality of tensioning members;
b. a distal operating section for performing a medical procedure and actuated from said handle, said distal operating section, being capable of having attached thereto a plurality of tensioning members;
c. a middle section connecting said handle with said operating section and defining a central lumen throughout the length of said middle section, at least a portion of said middle section being bendable into a smooth curve from, the proximal end of the middle section to the point where it joins the distal operating section;
d. said bendable portion being arranged and constructed to be steerable for permitting the operating section to be controlled in direction at an angle in three dimensions with respect to the axis of the middle section from a position along said axis separated from said bendable portion; and
e. means for rotating the distal operating-section into any desired angular positionwherein said plurality of tensioning members are attached at their respective first ends to said handle and at their respective second ends to said distal operating section such that all of said tensioning members pass through said central lumen and further such that actuation of said handle operates on said plurality of tensioning members such that said bendable portion is urged to bend, thereby causing said distal operating section to be steered.
14 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A medical instrument with a steerable distal end, having a handle for actuating the instrument, a distal operating section for performing a medical procedure, a middle section connecting the handle with the operating section, at least a portion of the middle section being bendable, and steerable means within the bendable portion for permitting the operating section to be controlled in direction at an angle with respect to the axis of the middle section. There are means for rotating the distal operating section into any desired angular position with respect to the longitudinal axis of the middle section. A control member control the direction of movement of the bendable section in three dimensions whereby the distal end may be positioned in any place on or off of the longitudinal axis of the middle section. A protective sheath may be disposed over the bendable section.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A medical instrument with a steerable distal end, comprising:
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a. a handle for actuating the instrument, said handle being capable of having attached thereto a plurality of tensioning members; b. a distal operating section for performing a medical procedure and actuated from said handle, said distal operating section, being capable of having attached thereto a plurality of tensioning members; c. a middle section connecting said handle with said operating section and defining a central lumen throughout the length of said middle section, at least a portion of said middle section being bendable into a smooth curve from, the proximal end of the middle section to the point where it joins the distal operating section; d. said bendable portion being arranged and constructed to be steerable for permitting the operating section to be controlled in direction at an angle in three dimensions with respect to the axis of the middle section from a position along said axis separated from said bendable portion; and e. means for rotating the distal operating-section into any desired angular position wherein said plurality of tensioning members are attached at their respective first ends to said handle and at their respective second ends to said distal operating section such that all of said tensioning members pass through said central lumen and further such that actuation of said handle operates on said plurality of tensioning members such that said bendable portion is urged to bend, thereby causing said distal operating section to be steered.
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2. A medical instrument with a steerable distal end, comprising:
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a. a handle for actuating the instrument; b. a distal operating section for performing a medical procedure and actuated from said handle; c. a middle section connecting said handle with said operating section, at least a portion of said middle section being bendable into a smooth curve from the proximal end of the middle section to the point where it joins the distal operating section; d. said bendable portion being arranged and constructed to be steerable for permitting the operating section to be controlled in direction at an angle in three dimensions with respect to the axis of the middle section; and e. means for rotating the distal operating section into any desired angular position.
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3. A medical instrument with a steerable distal end, comprising:
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a. a handle for actuating the instrument, said handle being capable of having attached thereto a plurality of tensioning members; b. a distal operating section for performing a medical procedure and actuated from said handle, said distal operating section being capable of having attached thereto a plurality of tensioning members; c. a middle section connecting said handle with said operating section and defining a central lumen throughout a first portion of its length and having a second portion comprising a plurality of similarly shaped stackable members that each define a plurality of lumens and being arranged so that said plurality of lumens are in alignment such that a like plurality of tensioning members, each having a first and a second end, may be disposed therethrough, said stackable members permitting angular movement between them and thereby allowing for bending movement of the bendable portion, so that, on actuation by said handle, they are bendable; d. said bendable portion being arranged and constructed to be steerable for permitting the operating section to be controlled in direction at an angle with respect to the axis of the middle section from a position along said axis separated from said bendable portion; and e. means for rotating the distal operating section into any desired angular position wherein said plurality of tensioning members are attached at their respective first ends to said handle and at their respective second ends to said distal operating section such that each of said tensioning members passes through one of said lumens formed by alignment of said stackable members and all of said tensioning members pass through said central lumen and further such that actuation of said handle operates on said plurality of tensioning members such that said plurality of stackable members is urged to bend, thereby causing said distal operating section to be steered.
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4. A medical instrument with a steerable distal end, comprising:
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a. a handle for actuating the instrument; b. a distal operating section for performing a medical procedure and actuated from said handle; c. a middle section connecting said handle with said operating section, at least a portion of said middle section being bendable; and d. said bendable portion being arranged and constructed to be steerable for permitting the operating section to be controlled in direction at an angle with respect to the axis of the middle section, said bendable portion including a plurality of a single type of similarly shaped stacked elements permitting angular movement between them and thereby allowing for bending movement of the bendable portion, said elements being stacked against one another and one side thereof of each of them having a portion removed to allow angular movement between adjacent elements. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
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8. A medical instrument with a steerable distal end, comprising:
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a. a handle for actuating the instrument; b. a distal operating section for performing a medical procedure and actuated from said handle; c. a middle section connecting said handle with said operating section, at least a portion of said middle section being bendable into a smooth curve from the proximal end of the middle section to the point where it joins the distal operating section; d. said bendable portion being arranged and constructed to be steerable for permitting the operating section to be controlled in direction at an angle in three dimensions with respect to the axis of the middle section; and e. control means wherein control means includes means for rotating the distal operating section into any desired angular position about the longitudinal axis of said middle section. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A medical instrument with a steerable distal end, comprising:
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a. a handle for actuating the instrument; b. a distal operating section for performing a medical procedure and actuated from said handle; c. a middle section connecting said handle with said operating section, at least a portion of said middle section being bendable; d. said bendable portion being arranged and constructed to be steerable for permitting the operating section to be controlled in direction at an angle with respect to the axis of the middle section; e. control means for controlling the direction of movement of the bendable portion in three dimensions whereby the distal end may be positioned in any place on or off of the longitudinal axis of the middle section, said control means including means for securing the wires in the position into which they are placed by a user; said securing means includes a turnable restraint having detents at the extreme position in each direction. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A medical instrument with a steerable distal end, comprising:
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a a handle for actuating the instrument, said handle being capable of having attached thereto a plurality of tensioning members; b. a distal operating section for performing a medical procedure and actuated from said handle, said distal operating section being capable of having attached thereto a plurality of tensioning members; c. a middle section connecting said handle with said operating section and defining a central lumen throughout a first portion of its length and having a second, bendable portion comprising a plurality of similarly shaped stackable members that each define a plurality of lumens and being arranged so that said plurality of lumens are in alignment such that a like plurality of tensioning members, each having a first and a second end, may be disposed therethrough, said stackable members permitting angular movement between them and thereby allowing for bending movement of the bendable portion, so that, on actuation by said handle, they are bendable; d. said bendable portion being arranged and constructed to be steerable for permitting the operating section to be controlled in direction at an angle with respect to the axis of the middle section from a position along saidaxis separated from said bendable portion wherein said plurality of tensioning members are attached at their respective first ends to said handle and at their respective second ends to said distal operating section such that each of said tensioning members passes through one of said lumens formed by alignment of said stackable members and all of said tensioning members pass through said central lumen and further such that actuation of said handle operates on said plurality of tensioning members such that said plurality of stackable members is urged to bend, thereby causingsaid distal operating section to be steered; and e. a sheath surrounding the elements forming the bendable portion. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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17. A medical instrument as defined in claim 19 wherein the distal operating section has jaws for gripping, and the steerable means are constructed and arranged to be capable of being straight when the jaws are in closed position so that the instrument can be withdrawn from the patient while the bendable portion is in straight condition.
Specification